Cocoa – Fruits of Kerala, India

March 24th, 2007 | admin

Tall trees densely foliated right from the bottom through the top bearing fruits the size of 10-15 inches is not a rare sight in Kerala. Introduced to India, this tree is now a friend of Kerala farmers. The shades of Western Ghats prepare a unique setting for cocoa trees. Cocoa trees are cultivated on a commercial scale in Kerala, India. Cocoa cultivation in Kerala is mainly as an intercrop to coconut and areca nut farms.

Cocoa trees generally have very tiny white flowers (3-4mm) flowers throughout the year. Fruits first appear as tiny green pods, which grow to a size of 10-15 inches, oblong and grooved. The skin of the fruit, the shell is about 1-3 cm thick, which when broken by hitting against a hard object like stone, (not cut with a knife because it can damage the seeds) there appear 30-50 triangular seeds wrapped on milky to creamy fleshy covering, which is a delicacy.

The main usable part is the seeds or beans, which is sent to processing units to produce chocolate beverages or uncountable types.

Cocoa trees are planted in high-humus content loamy soil for maximum yields. The tree can also suffer if exposed to heavy winds. Keeping in close heels with Kerala, the other south Indian states, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh too have started cultivating cocoa on a large scale.