Cocoa is a typical Brazilian fruit that gave rise to chocolate. Produced mainly in the regions of Pará, Bahia and Rondônia, it is one of the main foods exported by Brazil, which, according to data from the National Association of Cocoa Processing Industries (AIPC), ranks 7th among the largest exporters of the product.
The fruit is also known for being one of the main sources of income for cocoa trees and indigenous peoples, responsible for harvesting and handling the product so that it reaches factories and market shelves. Next, check out 6 curiosities about this food!
1. cocoa is a fruit
Cocoa is a fruit, and its seeds are used to make chocolate. To convert the seeds into this famous candy, two stages are used: the first involves planting, harvesting, fermentation, drying and storage; the second begins to give the chocolate its face, as it is during this process that roasting, grinding, defining the type of chocolate and others are carried out. Each cocoa bean is coated with a white and sweet pulp that, in addition to chocolate, can also be eaten fresh or used to make juices, jellies and liqueurs.
two. Scientific name
The fruit was named by the Swedish botanist Carl Von Linnaeus, in 1753, as theobroma cacao, which means “delicacy of the gods”. The scientist was also responsible for creating the Latin system of plant and animal categorization.
3. Tree lives more than 100 years
According to data from Embrapa, the cacao tree is the evergreen tree that gives rise to cocoa and belongs to the Malvaceae family. Originating from the rainy basin of the Amazon River, the tree, without human action, can reach about 20 meters in height and live for more than 100 years.
4. Offers numerous health benefits
Cocoa is a rich source of vitamins A, B1 and E and provides the body with essential substances for its functioning, especially for the skin. “Cocoa is power supply and has many health benefits. Its consumption in foods, such as semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, protects the heart, helps blood circulation, improves HDL (good cholesterol), has an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effect, in addition to relaxing and providing a feeling of well-being”, says dermatologist Flávia Villela.
5. Cocoa represents a growing sector
According to data from the Brazilian Association of the Chocolate, Peanut and Candy Industry (Abicab), Brazil is the fifth largest producer of cocoa and, in the first half of 2022, had an 11% growth in the production of the product, which represents an increase in generation of income and jobs for the country.
6. Milk chocolate was invented in Switzerland
As many know, cocoa is the main raw material for chocolate, one of the Easter symbols. However, for many years this tasty sweet was prepared only with cocoa seeds and sugar, until the Swiss chocolatier Daniel Peter, influenced by Henri Nestlé, inventor of condensed milk, decided to add powdered milk to the chocolate recipe, giving rise to to the famous milk chocolate.
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.