Yes.. i have eaten a lot during my childhood days..
On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Yazdy Palia <[email protected]> wrote: > Correction Mahadeshwara Ji, The fruit is not used for manufacture of > chocolates, but the seeds are fermented, dried and then sent to the > manufacturers for the manufacture of chocolates. The fruits are cut > open and the seeds are removed. You will find plenty of dried fruits > which appear like coconut shell all over in these plantations. I must > however admit, the fruit is very sweet and children are found eating > it when ripe. Birds, squirrels and macaques too enjoy it. > Regards > Yazdy. > On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 4:28 PM, Mahadeswara <[email protected]> wrote: > > Thanks for the nice photographs and info. The tree is cultivated on > > large scale in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka for its fruits used for > > manufacture of chocolates. > > > > On Mar 1, 12:07 pm, Bhatt Sweta <[email protected]> wrote: > >> *Theobroma cacao* or the *cocoa tree* > >> Location: Jeejamata Udhyan > >> Family: Sterculiaceae > >> > >> *Theobroma cacao* genetics seem to show that the plant originated in the > >> Amazon > >> The scientific name *Theobroma* means "food of the gods". > >> > >> The flowers are produced in clusters directly on the trunk and older > >> branches; they are small, 1–2 cm (1/2–1 in) diameter, with pink calyx. > >> Cacao flowers are pollinated by tiny flies, *Forcipomyia* midges in the > >> order Diptera > >> > >> The fruit is called a cacao pod and contains 20 to 60 seeds, usually > called > >> "beans", embedded in a white pulp, which form the main ingredient for > the > >> CHOCOLATE!! > >> > >> Each seed contains a significant amount of fat (40–50%) as cocoa butter. > >> Their most noted active constituent is theobromine, a compound similar > to > >> caffeine. > >> > >> -- > >> *Bhatt Shweta* > >> *Asso. Prof.,* > >> TCSC, > >> *Doctoral Research Student,* > >> M.S.U. > >> > >> Theobroma cacao.jpg > >> 108KViewDownload > >> > >> Theobroma cacao (1).jpg > >> 156KViewDownload > -- *Manudev K Madhavan* Junior Research Fellow Systematic & Floristic Lab, Department of Botany, Centre for Postgraduate Studies & Research St. Joseph's College, Devagiri Kozhikode- 673 008 Mob: 9496470738
