可可和可可树我们常见的可可粉和巧克力,都是由可可树荚状的果实可可豆提炼制成的。可可树本来是高温多雨的热带雨林带的原生植物,它的故乡在中美洲和南美洲。由于可可树的经济价值很高,现在世界上大部分的热带地区几乎都普遍种植。可可树的栽培比较简便,种了下去以后,五年至七年就结实。成长后的可可树一般约有二十呎高,果实结得很低,容易采摘。最早把可可作为饮料的是美洲的印第安人。现在,可可和咖啡、茶叶已是世界上最受人欢迎的三大饮料之一。可可豆的世界总产量每年在一百万吨 Cocoa and cacao tree Our common cocoa and chocolate are made from the cacao tree pods of cocoa beans. The cacao tree was originally a native of the rainy tropical rainforest, with its hometown in Central and South America. Due to the high economic value of the cacao tree, most parts of the world are now almost universally grown in the tropics. Cacao tree cultivation is relatively simple, planted down after five to seven years on the strong. The growing cacao tree is generally about twenty feet tall and the fruit is very low and easy to pick. The earliest to drink cocoa is American Indians. Now, cocoa and coffee, tea is one of the world’s three most popular drinks. The world total cocoa production is at one million tons per year