136 



The World's Commercial Products 



the beverage. This is done mechanically by means of a very ingenious machine invented 

 by the firm of J. M. Lehmann, of Dresden. 



The shells of the cacao-beans form the only waste product in cacao industry. As the 

 shells form about twelve per cent, of the beans, it is desirable to find a use for them. Cheap 

 chocolate often contains the ground shells, but for the better kinds they are useless, as they 

 may rightly be said to be adulterants, although it is true that they contain some theobromine 

 and some fat, and taste like cocoa. The ground shells are sometimes sold as " cocoa-tea," and 

 find purchasers, especially in Ireland. As an article of commerce the shells are called 



ROASTING CACAO IN VAN HOUTEN S FACTORY 



" miserables " in England. They may be made more palatable by candying them with sugar, 

 and in that state they are a favourite kind of sweetmeat for children, especially in the east 

 of Germany. By treating them with benzine it is possible to extract the fat they contain, 

 which is sold under the name of second Dutch cacao-butter ; however, the value is but 

 small. These different uses consume but comparatively small quantities of the supply. 

 Infusions of the shells of cacao-beans are sometimes employed to improve the taste of coffee- 

 beans during roasting, and also to enhance the flavour of coffee-substitutes made out of corn 

 or malt. Cacao-extracts are also made out of the shells, by boiling them with water ; the 

 extract thus obtained is reduced by evaporation until it acquires a certain strength. This 

 extract is not only used as a substitute for coffee and tea, but is also sometimes mixed with 

 cacao and chocolate. 



\ 



