258 CACAO 



the proper colour, strength, aroma, and flavour being very 

 largely dependent on the art of blending the varieties in 

 correct proportions. 



It is not proposed to attempt to deal with the details 

 of manufacture as carried out in large establishments, as 

 this would be outside of the scope of this work, which is 

 intended principally for the guidance of those engaged id 

 field cultivation. Some more able hand than that of the 

 present writer will be necessary to deal with such a subject 

 to good effect, especially as the desired information consists 

 largely of trade secrets, which are controlled (and rightly 

 so) by those who are interested by large investments in 

 this industry. 



But there are things of which some growers are unaware 

 which may be suitably brought to their notice. For 

 instance, many cultivators are unaware that the produce 

 of Trinidad will not make — ^by itself — the standards of 

 " cocoa powder," " chocolate " or " essence " which are 

 familiar to the palate of the European or American 

 consumer. Yet it is a fact. Trinidad does not stand 

 alone in this respect, for in countries where a light red cacao 

 is produced (interior colour) the produce will, or may, have 

 to be blended with darker and more highly flavoured kinds 

 in order to make the right blend, and yet the produce of 

 both countries may have a name for high quality upon the 

 markets. Cacao powder, chocolate, and various pre- 

 parations can, of course, be made in all coimtries where 

 cacao is grown, and such material would be considered 

 excellent and highly palatable by those who are accustomed 

 to its flavour, &c. ; but for all that, the produce would not 

 sell if put into competition with the various blends which 

 have already found favour in the different markets ; and 

 it is this fact which greatly hinders the development of 

 local factories, which have not and cannot obtain at 

 reasonable rates the qualities necessary for blending. It 

 would therefore appear to be to the interest of planters to 

 supply, at least for local trade, many of those qualities 

 which are used by the manufacturer, and this could be 



