FROM CACAO TREE TO COCOA POWDER This is how the best thing in the world is made! Although cacao trees are native to Mexico, they were introduced by the Spaniards into the West Indies, Europe, and South Asia. A few decades ago, cocoa production was the main economic sector in Sri Lanka, and these trees are still the most important crop in some areas. Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFnF_vrT0w0 | TasteAtlas

Frequent harvesting of cacao means regularly collecting ripe cacao pods from the trees — usually every 2 to 3 weeks during the main harvest season. 🌰🍫 Here’s why it’s important and what happens when you do it often: ✅ Advantages of Frequent Harvesting 1. Better bean quality – Ripe pods are processed quickly, preventing overripe or moldy beans. 2. Higher yield – Regular picking encourages trees to produce more flowers and pods. 3. Pest control – Reduces the chance of pod borer, rats, or fungus

The cacao flower cushion is a swollen, woody bump on the trunk or main branches of the cacao tree where flowers and later pods develop. When it comes to harvesting cacao, here’s how the flower cushion is involved: The pods grow directly from these flower cushions (this is called cauliflory). Each cushion can bear many flowers, but only a few develop into pods. During harvesting, you must be careful not to damage the flower cushion when cutting the pod. Use a sharp harvesting knife or pruning she