Description

Cacao seeds come from an evergreen tree. They grow in the lowland rain forests in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in western Africa and tropical areas of Asia. The seeds are referred to as cocoa beans. The cocoa bean pods are harvested when ripe, and the damp seeds extracted after drying for 10 days. They are then fermented and dried additionally before they are ready for consumption. The cocoa beans are not generally eaten as a stand alone snack, however, and are instead used in other recipes, such as used in chocolate products as well as cosmetic products.