Presentation by Peace corps volunteer Elise Mclver in Boquete Panama

1. From
Cacao
to
Chocolate

2. Theobroma, cacao’s scientific
name, means ‘the food and
drink of the gods’

3. After sugar and coffee,
cacao is the third most valued
world food commodity.

4. Cacao Around The World

5. A BRIEF HISTORY OF CACAO:
• Cacao is native to the Americas
and was found growing wild in
the Amazon River Basin.
• Cacao was so valued by
Aztec and Mayan cultures,
the beans were used as currency.

6. Cacao is a
sustainable
option for
farmers, provid
ing income
while avoiding
deforestation.

7. A well
maintained
farm can
produce cacao
all year round.

8. CACAO: A Friend of Biodiversity

9. The Cacao Tree
BUD
BLOSSOM
PODS

10. Bocas Peace Corps
Volunteers are
working to
increase cacao
yields by training
farmers in
pruning, grafting
and disease
control
techniques.

11. Cacao
production can
be increased
through
grafting trees
that are
disease
resistant and
produce more
pods.

12. FROM CACAO POD
TO CHOCOLATE

13. HARVEST

14. DRYING &
FERMENTATION

15. TOASTING
& PEELING

16. HAND GRINDING
& SHAPING

17. In order for this chocolate to make it from a
Panamanian farm to your mouth,
cacao must be:
• harvested,
• fermented for 5 to 7 days,
• dried in sun for 20hrs,
• toasted to perfection
• hand peeled
• and ground.

18. • Fine chocolate is made by
grinding and pressing cacao
beans, adding cacao butter
extracted from other beans, and
then heating the mixture to 135°
F and cooling it to 90° F.

19. Cacao Market

20. Las Chocolateras de Valle Las Perlas

21. FUN FACT:
• The complex flavor of chocolate is
created through the processing of
cacao.
• The result is 550 flavor
compounds.
• A carrot has only 96.

22. CACAO HEALTH BENEFITS
The Kuna Study
•Flavanols: epicatechin
and procyanidins
improve blood vessel
functions.

23. CACAO HEALTH BENEFITS
• High in Antioxidants (flavanols)
• Blood Pressure Benefits
• Lower LDL Cholesterol
• Natural Anti-Depressant
• Cancer Fighter

24. CACAO HEALTH BENEFITS
• Prevents Tooth Decay
• Longer Life and Less Disease
• High in Magnesium
• Artery Cleanup
• Brain Health

25. • "All you need is love. But a
little chocolate now and then
doesn't hurt."
- Charles M. Schulz