I love the smell of my flower bed after it rains. Ahhhh, it smells so chocolatey!
Yep, that’s right, an aroma like brownies baking in an oven. I use cocoa bean shells for mulch and it is true that when it gets wet, it smells delightfully like chocolate.
As the name indicates, cocoa shell mulch is made from the shell of the cocoa bean. These shells come off the bean either during or just prior to the roasting process. The shells are cleaned and packaged for sale as mulch.
Cocoa mulch retains moisture very well and is an excellent protector and insulator for the root systems of plants and shrubs. It lasts longer than regular mulch, smells great and darkens with age.
When shell mulch breaks down, it becomes nutrient rich humus. It is particularly suited for acid-loving plants. My beautiful lavender-pink Rhododendron thanks me every year.
Possibly the only down side is that its not dog-friendly. I don’t own a dog, so I don’t have any direct experience with this, but I have read that dogs are attracted to the chocolate smell and may try to eat the cocoa shells.
Chocolate is dangerous to dogs if they eat it, but there is not enough of the chemical (theobromine) in the shell to cause as serious an injury as a piece of chocolate. If the shells are eaten, the dog may get an upset stomach or an increase in the heart rate. Still, something to think about if you have dog-owning neighbors you want to keep happy!
If there are no dog concerns then pour on the cocoa bean shells. You’ll have the best smelling landscape in your neighborhood.
Why would a person even eat cocoa nibs? Well, nibs are one of nature’s superfoods. They come packed with generous amounts of anti-oxidants, flavanoids and vitamin E. I can tolerate nibs by themselves, but would rather enjoy them coated in chocolate – DARK chocolate.
