G. P. W. Collection. [Plate XCIII]
Theobroma Cacao.
CHOCOLATE, COCOA.
In Hawaii this tropical tree grows to a height of from 10 to 30 feet. It has large, pointed leaves, and the new growth is wine-colored. The flowers appear on the trunk and mature branches, and the fruit which follows is about 8 to 12 inches long, and is called the pod; inside of this pod are beans or seeds, from which the commercial product called cocoa is made, through a process of drying and curing. Chocolate is the term used for the sweetened preparations of the roasted and ground beans, with a large proportion of the original fat retained. Cocoa preparations are the same material in fine powder, sweetened and unsweetened, with a greater part of the fat extracted.
Cacao cultivation has never been successfully attempted in Hawaii. However, a few isolated trees can be found at Ahuimanu Ranch, Oahu, where they were planted by the Catholic brothers as an experiment some years ago.
Plate XCIII.—Chocolate, Cocoa.
One fourth natural size.