Chocolate Flashcards
To what plant family does chocolate come from? What species do we cultivate to produce chocolate? What is the significance of this name?
The cotton family. Theobroma cacao, “Theobroma” = “fruit of the gods”
The plant which produces chocolate is native to _______.
Central and South America
What climate is necessary for the cultivation of cacao plants?
Needs to be wet and warm
What does the fruiting body of the cacao plant look like prior to harvest? How are the different parts used?
A large pod, the seed is commonly used to produce chocolate but the pulp can also be used for consumable products
Where is chocolate consumption assumed to have developed first? Is there any evidence to refute this?
Central America is commonly believed origin, but new evidence suggests people in the amazonian basin of Ecuador consumed chocolate as many early as 1500 years before that
Where is Thobroma cacao though to have been domesticated
Ecuador
How was chocolate originally consumed? By which ancient civilization?
Mayans and Aztecs consumed it as a drink mixed with chili and vanilla as well as colourings, then foamed
Who first brought chocolate back to Europe? When? How was this adapted to European tastes?
Cortes and the Spanish brought it back to Europe (1600) and maintained an early monopoly. Added sugar to make it more palatable
Who is responsible for producing the first chocolate bar? When? What about the invention of milk chocolate?
J.S. Fry out of Bristol (1847). Quakers were behind much of the early production. The Swiss were the first to add milk to chocolate
How are the raw fruiting bodies of Theobroma cacao processed to make chocolate?
Seeds removed > fermentation > drying and roasting (~110 degrees Celsius)
What part of the world is responsible for the majority of cacao cultivation? Where else is it mainly cultivated?
West Africa is the major cultivator, but much is also cultivated in Asia (Indonesia)
What problems have arisen with the cultivation of cacao in West Africa?
Child slavery is a major concern. Workers at cacao plantations are often young and poorly treated
What are the 3 varieties of Theobroma cacao in cultivation today? Which is the largest producer?
- Criollo
- Forastero (largest)
- Trinitario
What makes cacao beans so appealingly for consumption?
They are highly nutritious and contain antioxidants as well as caffeine. Contain phenylethylamine and may act on cannabinoid receptors to induce feelings of euphoria
What is done with the cocoa butter that is removed during chocolate processing?
Different amounts can be removed to regulate ‘solubility’. Cocoa butter is often used in other applications as well (ex. cosmetics)
