Fava di cacao

Cocoa plantations, which are the backbone of the world’s chocolate supply, are highly vulnerable to climate hazards, such as heatwaves, droughts, seasonal shifts, and erratic rainfall. A new project by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Inte

The unrefined cacao bean; comes from the tree’s Latin name, Theobroma cacao; high in antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and other nutrients; can be powdered (non-processed) or broken up into pieces. Processed (to remove cocoa butter) into a powder; is so

As Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz famously said, “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” If Schulz says we should have more chocolate in our lives, then count me in! But not just any chocolate will do—the focus he

Barbecue was supposed to be the side business at Tejas Chocolate Craftory when it opened in Tomball in 2015. Scott Moore Jr. and his partner, Michelle Holland, knew that chocolate alone wouldn’t pay the rent for the charming 1907 house they found for

Shadows came to light through a tragic global pandemic that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands amid confusion and tension about how to keep ourselves and one another safe. Environmental destruction, political polarity, rampant police brutalit

Despite being one of New Zealand’s most loved and trusted brands, as the lens of society changes the demand for ethical products has risen. Meaning, Whittaker’s needed a long-term plan to retain its increasingly consumer conscious consumer base. Good

Protein and fibre-packed brownies for the 3pm snack attack or dessert on the couch with Netflix. These brownies are beautifully sweetened naturally with the Medjool dates and the Lakanto Chocolate Topping. Makes: 16 brownies 20 soft Medjool dates (ap

Seema Manchanda is a traveller, explorer and nature lover, who runs her parenting blog www.seemamanchanda.com. She is an enterprising and evolved mum, following a sustainable and natural lifestyle as she raises her two daughters. Festivals are such

Chocolate production begins at the cocoa tree, where cocoa pods containing cocoa beans in a cotton wool-like pulp are harvested between the months of October and December. The beans are placed between layers of banana leaves for six days to drain the

One of the great medical misconceptions of the 20th century was that you do not grow new brain cells. The last few decades have shown that in the olfactory bulb (smell) and the hippocampus (memory and cognitive processes), new neurons can grow throug

Some of the most commonly talked about ingredients in cacao (the raw material from which cocoa is made) are the flavanols and studies show that these can lower your blood pressure. Researchers looking at measures of cardiovascular ageing found that d

The key tool for harvesting the pods from a cocoa tree is a long staff like this one with a flat blade on the end. Since cocoa pods ripen at different rates, mechanisation of this process isn’t possible and clipping pods off the tree remains the meth

The Royal Navy becomes Britain’s biggest single consumer of chocolate as cocoa is identified as the ideal non-alcoholic, hot beverage for sailors to enjoy when on watch duty. The association is so strong that sailors take to calling cold northwesterl

Couverture, melts, bits, cacao... there are many different terms in the world of chocolate. And, as much as we love all chocolate, the type you use for cooking will make a big difference. Learn the ins and outs of this delicious ingredient for precis

Once upon a time, bananas were considered a “superfood,” but today’s health-minded folk are continually on the hunt for new, exciting items that pack a nutritional punch. Currently on trend: adding all manner of plant-based powders to food and drinks

DARKER CHOCOLATE BARS—those with 70- to 80-plus cacao percentages—are more popular than ever. And very dark chocolate bars—those with cacao percentages in the 90-plus range—not only contain less sugar per bar than lower-cacao chocolates but also offe

These no-bake bars are super-easy to make and a more nutritious option than manufactured energy bars. Dates provide three different types of sugar – glucose, fructose and sucrose – which are perfect for fuelling high-intensity activities longer than

Book indigenous-owned and-operated tours and accommodations such as these and your travel dollars will benefit the people whose culture you experience. Respect for nature runs deep among the Sámi, the native people of far northern Europe. The tour co

PEACH COBBLER AND ballpark peanuts have something in common: They’re classic American dishes built on decidedly un-American crops. The state fruit of Georgia originated in China, while peanuts (just like “Irish” potatoes) hail from South America. The

Theobroma cacao or the cacao (cocoa) tree is native to the deep tropical regions of South America from Mexico to the Amazon. (The terms “cacao” and “cocoa” are interchangeable, but for the sake of consistency “cacao” has been used throughout this art

Deep in the shady forests of Central America, there grows a funny-looking tree called the cacao. Its trunk sprouts football-sized fruits in colors of reddish brown, green, purple, or yellow. But inside is magic. Each pod holds 20 to 50 large bean-lik

The year is 700 CE. In what is now Guatemala, a tall city rises out of the jungle. This is Tikal, one of the great cities of the ancient Maya. In its market square, traders sell obsidian knives and jade from the mountains, shells from the sea, and co

It’s February, which means it’s time to celebrate chocolate—and your heart! Did you know that cacao beans have almost twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times the amount found in green tea? The same beans that create an almost heavenl

It may seem like a cliche stereotype, but it doesn’t seem like too many men actually know their way around the oven. Interestingly enough, the art of baking is a lot cooler than you’d think. Imagine it. Preparing your own biscuits, cakes, or even bre

Chocolate needs little introduction. The word will immediately call to mind melted, velvety textures, complex and bittersweet flavors, and rich aromas. First discovered and cultivated by the Olmecs in Mexico, the cacao tree would eventually find its

Cocoa butter is the natural fat found in cocoa beans. When cocoa mass (ground cocoa beans) is pressed, it produces cocoa solids and cocoa butter – the latter is prized for its ability to melt just below normal body temperature (the reason why chocola

Do you like your chocolate sweet and creamy, bitter and dark, or perhaps a bit fruity or with notes of smoke? Whatever flavor you desire, rest assured there’s a bar for that. As the global demand for chocolate keeps growing, amounting to $98 billion

What comes to mind when you think about chocolate? A candy bar at Halloween? Ice cream on a hot day? You probably have your own favorites. But for Ibrahim, a 12-year-old boy from the west African country of Ghana, chocolate isn’t about sweet treats;

Aztecs believed that chocolate was the gift from a god, and most people today would probably agree that it is a heavenly treat. The ingredients of this exotic and ancient food gets its complex flavors from the fruit of cacao trees. In fact, it might

Many people enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day or a gooey candy bar as an afternoon treat. So rumors predicting that chocolate would disappear from the planet by the mid-21st century sent chocoholics into a frenzy. Fortunately, thos