"Cocoa" in Forum Topics

What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?

10/24/11 10:23:55, by Clay Gordon

Mars just announced that many of its products in the Netherlands will be UTZ certified starting February 2012.Accompanying the announcement was the following "definition" for sustainability.Sustainable cocoa means that it is produced using humanitarian agriculture techniques that are environmentally friendly and offer cocoa farmers a better price.Please share your thoughts on this definition.

Cocoa Helpers

05/25/10 16:30:44, by heather andall

Thanks to The Chocolate Life, I now know the importance of midges or sand flies, as we call them here, in relation to the fertilization of the cocoa flower. Lying under a cocoa tree today, I observed lots of other visitors. Does anyone know if lizards, millipedes, ants, birds or any other insect/ creature play an essential part in the development of the cocoa?

What Price, Cocoa?

10/17/11 14:19:55, by Clay Gordon

Last Friday, the government of Ghana set the minimum price it would pay farmers for the 2011-2012 harvest at US$2000/MT.The price of the beans has been falling on global markets and the government has sacrificed part of its export tax share to help farmers, Finance Minister KwabenaDuffuor said at a news conference [Friday, Oct 14] in Accra, the capital.[FYI, the market price for cocoa on Friday was US$2664.96/MT down from US$3471/MT just this past February. World market commodity prices have...

Pernigotti Cocoa

10/20/11 08:28:01, by Marquette Demarais

Can anyone offer some reviews on Pernigotti Cocoa Powder? I am looking to purchase some to make a cocoa mix to include in gift baskets. Valrhona has great reviews, but it is also up to $6 more per lb. Pernigotti has good reviews on Amazon, but I'd like to hear from chocolatiers. Thanks in advance.

COCOA in Sri Lanka

04/15/11 00:24:28, by Omar Forastero

I will be visiting Sri Lanka soon and would like to pay the cocoa fields a visit. Has anyone been there before? I tried looking it up online but could not find any leads or a specific location.Any leads?

Cocoa pods

02/14/12 23:21:59, by Dirke Botsford

Anyone know where I can get a couple of pods for display and education? Nothin on ebay so any other suggestions?Thanks in advance.CheersDirke

Cocoa mill

03/28/15 20:23:37, by mariano garcia

Any recommendation of machines to grind cocoa, before placing it in the Melanger that is not too expensive?   thanksss

Cocoa species

04/30/10 15:03:55, by K dupuis

Is there really a fourth spieces of cocoa bean in Ecuardor or are they just trying to brand their production as special? Anyone know anything on this.

Cocoa Butter

03/20/13 21:30:18, by Mark J Sciscenti

Hi All, I am looking for a good source of Cocoa Butter, small amounts <5kg, to start. Using it for my r&d for making my own bars.I would prefer organic (whether certified or not). Single origin or blend, and not chemically deodorized.I know this stuff is expensive, but I don't want to lose my shirt on buying cocoa butter...Thanks, - Mark

cocoa in ecuador

04/01/13 08:06:39, by dean2

Hi, I am a raw foodist from New Zealand living in switzerland and have developed the love of making raw chocolate and I am travelling in ecuador at the moment to escape the swiss winter.I really want to buy coca [sic: cocoa is probably what was meant] products and apart from ready made chocolate bars I am struggling to find anywhere I can buy the raw product ie. powder, butter, nibs or anything 100%. Does anyone know anywhere in quito [Ecuador]that I could buy wholesale amounts. Or any other...

Cocoa mass

06/09/12 06:05:11, by Akbar Kaliwala

Hi all,I recently came across a supplier in Ivory Coast who was offering cocoa mass for my enquiry regarding raw materials.My questions:What exactly is cocoa mass?During which stage of extraction do we get cocoa mass?Can it be used to make chocolate?What are the precautions regarding temperature regulation during transit and storage - if any?Is it different than couverture?Looking forward to some answers.Akbar Kaliwala

Ecuadorian cocoa beans

06/28/12 07:40:02, by Maria6

Hello!For my chocolate I use cocoa beans from Venezuela, and I would like to try to make chocolate with Ecuadorian cocoa beans. Have you ever tried to roast Ecuadorian cocoa beans? The taste of the raw beans is not acidI think I will try to roast them at low temperatures ( 260F-280F).What do you think?Thank you in advance!