Question: Is Cocoa Important?

Answer: Yes, it is important to me because there is not an hour of the day or day of the week during which I don’t want to eat it.  Square of Lindt chili-pepper flavored dark chocolate? Yes.  Fudge brownie from Tony’s Patisserie? Yes again.  Chocolate-dusted vanilla bourbon-filled truffle from Leonidas?  YES!!! Please...?

So, clearly chocolate is essential in the daily survival of my own cravings.


Here are a few more reasons why cocoa matters to me, you, and the world.

It’s healthy!
A recent Harvard study has shown that eating a small amount of dark chocolate daily can augment cardiovascular health. Cocoa’s natural component of flavonoids has been shown to dilate the blood vessels, decreasing hypertension and increasing blood flow to the brain.  Cocoa also includes anti-oxidants, which delays oxidation of cells and keeps cells strong and healthy.

It’s a mood-enhancer!
Cocoa includes known mood-enhancers such as serotonin and endorphins, as well as natural stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine.  A study performed by Swinburne University of Technology in England found that the polyphenols in cocoa significantly altered the happiness levels of people aged 40-65 who had a daily dose of dark chocolate in the form of a drink.

Demand is growing! 
Cocoa is nothing new-- it was discovered by the Mayans and the Aztecs in Mesoamerica dating back to 1900 BC-- but the global demand for chocolate is certainly on the rise. To date people spend $83 billion a year on chocolate.  A new report by MarketsandMarkets believes the industry will grow to $98.3 billion by 2016.  That will mean people are spending almost as much money on chocolate as they are on...coffee!  According to BusinessInsider.com, coffee is worth over $100 billion worldwide. 

 














Cocoa trees help the earth!
While some crops deplete soil nutrients quickly, cocoa trees can be grown in an agroforestry system that closely matches the ecosystem of the rainforest.  MMRF (The Maya Mountain Research Farm in Belize) is a wonderful example of how cocoa trees can be grown in an organic and sustainable way that is ecologically sound and replenishes nutrients into the soil around its roots.

Cocoa supports many farmers around the world!
Farmers in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Brazil, and Ecuador contribute the largest amounts to export markets of cocoa. Half the world’s cocoa comes from West African farms, and one third of that comes from the Ivory Coast.  In fact, the Ivory Coast is highly dependent on the cocoa market-- 30.9% of their export industry is entirely derived from the sale of cocoa beans and cocoa paste.    

Those were some solid reasons-- still not satisfied?

Well, if you need one more reason to justify your craving, you can tell people this: At least I'm eating my vegetables-- chocolate is made from beans.