Growing a cacao tree — the plant whose pods are made into chocolate — takes patience. It takes three to five years for a cacao seed to become a fruiting tree. Each tree makes a limited number of seeds. And those seeds are not identical to the parent plant.

Caution, Fruit and Plant Enthusiasts: Cocoa plants are adapted to and grow best in hot, humid tropical areas with evenly distributed rainfall. Truly tropical areas are characterized by year-round temperatures at or above 68°F and no freezing temperatures.

Criollo. Criollo is generally deemed to be the highest quality out of all the varieties of cocoa but also the most expensive. Criollo is often described as the 'grand cru' of chocolates as it provides a fine flavour with rich aromas, leaves many secondary notes and is only mildly bitter.

The Ivory Coast is the largest producer of cocoa beans, providing more than one-third of the world's supply. Cocoa is, of course, the main ingredient in chocolate. Growing cocoa is not illegal, but growing it in a national forest reserve is.. . . . .364011234772!]0000000000000009783314146479!]