Cocoa, from which chocolate is created, is said to have originated in the Amazon at least 4,000 years ago. Chocolate, derived from the seed of the cocoa tree, was used by the Maya Culture, as early as the Sixth Century AD. Maya called the cocoa tree cacahuaquchtl… “tree,” and the word chocolate comes from the Maya word xocoatl which means bitter water.
Cocoa butter is most commonly known as a beauty regimen staple, but its many uses go far beyond that.
Currently there are six cocoa growing areas namely Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Volta, Central and Western regions. Most imports of cocoa and cocoa products are by Europe (over 1.2 million tons) and the USA (over 0.4 million tons).