Indulge Your Curiosity: Top 12 Fun Facts About Cocoa You Never Knew

1. Cocoa Currency

Who needs cold hard cash when you've got cocoa currency? They say money doesn't grow on trees, but for the Mayans, it sort of did: cacao beans were used as a form of currency in their society, pricing everything from turkeys to "special" services. Aspiring counterfeiters even dabbled in cocoa currency, crafting phony cacao beans out of painted clay.
Source => legacychocolates.com

2. Theobromine Energy Boost

Step aside, coffee lovers: there's a new contender for the throne of energy supremacy, and it won't bean you feeling jittery! Theobromine, a natural compound found in cacao, not only offers a more gentle, non-addictive, and long-lasting energy boost than caffeine, but it also improves circulation, supports brain function and focus, aids in a good night's sleep, and may even decrease the risk of heart and brain-related diseases. So brew a cup of cacao or theobromine-rich tea, and join the slow energy revolution – your heart and brain will thank you!
Source => criobru.com

Did you know the global chocolate industry is worth a massive $127.9 billion USD, making it the sweet ruler of 59% of US candy sales? Discover more up-choco-lifting facts!

=> Fun Facts about Chocolate

3. Ancient Chocolate Medicine

Chocolate: the ancient aspirin for a spectrum of sicknesses! From turning anemic frowns upside down, to giving wayward digestive systems a much-needed hug, and even lending a helping hand (or bean) to struggling lactating ladies in need of a milkshake – cocoa was the "all-you-need-is-chocolate" medical marvel of yesteryear: Our Olmec, Maya, and Aztec ancestors believed in its healing prowess, using it not only as a cure-all elixir, but also as a stealthy cloak to disguise bitter medicines, easing their pillful journey down the hatch!
Source => pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

4. Criollo Cocoa Royalty

If only Prince had a cocoa farm: the world would've churned out more Criollo cocoa, the most exquisite and exclusive variety that would make Purple Rain taste shy! The real deal: Criollo cocoa, the "prince of cocoas," accounts for a mere 5% of global cocoa production, native to Central and South America, the Caribbean islands, and Sri Lanka. Sadly, this delicious gem is notoriously difficult to grow due to its vulnerability to environmental threats.
Source => barry-callebaut.com

5. Mayan Cocoa Money

Before credit cards and Bitcoin, the Mayans put their money where their mouths were – quite literally: Cocoa beans were used as a form of currency in the 15th century, often exchanged for goods and services, and also transformed into the divine frothy beverage "xocolatl" which they considered a godly gift.
Source => magnumicecream.com

6. Cacao Bean Fortunes

Who needs a hen that lays golden eggs when a cacao bean can crack you up a fortune?: In the grand days of the Aztec empire, cacao beans held such immense value that they were literally used as currency, with 100 cacao beans being equal to a turkey hen and three cacao beans buying you a turkey egg.
Source => cocoasupply.com

7. Cocoa Production Powerhouses

If cocoa beans were still currency, we'd all be swimming in chocolate riches like Scrooge McDuck in his gold vault: In ancient civilizations such as the Mayans and Aztecs, cocoa was a symbol of wealth, with beans serving as currency. Today, countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon cultivate this tropical treasure, and the Ivory Coast alone is responsible for over 50 percent of the world's production, churning out approximately 2.1 million metric tons of cocoa beans in 2021/2022!
Source => statista.com

8. Forastero Bean Domination

Chocoholics, prepare to have your world coco-nutty rocked: The prestigious Criollo cocoa bean might be a celebrated chocolate deity, but it's actually the more humble Forastero variety that dominates over 80% of global cocoa production, with the hybrid Trinitario (Criollo and Forastero's lovechild) also stealing some of the sweet limelight. Debating the best chocolate flavor, then, becomes a bittersweet conundrum only solvable by one's own taste buds!
Source => perfectdailygrind.com

9. Cocoa Brain Benefits

Feeling coco-nuts for chocolate? Your brain might be, too: Regular consumption of cocoa flavanols can indeed improve cognitive function in older adults without clinical evidence of cognitive dysfunction, according to the CoCoA study – which found that speed of processing and verbal fluency saw a positive impact from consuming high and intermediate flavanol cocoa drinks compared to low flavanol ones, with added improvements in blood pressure, insulin resistance, and lipid peroxidation.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

10. Cacao Blossom Dropstars

If the cacao tree were a pop star, it would surely hold the record for the highest number of blossoms dropping in a single year—cacao style: As it stands, a cacao tree can pump out a staggering 50,000 to 100,000 blossoms annually. But, much like the ever-changing music charts, only 10 to 30 percent of these botanical chart-toppers will mature into cocoa pods. What's more, a whole bunch of these pods is required to produce just a single pound of chocolate, giving you another reason to appreciate every delicious bite of your favorite chocolate bar!
Source => cargill.com

11. Blood Pressure Busters

Feeling a bit under pressure? We've got a cocoa-motion for that: Studies have shown that consuming flavanol-rich chocolate or cocoa can significantly reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, even lowering systolic blood pressure by up to 11.9 mmHg in hypertensive patients after a mere 15 days of indulging - not only easing the arteries but potentially lowering the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. Sweet relief, indeed!
Source => frontiersin.org

12. Defatting Cocoa Liquor

Whoever said laughter is the best medicine had clearly never tried chocolate: cocoa powder is actually produced by defatting cocoa liquor, a liquid form of ground cocoa beans! The high-pressure, high-temperature process is like an intense boot camp for chocolate, with cocoa butter being expelled and compressed cocoa powder emerging victorious. With fat content ranging from 10-24%, it's no wonder cocoa powder is the secret sauce behind scrumptious delights like drinks, cakes, and ice cream - the true healing source for a broken heart.
Source => sciencedirect.com