We arrived at the ranch at 6:30, and soon after went to dinner. We began eating around 8:00, and we ate sea bass, potatoes, carrots, and rice and beans. After dinner we headed back to our cabins/dorms and got settled in. Its safe to say that most of us crashed in bed after a long day of traveling. Now, this morning, we ate eggs, fruit, and rice with beans. After breakfast we went on a short walk on the "Araña trail". Following the walk we got to experience a chocolate tasting and tour. We started off with a presentation on the history of chocolate. Some things we learned that that there are 3 different types of cacao varieties: Criollo, Amelonado, and Trinitario. At the Anita ranch, they grow Criollos. A cool fact is that the Aztecs came up with the word cachuatl, which is the root of cacao. Cacao also has 4 times the amount of caffeine than coffee. In the olden days, nuns in Madrid used to grind cacao and shape it into a bowl, and they let it dry and then sell them. Finally, another fun fact is that the French used a melted chocolate milk mixture, and decided to put it on top of a toasted marshmallow, thats when "bon-bons" were created.
-Riley and Izz
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| chocolate tour |
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| cacao pod |
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| chocolate bars |
Sounds very cool and love the pictures!
ReplyDelete... aaand now I am hungry.
ReplyDeleteChocolate is not only delicious, it is also interesting! Thanks for the fun facts and the pictures! It sounds like an amazing day!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great first day in Costa Rica!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see they are having fun, would love to eat some cacao, last time had some I was 7 years old
ReplyDelete