Cocoa beans - Criollo-Trinitario

What is the raw cocoa bean?

The cocoa bean is this little marvel produced by the cocoa tree which, in fine, will offer you the delicious chocolates that you consume more or less regularly. If we refer to Aztec mythology, it is to the god of vegetation, Quetzalcoatl, that we owe the cocoa bean today. According to the legend, it is he who taught men how to cultivate the cocoa tree. The raw cocoa bean has been used since ancient times by the Aztecs. The first traces of its use date back to the 19th century BC. If today it has a real gustatory value, it had at the time a pecuniary value. Indeed, it was used as currency to pay taxes, for the dowry of the marriage, and even to buy slaves. The story goes that the Aztecs introduced the cocoa bean to Christopher Columbus, who did not see its true value at the time. It was the Spaniards who brought the cocoa bean to Europe. At the time, an Aztec emperor made Hernán Cortés taste the famous Xocolatl, the equivalent of a chocolate drink. This is certainly what made all the difference, even if the Spaniards later added sugar to make this drink much sweeter. In France, the raw cocoa bean did not appear immediately. Indeed, following the rejection of King Louis XIV who did not appreciate chocolate, this ingredient did not have the expected success until the 20th century. I propose you here a wonderful raw cocoa bean from the Madagascar Coast, that is to say a bean that has not been roasted yet.

What is the flavor of raw cocoa beans?

The raw cocoa bean is quite bitter. Imagine eating a 100% chocolate bar for a moment, this will give you an idea of how it feels when you taste it.

Harvesting the raw cocoa bean

The raw cocoa bean is a fruit of the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao. This evergreen tree belongs to the genus Theborma of the Sterculiaceae family. The cocoa bean is not visible, it is hidden in a pod that contains several rows of seeds. Depending on the size of the pod, it is possible to harvest up to 50-60 seeds. The pods are broken by hand. At the time of harvesting, the cocoa bean is not yet ready to be eaten. It is covered with a white sticky film called "mucilage". This film melts during the fermentation stage. The cocoa beans are left to ferment for a few days before being dried. The beans are placed in the sun for a few weeks until they reach a low moisture content.

How to use raw cocoa beans?

Cocoa beans are not often used raw. And for good reason: we are not used to this ingredient in this form. For us, cocoa is minimally roasted, or even in bar or powder form, and therefore processed. Here you find the essence of cocoa. The raw cocoa bean symbolizes purity, nature, it is up to you to imagine what you can do with it. Note that the raw cocoa bean can be eaten as you would an almond or a pistachio. However, you have to appreciate the bitterness, the first tasting remains a real experience. In this form, you can perfectly enjoy it for breakfast or as an aperitif, just as you would eat a nut or a hazelnut. Afterwards, you are free to eat the raw cocoa bean in your own way. You can also choose to roast, crush or powder it. The reason I chose to sell you a raw cocoa bean is simply so that you can really feel the origin of the chocolate and feel free to use it as you wish.

Our recipe ideas with raw cocoa beans

The starter: goat's cheese salad with raw cocoa beans

As a starter, I suggest you try a delicious warm goat's cheese salad. It is a rather traditional dish made of goat cheese, green salad, small matchsticks and vinaigrette. This time, forget the traditions and grate a little raw cocoa bean on your salad, it will bring a bit of surprising bitterness to the palate, but far from being unpleasant.

The dish: duck leg and raw cocoa bean

Let's continue with this slightly sweet-salty atmosphere, but not too much since the cocoa bean is above all bitter. This time, I invite you to cook a duck leg in a pot with various spices according to your taste, adding, at the end of cooking, some good fresh cream from the farm. In the middle of cooking, add the cocoa beans. You can grate them or simply cook them whole to give your sauce more taste.

Dessert: Mango and raw cocoa bean panna cotta

For dessert, let's finish on a sweet note with a mango panna cotta. This dessert, which can be a little too sweet, will be counterbalanced by small pieces of grated raw cocoa bean on top.

The health benefits of raw cocoa beans

Raw cocoa is very good for your health. This little natural wonder has a lot of virtues. By eating raw cocoa beans, you improve your cardiovascular health and regulate your blood pressure. It also helps to reduce bad cholesterol. Rich in theobromine, raw cocoa beans are stimulating and are ideal for people who do not like coffee, especially as the stimulation is more effective over time. The cocoa bean being at the origin of cocoa, it is recognized for its soothing virtues, especially since it is rich in magnesium which acts effectively against stress.

The conservation of raw cocoa beans

I invite you to keep your raw cocoa beans away from humidity and light to preserve their taste and properties.