Linguistically, the cacao and cocoa are entirely interchangeable. But due to the more botanical connection of 'cacao,' it has a much more healthy and natural connotation. 'Cocoa,' on the other hand, thanks to its historical usage in Africa and Asia, where mostly low-quality cacao is grown,...
To begin, the cocoa comes from the cacao tree, which is grown in the South American and African continents and the country of Indonesia. Once the pods are ripe and red, they are harvested and the white cocoa beans are removed. Following a period of fermentation, they are then laid out ...
Inside the fruit, a few dozen cacao beans are coated in a slimy white substance. Their pulp is sweet and tasty, but it’s what’s inside them that ultimately makes the magic happen. Cacao is interesting because, like coffee, the tree prefers shady spots. It’s also quite finicky, prefer...
There are just three main varieties of cacao bean: Forastero is the most commonly grown bean by far because it's the hardiest tree and yields the most beans. Its beans also have the strongest chocolate flavor. Criollo falls on the other end of the spectrum. It's known for a more comp...
There are other benefits to using lab wood too. Lab grown wood can be handled to take on any shape — like 3 D printing — so it may be possible to build a table without glue or screwing parts together. Beckwith, a mechanical engineering PhD student, was inspired by a visit to a far...
Coffee bushes grow up to 3.5 meters tall and are found in wild form only in Ethiopia. The bushes bear fruit, which we call coffee cherries. Coffee beans are the seeds of these cherries. Unlike local cherries, the kernel consists of two parts or two coffee beans. ...
There are just three main varieties of cacao bean: Forastero is the most commonly grown bean by far because it's the hardiest tree and yields the most beans. Its beans also have the strongest chocolate flavor. Criollo falls on the other end of the spectrum. It's known for a more comp...
The founders of Soul Chocolate networked in the industry to make connections with regional cacao farmers. Alternatively, for commodities like cacao and coffee beans, look for a distributor or broker who works directly with farmers. Team up with other small-batch producers to purchase bulk wholesale...
However, nowadays, they're extracted from other types of red seaweeds that are grown in the Philippines, Tanzania and Indonesia. Carrageenans perform pretty averagely at reducing the size of ice crystals. But they have a strong effect on texture, producing a rich and creamy mouth-feel that's...
I also always carry supplements of Vitamin B12 and D3 – something most people, vegan or not, are deficient in – as well as lysine supplements for when my diet has too much soy and too little lentils / kidney beans, which can cause an imbalance of essential amino acids (read here). ...