Introduction

Hello, KS3 Geography students! Today, we are going to explore the journey of cocoa from the plant to delicious chocolate. We will learn about where cocoa is grown, how it is harvested, and its journey around the world. Let’s dive in!

Who Discovered That Cocoa Could Be Transformed Into Chocolate?

The discovery that cocoa could be transformed into chocolate dates back to ancient Mesoamerican cultures, like the Aztecs and Mayans, who used cocoa beans to create a bitter drink. Later, in the 19th century, chocolate was sweetened and solidified into the chocolate bars we know today. This transformation was largely credited to innovators like Joseph Fry, who created the first modern chocolate bar.

Cocoa Production: Growing and Harvesting

1. Growing Requirements of Cocoa

a) To grow cocoa, certain conditions are necessary:

  • Climate: Cocoa needs a hot, humid climate, usually found near the Equator.
  • Soil: Rich, well-drained soil is important for healthy growth.
  • Shade: Cocoa trees thrive under the shade of taller trees to protect them from direct sunlight.

2. How Cocoa is Grown and Harvested

b) Cocoa trees grow in tropical forests, where they flourish in warm, moist conditions. After about 3 to 5 years, the trees produce cocoa pods, which contain cocoa beans. When the pods are ripe, farmers carefully cut them from the tree, open them, and remove the beans for fermentation.

Producers and Consumers

3. World Location of Cocoa Producers and Chocolate Consumers

a) Most cocoa is produced in West Africa, particularly in countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. In contrast, chocolate is mostly consumed in Europe and North America, where countries such as Switzerland and the USA are top consumers. This creates a trade route from the cocoa-producing regions to chocolate-consuming countries.

b) The top five consumers of chocolate are:

  1. United States: 3 million tonnes
  2. Germany: 1.5 million tonnes
  3. France: 1 million tonnes
  4. United Kingdom: 0.7 million tonnes
  5. Belgium: 0.5 million tonnes

c) On average, cocoa in a chocolate bar has travelled about 4,000 miles (6,400 km) from farms to consumers.

d) The world’s consumers of chocolate do not grow their own cocoa for several reasons. Firstly, cocoa requires specific tropical conditions that are not present in many consumer countries. Additionally, growing cocoa takes time and expertise, which many consumers lack.

e) The producers and consumers of cocoa and chocolate are interdependent, meaning they rely on each other. Producers need consumers to buy their cocoa, while consumers rely on producers to supply cocoa for their chocolate. This creates a strong connection between farming and the chocolate industry.

Stages of Cocoa to Chocolate

4. Diagram of Stages

a) With a partner, work out the correct order of the stages from cocoa pod to chocolate.

b) Draw a flow-line diagram showing each stage in the correct order.

c) For each stage, decide whether the jobs involved are primary (growing), secondary (manufacturing), or tertiary (services).

d) Chocolate production involves several stages:

  1. Harvesting cocoa pods (Primary)
  2. Fermenting the beans (Primary)
  3. Drying the beans (Primary)
  4. Roasting the beans (Secondary)
  5. Grinding the beans into cocoa mass (Secondary)
  6. Mixing with sugar and milk (Secondary)
  7. Moulding into bars (Secondary)
  8. Selling the chocolate (Tertiary)

Writing Activity

Write a paragraph describing the process of making chocolate, mentioning the employment sectors for each stage.

Questions

Easy Level Questions

  1. Who were the first people to use cocoa?
  2. What climate is needed to grow cocoa?
  3. Name one country that produces cocoa.
  4. How long does it take for cocoa trees to start producing pods?
  5. What do cocoa pods contain?
  6. What is the average distance cocoa travels to reach consumers?
  7. Name one top consumer of chocolate.
  8. Why can’t chocolate consumers grow their own cocoa?
  9. What is the first step in making chocolate?
  10. What type of job is harvesting cocoa?

Medium Level Questions

  1. Describe the process of how cocoa is harvested.
  2. What are the growing requirements for cocoa?
  3. List the top five consumers of chocolate.
  4. Why is the world location of cocoa producers important?
  5. Explain what interdependence means in the context of cocoa and chocolate.
  6. How do cocoa producers depend on chocolate consumers?
  7. What stages are involved in turning cocoa into chocolate?
  8. Why do cocoa beans need to be fermented?
  9. Describe the role of temperature in cocoa production.
  10. What happens after cocoa beans are roasted?

Hard Level Questions

  1. Discuss the economic impact of cocoa production on producing countries.
  2. Describe how the chocolate industry influences cocoa farming practices.
  3. What challenges do cocoa farmers face today?
  4. How does climate change affect cocoa production?
  5. Explain the process of making chocolate from bean to bar in detail.
  6. What are the environmental impacts of cocoa farming?
  7. How do cultural factors influence chocolate consumption?
  8. Compare and contrast primary, secondary, and tertiary jobs in the cocoa industry.
  9. Why is cocoa considered a cash crop?
  10. How can consumers support ethical cocoa farming practices?

Answers

Easy Level Answers

  1. The Aztecs and Mayans were the first people to use cocoa.
  2. Cocoa needs a hot and humid climate.
  3. Côte d’Ivoire or Ghana produces cocoa.
  4. Cocoa trees take about 3 to 5 years to produce pods.
  5. Cocoa pods contain cocoa beans.
  6. Cocoa travels about 4,000 miles on average to reach consumers.
  7. The United States is a top consumer of chocolate.
  8. Consumers can’t grow their own cocoa because it needs tropical conditions.
  9. The first step in making chocolate is harvesting cocoa pods.
  10. Harvesting cocoa is a primary job.

Medium Level Answers

  1. Cocoa is harvested by cutting ripe pods from the tree and removing the beans inside.
  2. Cocoa needs a hot climate, rich soil, and shade to grow.
  3. The top five consumers are the USA, Germany, France, UK, and Belgium.
  4. The location of cocoa producers is important because it affects trade routes.
  5. Interdependence means producers rely on consumers for sales, and consumers rely on producers for supply.
  6. Cocoa producers depend on chocolate consumers to buy their product.
  7. The stages in turning cocoa into chocolate include harvesting, fermenting, drying, roasting, grinding, mixing, and moulding.
  8. Fermentation is important for developing the flavour of cocoa beans.
  9. Temperature affects the growth and quality of cocoa plants.
  10. After roasting, cocoa beans are ground into a paste called cocoa mass.

Hard Level Answers

  1. Cocoa production provides jobs and income for many in producing countries.
  2. The chocolate industry can encourage sustainable practices among cocoa farmers.
  3. Cocoa farmers face issues like low prices, climate change, and pests.
  4. Climate change can lead to unsuitable conditions for cocoa growth, affecting yields.
  5. Making chocolate involves harvesting, fermenting, drying, roasting, grinding, mixing, and moulding cocoa.
  6. Environmental impacts of cocoa farming include deforestation and biodiversity loss.
  7. Cultural factors can influence how much and in what form chocolate is consumed.
  8. Primary jobs involve growing cocoa, secondary jobs involve processing it, and tertiary jobs involve selling it.
  9. Cocoa is a cash crop because it is grown for sale rather than personal use.
  10. Consumers can support ethical practices by choosing fair trade chocolate.

Feel free to ask any questions or seek clarification on any of the topics we’ve covered today!