Do you know what cacao is?
Have you tasted it already?
Did you know that there's a lot of benefits that come from this fruits?
This is the Cacao tree and the scientific name of it is Theobroma cacao. Did you know that the generic name Theobroma cacao derived from the Greek "food of God", from (theos) meaning "God" and (broma) meaning "Food"?
In connection with my last post about my Masasa experience, part of it is the amazing cacao. That's my first time to taste the fruit. All I knew about cacao seeds before, it was being used for my favorite champurrado and chocolates. Nanay Nita and her husband got us some cacao so we can taste and it tasted like a mangosteen fruit.
What is Cacao?
Cacao trees are the most popular on the planet. Most of the people think that cocoa and cacao are the same. Cacao is the trees while cocoa is the product of it. It was first traced in Central and South America. Planting Cacao has climatic requirements and a good soil to have a growing trees. Philippines became a potent producer of it and one of the world's supplier of cocoa products. It has a lot of good benefits and use.
And this is cacao fruit, the pods vary greatly in shape, size, and color, as cocoa trees cross-pollinate very easily. Once the fruit is ripe, it doesn't fall on the ground like other fruits. It will take time to harvest it. Once the pods has been harvested, they would split it in order to open it but it requires skill and care before you open it. The next stage is fermentation. In order for them to make cocoa products, they will need to complete the fermentation process. It will take about two to six days or so, depending on the beans variety.
The benefits of Cacao;
Antioxidants
A natural mood elevator
Anti-Depressants
Reduces Appetite and help weight loss - rich in fiber
Builds of strong bones
Helps with healthy pancreas functioning
Fight tooth decay
Skin cancer prevention
Detoxifies the liver
Helps the cardiovascular health
Helps to reduce PMS Systems and regulate it
Anti-aging and rejuvenation
Assist is regulating heartbeat and blood pressure
Create loads and boost energy
Balances the brain chemistry
source: http://dailysuperfoodlove.com/2852/21-fantastic-benefits-of-cacao/
