The cacao tree (Theobroma Cacao) flourishes in the warm and humid tropical rainforests near the equator. The origins of the tree can be traced to the tropical regions of Venezuela, Honduras and Mexico. Some believe that it originally grew in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil or Mexico. Although scientific proof indicates that the real origins of cocoa and chocolate lies in the Ulúa valley in Honduras. Today cocoa is cultivated globally in plantations in the tropical rainforests of Latin America, Asia and Africa.

The largest cocoa producing countries are Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia.
Today, Africa is the main cocoa supplier, with 75% of the world’s cocoa crop. For the small farms in African villages, cocoa cultivation represents an important source of income.
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