:: Chocolate Information Center ::



The Cocoa Producing Areas
These all lie in the vicinity of the equator, and are bounded to the north and south by the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

This region of tropical rain-forests, with its moist, windless climate and constant warmth provides ideal conditions for the growth and well-being the cocoa tree.

The oldest plantations are in the northern areas of South America; for, after all, Mexico, Venezuela and Equador are regarded as the original home of cocoa.

At a later date the cultivation of cocoa spread southward, mainly to Brazil, and at the end of the last century, spread to the equatorial regions of West Africa. The Ivory Coast and Brazil are today the most productive areas in the world. Ghana, once the most important world producer, is losing its importance owing to ageing of the plantations.

These are followed by Nigeria and the Cameroons. In the islands of South-East Asia, cocoa was established very early, but only small quantities of good quality are produced.

Storage
The imported raw cocoa is subject to a strict quality control. If the result of the test is satisfactory the raw cocoa - particularly in larger chocolate factories - is first stored before undergoing further processing.

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