Chocolate is one of the most universally loved substances on the planet. It is used to create everything from beauty products to candy. Chocolate derives from cocoa beans produced by cocoa trees. These beans are cured in the sun, roasted and ground into a powder before being processed by chocolatiers. If you want to grow your own cocoa tree you will need to be ready for a very needy plant. However, if you provide your cocoa tree with what it needs to thrive you can expect your first crop of cocoa pods in about three to five years.
Varieties of Cocoa Trees
There are three main varieties of cocoa trees that are grown in the tropical regions of the world. The first variety is called the Criollo. This cocoa tree produces some of the best tasting chocolate in the world. Its beans are very aromatic and have a deep and rich flavor. However, this tree is difficult to cultivate.
The second variety of cocoa tree is the Forastero. This variety is much more hardy than the Criollo, and because of this it is the most commonly cultivated variety.
The third variety of cocoa tree is the Trinitario. It can be found in Trinidad. It is a hybrid of the Criollo and the Forastero.
Growing Conditions
Cocoa trees are tropical plants and as such they require heat and moisture. In order to develop properly and to survive this tree cannot be exposed to temperatures lower than 65 degrees F and it needs to be placed in an environment with high humidity. The light requirements for this tree are also difficult to replicate. It will need deep shade when it is an immature plant, seedling to five years, and it will then need filtered light for the rest of its lifespan.
Container Growing a Cocoa Tree
Container growing a cocoa tree is difficult, but not impossible. The first hurdle you will have to overcome is finding viable cocoa tree seeds. Your best option is to find a supplier in Puerto Rico that can ship you the ripe seeds overnight mail or express mail. This is a necessity as the seeds do not remain viable for very long after they are harvested.
Next you will need to plant your cocoa tree seeds into a large, heavy planter. Make sure you tent the planter with plastic to keep the moisture level high. You will also need to utilize an adjustable growing lamp with a filter. This will allow you to create the heat and the lighting conditions that the cocoa seeding will need to germinate.
As your seedling grows you will need to keep it protected in the plastic tent. Or you can use a greenhouse that has humidity and temperature controls to grow your cocoa tree. Keep in mind that this tree has the potential to grow over 50 feet tall. To keep your container tree manageable you will need to prune it to keep it at a manageable size.
When your cocoa tree matures in between three to five years it will produce delicate, pink and white orchid like blooms. You will need to artificially pollinate your blooms in order for your tree to produce cocoa pods. Once the pods are ripe you can remove them from the tree, open the pods and remove the cocoa beans. You will then need to allow the beans to ferment before you roast and grind them into cocoa powder.
