Where does chocolate come from? In the UK alone, we each eat an average of three bars a week!

Chocolate’s history dates back well over 2,000 years to Mexico.

Globally we consume over 3 billion kilograms of cocoa every year, which weighs the equivalent of 15 cruise ships.

What is in the picture below?

But how does this become the chocolate that we know and love?

It’s a cocoa pod! The white pulp is from the inside of the pod

Here is a cocoa pod on a cocoa tree at the start of it’s journey.It can take a cocoa tree five years to grow pods.

The cocoa pods are cut down from the trees and collected at harvest time.

The pods are cut open and the seeds, which are covered in a white pulp, are removed.

The seeds are laid out to dry and ferment for five to seven days. They are turned occasionally to allow all of them to ferment. At this stage they begin to smell like chocolate!

The cocoa beans are collected in sacks

The sacks are weighed to determine how much the cocoa is worth.

The sacks of cocoa beans are then loaded into crates and put on ship. They are mostly taken to Europe where they are processed. Other ingredients are added, like milk or soy to make chocolate.

The chocolate is transported to supermarkets and shops where me or you can buy it!

That journey involves lots of processes and lots of people!

Where does this photo fit into the supply chain?

This photo relates to Fairtrade and the following video will explain why.

https://vimeo.com/317259115