From Seed to Sapling

But some growers do not have research centers nearby. They therefore choose their own seeds from the market, sow the seeds in a nursery and plant them in their plantations.

Not a lot of people are interested in knowing how cocoa seeds are grown are grown. But is not it interesting to know the story behind the tasty stuff that we so much are in love with? Yes, I am talking of chocolates and particularly about the popular types like DomoriDark Chocolate. You should not forget that these chocolates come from a seed and farmers undergo a very hard labor to finally give to the world such delicious and healthy stuffs.

A Cocoa grower basically has two ways. He can either very good quality seeds or can also go directly for young seedlings that can directly be planted in the plantations.

If a farmer looks forward to produce a lot, it is suggested that he chooses the biggest pods from the trees that bear a lot of fruits. It is scientifically proven that the new plant contains the good qualities of the tree and hence yields many big pods. It is also believed that the best seeds are those that come from the middle of the pod. Many countries also practice the sowing of cocoa seeds directly in the plantations. But it is not considered a very wise practice as you are not able to choose the seedling.

The next is the lifting of saplings from the nursery bed. One should keep an eye on them and see if two leaves have developed. This is a sign that the saplings are ready and now can be planted in the ground by digging a hole. You will be happy to hear that the Belgian Chocolates are also made from pure cocoa that come from these plantations.

For further details about Belgian Chocolates please visit the website.

Preparing the Cocoa Plantation Sites

If you are not aware of what it requires for Cocoa to grow well, understand that more than anything else, it needs soil of good structure that is permeable in nature. Cocoa tree has tap roots. This means that the roots descend straight into the soil with its branch roots going very deep too. So if the soil contains a lot of humus, the roots penetrate well. The chocolaty stuffs that you have today are the result of great cultivation. Whether it is Valrhona WhiteChocolate Chips or any other type, good work starts at the very basic level.

Sometimes, the soil is not that rich and lacks a good structure. In such cases, one can spread manure and work it into the soil. The better the soil, the deeper the roods can go. Therefore, it is suggested that you do not plant cocoa in soils that contain a lot of stones below its surface.

One very important activity that is needed to be done is clearing the site. In places like Africa, cocoa is grown in forest regions. So, this means that in order to plant cocoa, one has to clear the site and make it suitable for plantation.

The traditional method asked for cutting down the trees and burning everything down. But this can never be a good way as by doing so, one destroys all the organic matter in the weed, leaves and branches, leaving the soil bare to the sun and rain. This makes the soil lose fertility.

You should also remember that cocoa saplings require a lot of shade at the young level. Therefore to keep the area shady, it is always better to keep a few of the forest trees uncut. And it is also wise not to burn all that is cut. Leaving them on the ground would mean that the soil will be protected from erosion. Once the cultivation is successful, the growers enjoy what they reap and cocoa reaches us in the form of Cocoa Powder from Valrhona or any other brands.

For further details about Cocoa Powder from Valrhona please visit the website.

Taking Care of the Plantation

Cocoa seeds are chosen, planted in beds and then when ready further shifted and planted in the ground.

In the mean time, the sites are also cleared before planting. But the duty of the grower does not end here. He still got a lot to do as if he leaves it there and does not take good care of his plantation, he would not be able to earn good money. It does not matter where it is grown. Cocoa has a high value in the market and has international customers like Michel Cluizel.

Sometimes, it is seen that certain seeds do not grow well. They either remain small or die due to various reasons. In the days that follow your day of plantation, you need to see if the trees are growing well. In case you see diseased or dead cocoa, you should pull them out and burn them. It is wise to burn those encircling them in order to prevent diseases of swollen shoot.

Weeding is a very essential step to be followed after the saplings are planted. Manly weeds grow among the cocoa trees. So, one should see that the weeds do not take the nourishment away from the cocoa trees. Therefore weeding is regarded as an extremely necessary step.

It is also to be noted that one does not leave any bare soil. It is suggested that you cover the soil with either cut weeds or palm fronds. This is a way of protecting the soil against the scorching sun and erosion. The weeds that are cut and left to dry there out in the sun slowly rot and this gives the soil organic matter which is great for the soil. This will aid in the growth and production of cocoa.

In order to get the best quality cocoa chocolates, you can go for Belgian Chocolates that are also sold online.

For further details about Belgian Chocolates please visit the website.

Natural and Dutch Process Cocoa Powder

Cocoa, one of the major ingredients of chocolates available in the market comes in a number of types.

It is sure that only the people who are frequently used to buying these stuffs in bulk are more experienced in choosing the right quality. But again, it differs with the use as different recipes have their own unique requirements. So, let us first be clear with the two major types of cocoa powder – the natural and the Dutch Process one.

In order to make the right choice, you should first be sure of which one you need and the one that you prefer. There is a difference. The one you require might not be the one you like. Then you should decide on whether to go with preference or stick to whatever is mentioned in the recipe.

There are two basic kinds of cocoa that are easily available and they do differ by colour, taste and flavor in the general level. They are divided into Natural and Dutch Process.

Natural or Non-Alkalized

With all chocolaty flavors and a bit of fats, cocoa powder is bitter in taste and strong in nature since it is concentrated. It is the pure, roasted cocoa beans from which fats are removed and ground to a fine powder. The finest of natural cocoa retains the true flavors and richness of cocoa bean. But the market today is filled with ones that lack purity. These are generally not up to the mark in terms of quality and tastes harsh. Callebaut Baking Cocoa Powder is one of the finest quality of natural cocoa powder.

Dutch Process or Alkalized

The natural cocoa goes through a chemical process that is carried out to reduce the harshness. The product that is manufactured in the process loses the flavor and darkens the colour. This makes it appear chocolatier. Valrhona Powder is one of the best qualities available in the market today.

For further details about Valrhona Powder please visit the website.