​​FIND YOUR FAVORITE CHOCOLATE Tasting Kit
At Home Chocolate Tasting Party in a Box. $10 for kit Plus $10 per person.
Includes: Instruction Guide for party host, Tasting Wheel, Tasting Chart, sample plates, tongs, 13 chocolate samples, compound chocolate, single source, beans from 4 countries and truffles. A fun way to expand your chocolate palate and knowledge with friends and family.
For more information or to order 303-359-4916, stormlori5@gmail.com
Tasting Party Leader Guide: Illustrations for page 2 History and Production of Cacao
The Photos were taken at Maya Mountain Belize Small Growers Coop.
Theobroma Cacao trees grow between 20 degrees north and south of the equator. The large hard shelled fruit, cacao pods come in a variety of colors .
The pods are hand picked and individually cracked opened with a machete
The fermented beans are placed on racks to dry in the sun for several days. Then shipped in large bags to wholesale bulk buyers to be roasted.
Indigenous Shamans and Healers use cacao in hot water as a medium for herbs to this day. Cacao is rich in flavonoid antioxidants, iron, magnesium, calcium and mood boosting neurotransmitters.
The Pods contain about 30 seeds encased in a unique sticky sweet tart ivory pulp that is left on for fermentation.
Beans with pulp are scooped out of the pods and placed in large bins to ferment for several days.
These beans were ground into Cacao Mass, a hard brick.
Cocoa mass is then put in a conche mixer for several days. Other ingredients are added to make chocolate: sugar, milk powder etc. to give it a smooth texture and flavor.