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.
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.
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
