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The Cocoa Tree (Theobroma cacao) is an Evergreen tree that grows in tropical climates such as Ghana. The cocoa tree requires a few factors in order to grow including; a tropical climate (heat and humidity), 60+ inches of rain, and shade from other trees.
Cocoa trees begin to mature and yield pods and flowers around four years. Mature pods have a yellowish orange color and have an average weight of 1lb. Inside the pods are the actual cocoa beans. However, before the fermentation process, the seeds appear to be white and are embedded in a slimy pulp. The seeds originally have more of a fruity taste than that of the expected cocoa.
The flowers on the cocoa trees have a pinkish color and they grow right on the trunk of the tree. The flowers require pollination by tiny flies rather than a bee as other flowers need. The flowers must be pollinated before the tree can produce the pods that carry the cocoa seeds.
