Organic Cocoa Beans – Crushed

Flavor

These crushed cocoa beans are true dark chocolate. If you taste it carefully, you can detect light notes of fruit and nuts.

Origin

Cocoa beans, the seeds of the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao), are commonly used to make cocoa mass, powder, chocolate and a variety of candy. We should also mention that some Native tribes used them as heating agents. And it was the Native Americans who discovered cocoa's ability to give energy and improve mood. In the pre-Columbian era, they were recognized not only as a source of valuable nutrients but also as a currecny. For the Aztecs, the seeds were a gift to the god Quetzalcoatl, and the Mayans sacrificed them to their own gods.

The cocoa tree, which name comes from the Greek (god-theos, food-broma), is a tree originally widely distributed from southeastern Mexico to the Amazon basin. However, recent studies have also identified it in Peru. It grows in humid forests and has been grown on purpose as early as 1900-900BC.

Fruiting about the fifth year after seeding, it can have up to 6,000 flowers per year but only 20 fruits. There are usually about 40 seeds hidden in these. Farmers harvest the whole pods (elongated, grooved cocoa beans) 3-4 times a year. They cut them open using a machete and remove the seeds from the white, sweet flesh. They leave them to ferment for a few days and then dry them in direct sunlight or ovens. They always have to turn them frequently so that they do not mould.

In the case of these crushed beans, no other technology has been used to process them. The raw seeds are chopped into smaller pieces.

The global cocoa bean harvest is 4 million tonnes per year. The largest producers are Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Brazil. Cocoa beans are the main ingredient in chocolate, but the pulp surrounding them is also beneficial. It is used to make refreshing juices, smoothies or jellies. It can also be turned into an alcoholic beverage through distillation, especially in the United States.

Although everyone loves chocolate and cocoa, we are not always clear on whether it is healthy. Scientific studies confirm that cocoa beans contain significant amounts of antioxidants (perhaps the highest of any food in the world), magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, as well as theobromine and caffeine. As a result, they support mental well-being, provide energy and may help prevent certain diseases.

Crushed cocoa beans can be served as nuts. Enjoy them just like that or sprinkle them on desserts, salads or fish. They taste great with a glass of red wine.

Hot chocolate & Hot cocoa packaging preview

Our quality aluminum packaging lacks any bold graphics, as we’d rather focus on the taste of our products. Thanks to the hermetic seal, this container helps the contents keep their freshness and protect them against humidity, light or foreign odors.