Chocolate Riches from the Rainforest

What is not to like about chocolate?

It is not surprising that there are so many chocolate goodies… What IS surprising is the story of chocolate itself.

All Chocolate comes from the Cacao Tree

The seeds go through many changes on the way to becoming a candy bar, but it all starts in the tropical rainforests…

The Cacao Tree needs…  20 o C + temps  190 cm + rainfall  Shade  High Humidity  Special insect pollinators - midges

Cacao trees often grow near a mother tree for shade.

Bottom Line Cacao can only be grown in the rainforest.

If humans continue to cut down rainforests and destroy the ecosystem there, we will no longer have CHOCOLATE. Yikes!

So how does it get from the rainforest to being actual chocolate?

Oval cacao pods are shaped like deflated, green footballs.

They start green, then turn blazing red as they ripen.

The pods grow from the leafy branches as well as the trunk.

Split the pod open and look inside…..

Dig deeper still….

The beans inside look like white, squishy almonds

Who figured it out? Ancient Central Americans (Mayans)

Mayan Hieroglyphics tell us… Cacao tree named for bitter seeds – caca Mayans drank a broth of the sweet pulp

Mayans revered chocolate Mayans offered chocolate to their gods

Cacao for the rich In Mayan temples. Chocolate was served to kings and priests. Chocolate symbolized vitality and riches.

Aztec Hieroglyphics tell us… Cacao beans used for currency Aztecs did not grow their own cacao trees, but massed large “banks” of seeds from trading with neighbors to the south. Montezuma and his guards drank 2,000 pots of chocolate per day

Aztecs also revered chocolate Offerings of cacao were made to the gods When Cortez arrived, the Aztecs thought he was a god, so they gave him chocolate.

Cacao for the Conquistadors? Received mixed reviews, but was a source of nutrition In Spanish, caca means…. Taste some cocoa

Chocolate comes to Europe During the 1700’s, cocoa houses started popping up all over Europe. Now adding considerable amounts of sugar and other spices. Fashionable

Enough of history, lets get down to the making of CHOCOLATE Hershey Virtual Tour

Let’s review what we know about chemistry so we can get down to the business of making chocolate.

Physical Properties Facts about a substance that can be observed mainly with the senses. Examples are color, texture, taste, phase, boiling point, and density.

Physical Changes When a substance changes form or shape. When a substance changes phase. Substance still has the same chemical identity.

Chemical Properties Facts that describe how a substance reacts with other substances. Sometimes these can be observed with the senses – eg. copper changing color after reacting with water.

Chemical Changes When two substances react with each other and form chemical bonds to become a NEW substance. Often occur because of added heat / energy Color change or change in smell usually indicate a chemical change.

Process your own chocolate