During summer 2005 we travelled to Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies to visit cocoa plantations and learn more about the growing of the cocoa fruit. It was an interesting trip and we learned a lot. We travelled out into the rain forest and picked cocoa fruit to the accompaniment of great reggae music. It was demanding work, so sometimes we took a break and drank cocoa tea. We also got to taste the white fruit pulp of the cocoa, which surrounds the actual cocoa bean. The pulp has a rich sweetness and actually tastes quite good. After the fruit picking we returned to the plantation and learned more about quality control, as well as the fermentation and drying of the cocoa beans.
 Banana trees and large beautiful flowers grow by the roadside on the way from the plantation to the rain forest; it was a fantastic experience seeing these large trees in full bloom. The banana tree is vital in cocoa manufacturing as its large leaves are needed in the fermentation process. We ate fresh aloe vera, which we picked and peeled ourselves. The mango trees were weighed down with luscious and fresh fruit, which we also picked and ate. Again, it was wonderful to experience nature in the wild. Plantation Trip Would YOU also like to visit a plantation? If so, contact us here at Pralinhuset. We run trips to a cocoa plantation in Tobago where you'll take part in the whole process, from harvesting the fruit to tasting its sweet pulp! Tour guide, flights and accommodation at the exclusive Coco Reef hotel are included in the trip. We guarantee that you'll get a unique travel experience, which you won't forget. If this sounds tempting then please contact us for more information. |
