Tree up to 20 metres in height with elongated oval, green leaves covered in light brown hairs. The conspicuous flowers are grouped in flower stalks directly on the side branches and have white sepals with red to magenta petals. The fruits of this tree are up to 35 cm long and have a dense covering of short, brown, downy hair. The skin is hard and brittle and contains the creamy white, dense pulp with up to 50 seeds approx. 3 cm long.
Wild cocoa is also known as Cupuaçu and the fruit can be used in a similar way to commercially grown cocoa. However, the pulp is sourer and the chocolate produced from the fatty seeds is of lower quality, which may be a result of the lack of research on processing and fermenting the seeds.
We are carefully nurturing the cuttings of the wild cocoa in the garden and would be delighted to get the red and white flowers or even one of the remarkable fruits.
Brazil
Basel Botanical Garden
Wild cocoa is also known as Cupuaçu and the fruit can be used in a similar way to commercially grown cocoa. However, the pulp is sourer and the chocolate produced from the fatty seeds is of lower quality, which may be a result of the lack of research on processing and fermenting the seeds.
We are carefully nurturing the cuttings of the wild cocoa in the garden and would be delighted to get the red and white flowers or even one of the remarkable fruits.
