486 COCOA 



CHAP. 



The beans are large, broad, and more or less flat 

 at any rate not quite round. The colour is dark brown. 

 The average figures are: 25 mm. long, 18 mm. broad, 

 4 mm. thick. The greater part is " unclayed," or 

 slightly only. 



Venezuela 



The country produces the commercial sorts known 

 as "Caracas," "Porto Cabello," " Maracaibo," " Caru- 

 pano," and "La Guayra." 



The three first-mentioned are the very finest sorts 

 which come to the market. They are grown in the 

 eastern part of Venezuela, and shipped from La Guayra, 

 Porto Cabello, and Maracaibo. "Porto Cabello" and 

 " Maracaibo " are higher priced than " Caracas," and 

 a small quantity fetches fancy prices. 



The very superior brands, however, which are pro- 

 duced in Venezuela, appear on the market in small lots. 



The beans are nearly always treated with red earth 

 ("clayed") to avoid moulding. This gives them a 

 light reddish-brown or dark-orange appearance. 



The size of the beans is large. They are not flat, 

 but round and large in diameter. The interior colour 

 is light reddish brown, lighter than other sorts with 

 the exception of Javas and Ceylons ; the taste sweet 

 (bitter principle very little developed) ; the aroma 

 strong and pleasant, chocolate-like, and nutty. 



The average figures of " Caracas " are : 23 mm. long, 

 15 mm. broad, 8 mm. thick; weight of one seed, 177 

 gr. ; of "Porto Cabello" : 24 mm. long, 15 mm. broad, 

 8 mm. thick ; weight of one seed, 1'25 gr. 



A great part of " Caracas " and " Porto Cabello " 

 goes to France and Spain. 



"Carupano" is the produce of the eastern part of 

 Venezuela, especially of the Orinoco Valley. Its quality 

 is much less fine than of the Venezuelan sorts mentioned 

 above. It has flat beans, of a dark colour and a bitter 

 taste. The size is much smaller than of the beans of 



