What Are Cocoa Beans Good For?
Cocoa beans are derived from trees which grow in hot, rainy climates. While still in their pod form, the beans are scientifically known as cacao. Cocoa is the name given to the beans as a manufactured product. Much of the cocoa beans sold and used in the world are grown in Africa and Brazil. Once these beans are harvested, they are available for many uses.
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Food Products
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A common use of cocoa beans is in the production of chocolate. To make chocolate, the beans are roasted and then ground into a paste. This paste can be sweetened and sold as chocolate, or sold in its unaltered form as unsweetened baking chocolate. Some health food sites even suggest snacking on the raw beans for possible antioxidant benefits.
Beverages
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Cocoa beans are used to create beverages. When the beans are shelled and pressed they produce a juice which is fermented and made into wines and liqueurs. Cocoa powder is also used to create chocolate milk.
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Beauty Products
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Cocoa butter is an ingredient in beauty products. Lotions and skin care products may contain cocoa butter for its moisturizing properties. Cocoa butter is created by roasting the beans and then extracting the warm butter from the shells.
Farming
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Farmers use the discarded husks of cocoa pods in feeding animals. These husks are crushed and added in with feed for chickens and other poultry. The husks are also used as organic fertilizer material which is high in potassium.
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References
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