How to make chocolate from the beginning? First you need to consider the land and soil to grow cacao trees. On the surface, you would thnk that something that produces the delicious chocolate would be found all over the world and would be easy to cultivate. But, the fact of the matter is that cocoa and its cultivation is not an easy matter. It needs the right kind of soil, climate etc. for it to be cultivated in abundance. The cacao tree is a native of South America. Cacao can be grown only in tropical climates. It has to be shielded from wind and drought. The rainfall can be high or low but it has to be distributed uniformly.

Experts agree that soils rich in potash and lime (e.g., those obtained by the decomposition of certain volcanic rocks) are good for cacao. An open sandy or loamy alluvial soil is considered to be ideal for the growth of cacao. The physical condition of the soil is equally important. For instance, heavy clays or water-logged soils are bad. The depth of soil required depends on the nature of the soil. A stiff soil discourages the growth of the tap root, which in good porous soil is generally seven or eight feet long. The soil, which is continually washed down by the rains into the rivers, is continually renewed by decomposition of the bed rock. In the tropics this decomposition is more rapid than in temperate climates. Manure is useful to get a bountiful crop. Mulching is also a recommended option to increase the nutritional value of the soil.


tags: chocolate, cacao tree, grow cacao tree, cacao land and soil, cacao tree cultivation

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