Chocolate is a sacred indulgence and an aphrodisiac! It’s a desired treat that people have grown to love for its mouth-watering, sugary goodness. Ever wondered what chocolate is made of? The Greek word theobroma, which is the cacao tree’s botanical name, means Òfood of the gods.Ó The seeds of the cacao tree are used to produce luscious, delectable chocolate and cocoa solids – one of the most popular flavors in the world.
Cacao trees are grown in native to lowland, tropical areas. Hawaii provides tropical climate, such as in Kauai, on the eight-acre site of Steelgrass Farm. This farm is a family-owned business, growing many diversified crops. Tony Lydgate, who owns the property, is very knowledgeable and passionate about farming cacao on Kauai as an economically valuable plant.
Steelgrass Farm is a unique chocolate farm focused mainly on growing cacao trees to produce the fruit to make the chocolate, rather than making chocolate, itself. "We’re a teaching farm, concentrating on educating Kauai neighbors about the economic viability of cacao, vanilla and timber bamboo, as components of a sustainable diversified agriculture future for our island," Lydate emphasized.
College of Communication faculty member, Marianne Luken took a workshop there last year called "Chocolate From branch to bar." Luken actually lives in Kauai and commutes back and forth to Oahu to teach. Steelgrass Farm is located on Kauai’s East Side, above the town of Kapaa, about an eight-minute drive from Luken’s house.
Luken took interest in Lydgate’s educational tour through the stages of growing cacao and making chocolate. Luken saw about 30-40 well-tended cacao trees of two different varieties. "Part of the experience included tasting unique chocolates from around the world and chocolate treats made on the premises by an expert chocolate chef," said Luken.
Lydate’s motivation provides possibilities for creating a cooperative to produce enough cacao beans to warrant the purchase of specialized equipment to manufacture chocolate on Kauai. Steelgrass Farm is committed to establishing a homegrown chocolate industry on the island, giving residents and visitors the knowledge and skills of also being part-time farmers. Luken now has two little chocolate trees at her home grown from seeds that she got at the workshop.
As a chocolate lover, what a great pleasure to have a delicious treat growing right in the back of your yard! For more information visit Steelgrass Farm at www.steelgrass.org.
From a cacao bean to a chocolate bar
These are the many steps involved in processing raw cacao into nibs that create flavorful finished chocolate.
• In the chocolate orchard, the ripened pods containing cacao beans are harvested from the trunk and branches of the cacao trees. First, the pods are sliced open. Inside each pod are beans covered in white pulp. The beans and the pulp that surround it are removed from the pod.
• After extracting the cacao beans from the pod, they are thrown in piles or bins to ferment. The seeds of the cacao tree have an intense bitter taste. The fermentation process is what gives the beans their familiar chocolate taste.
• The beans must then be quickly dried to prevent mold growth. The beans are spread out on racks to slowly dry in the sun.
• The dried beans are then cleaned to remove excess germs, twigs, stones, and other debris. The beans are roasted, and graded. Next, the shells are removed to extract the nib, which is partially processed cocoa bean.
• Finally, the nibs are ground, which releases and melts the cocoa butter producing chocolate liquor to make dark, white and milk chocolate that people know and love.
