Types of Cocoa Beans...
The three main types of cocoa beans are the Forastero, Crillo and Trinitario although there are also several other different varieties withing these main types.
Forastero is hardy, vigorous and has the strongest flavour of the three types. The most widely grown variety of Forastero is known as Amelonado which is found in West Africa and Brazil. It has a smooth yellow pod containing 30 or more beans that are a pale-deep purple in colour.
Crillo is found growing in Indonesia, Central and Southern AMerica. It has a mild-weak chocolate flavour and is not as hardy as the Forastero tress. The Crillo cocoa plant produces softer pods which are red in colour and each pod contains 20-30 white, ivory or very pale purple beans.
Trinitario is a hybrid of the other two main types and is not found in the wild. It is grown mostly in the Caribbean area as well as in Cameroon and Papua New Guinea. The Trintario tree produces mostly hard pods which vary in colour and contain 30 or more beans which also vary in colour.
Forastero is hardy, vigorous and has the strongest flavour of the three types. The most widely grown variety of Forastero is known as Amelonado which is found in West Africa and Brazil. It has a smooth yellow pod containing 30 or more beans that are a pale-deep purple in colour.
Crillo is found growing in Indonesia, Central and Southern AMerica. It has a mild-weak chocolate flavour and is not as hardy as the Forastero tress. The Crillo cocoa plant produces softer pods which are red in colour and each pod contains 20-30 white, ivory or very pale purple beans.
Trinitario is a hybrid of the other two main types and is not found in the wild. It is grown mostly in the Caribbean area as well as in Cameroon and Papua New Guinea. The Trintario tree produces mostly hard pods which vary in colour and contain 30 or more beans which also vary in colour.