Single-Origin Chocolate
April 26, 2012
The cacao tree is the source of all the chocolates in the world. It grows in abundant and rich soils in tropical rainforests, located around a global belt that is situated from 10 degrees north to 10 degrees south of the Equator.
While the source of the cacao flavor comes through the genetics of the plant, the drying and fermenting process of the cacao beans after harvest are large contributing factors. Aside from that, the rich composition of soil in the tropics, as well as the climate, contributes to the varying regional differences in the flavors of these cacao beans.
Have you ever heard about Single-Origin Chocolate? Single-origin chocolate indicates that the cocoa beans used to produce the bar are from one specific region or country.
The processes of producing chocolate vary among the many and varying regions of Venezuela such as the Chuao, Porcelana, Maracaibo and Sur del Lago; to the regions of Java in the Pacific, Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean and Sao Tome, a far flung island off the west coast of Africa.
Different types of chocolates are produced from different areas, and their tastes can serve as a geographic point of reference.
Just so you know, Single Origin Cacao pertains to a pure and monorigin cacao that has been cultivated in one particular region or any chocolate that is derived from these beans.
On the other hand, Grand Cru Cacao is a term originally coined for a larger area origin bar, composed of a mixture of beans originating from South America rather than a specific country or region within. Premier Cru/Estate Grown Cacao is also a marketing term.
These days chocolate bar manufacturers like to promote their cacao origins so if they produce from a specific region they are likely to put that on the label. Take a look next time you grab a bar. Chocolate may originate from different parts of the world, but one thing's for sure, chocolate tastes divine in every form or type.
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Interesting – I have to admit I had not given a lot of thought to the difference between Grand Cru and single origin. This is an amazing article – thank you!