Chocolate, Chocolate & More Chocolate!
Chocolate, by far one of the best things ever made! I mean, who doesn't love chocolate??? There's so many different types of chocolate to choose from, so many things that taste absolutely delicious with chocolate.
You've got a slab of chocolate, chocolate ice cream, chocolate flavoured yogurt, chocolate cake, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip pancakes, chocolate pudding, chocolate milkshakes, you can't forget about brownies, the list literally just goes on and on.
We have all that to enjoy but what's important is how we got to having all that, which is what we'll be finding out in this post.
Where does it all start?
It all starts with a Theobroma cacao tree. The theobroma cacao tree can only be grown in a tropical climate and it needs shade to be able to grow properly. In order to make sure that the tree doesn't get too much sunlight, it is usually planted near other trees that will provide enough shade for the tree.
The cacao tree produces pods that are about the size of little pumpkins, which is where the cacao beans are. When you open the pod you'll find little milky white beans. 
Before we get cocoa, these beans have to be dried out, roasted, and then the beans get cut into little pieces called cocoa nibs. But that's not all, heat and pressure will be used next to take out all the liquid left in them, the two liquids that will come out are cocoa butter and cocoa liquor. Once that's done, the cocoa butter and cocoa liquor will be mixed in with milk powder and sugar to create what we all love!
The top countries in the world that grow cacao trees are Ghana, Ecuador, Nigeria, Peru, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, Cameroon, Dominican Republic and Cote d'Ivoire.
What is the difference between cacao and cocoa?
Cacao is the bean and cocoa is the product that is made from the cacao bean.
Believe it or not but chocolate actually has some healthy goodies in it!
Which healthy goodies does cocoa have?
Cocoa is very rich in the following minerals:
- calcium
- magnesium
- iron
- manganese
- copper
- potassium
- selenium
- zinc
Remember that zinc helps develop and produce new cells while also helping the immune system. Magnesium maintains a healthy heart rhythm and provides the body with energy. Iron is very good for the body because it is responsible for making red blood cells and carrying oxygen throughout the body. Manganese plays an important role in the formation of cartilage and bones, while reducing PMS symptoms. In addiction to all that, manganese acts as an antioxidant throughout the body and metabolizes nutrients. Potassium helps to maintain a healthy balance of fluids in the body, helps your kidneys to filter blood and it triggers your heart to squeeze blood throughout your body. Selenium helps to detoxify your liver, boosts your immune system, consuming selenium will keep your hair and skin looking very healthy. Copper plays a very important role in maintaining collagen, supporting bone density, relieving arthritis, boosting energy and so much more!
Although consuming chocolate has great health benefits I think it's good to know that in most cases, it's better to have raw chocolate or even dark chocolate. It is much more healthier than the usual milk or white chocolate.
Image sources:
the food of gods, I had a reading passage about chocolate which I shared with my students :)
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STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
How could I see this post and not upvote it? I mean, CHOCOLATE!!!!
Hahahaha, I'm guessing you're a chocolate addict too???😊
Really interesting. I'd never seen pictures of the pods where the beans are. That's really cool to see. Great post.
Thank you!