The+Cocoa+Plant+-+Group+B

** Ms.Mcgann ** ** Class 6-2 6th Grade Science Curriculum at BCDS April 2010 **
 * Micaela Pierce **

I. **Growing the plant** A. Germinate 1. Keep the tree moist, shaded and, most of all, warm. Wait for the radicle to emerge. a. The tree is kept well shaded by growing in the middle of taller tree's (1) The tree can get to be at least 20-25 ft tall this is because they need from other tree's around them. Cacoa tree's live up to a 100 years they produce not only the fruit but also flowwers. The fruit grows from the trunk not the branches.

II. ** Harvesting ** A. The harvest begins with gathering the cacao fruit or pods. 1. The farmers cut down the fruit with a huge knife called a machetes. The cacaoan is cut in half and shows the pulp that is covering 30-50 beans. The beans are taken out and somewhere sunny so they can dry

III. ** The three main verities ** A. The Criollo 1.variety is mostly found in Central America, this type of cacao does not produce a lot of fruit, so it is mixed in with the other types when making chocolate

B. Forastros 1. This is the most common Cacao. It has a high yield and is very resistant to disease. Not classified as "Fine Grade", this Cacao is used as a base to be blended with superior types of Cacao. Perfumed aroma with a fruity and bitter taste. C. Trinitero 1.This is grown almost exclusively in the Antilles, is a hybrid of the two other varieties and combines the best aspects of both. This plant does not offenly get disease's or damaged. Crillo and many plantations that specialize in fine grade Cacao have been switching from Crillo to Trinitero. It produces generally excellent Cacao, being used more often in "very fine" grade Chocolate. ​ Works Cited //100+Chocolate-Covered Goodies//: n. pag. Print. //Cacao web.net//. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. //The Cacoa Tree//. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. //xocoatl.org//. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. .