Moldy Beans?

Isaac Ekblad
@isaac-ekblad
04/23/14 03:12:55PM
5 posts

I just bought a few kilos of beans from a local distributer and noticed that in the sack from Ecuador there were some pretty bizarre looking beans (totaling less than 10%, I would say), at least compared to other beans I've had before. Quite a few of the them had white specks on the outside/inside (mold?), were hollow or looked like they had been eaten by something, or were cut in half. There were also a handful of pea sized, shrunken beans and a few that looked like they had germinated. I'm just curious if this is common when buying beans in bulk. I added a picture below. Also, I apologize if I posted this in the wrong place. I did a search but didn't find a recent/related thread. I'm new here (and new to chocolate making). Thanks! 365-IMG_9183.jpg?width=750


updated by @isaac-ekblad: 04/12/15 02:16:24PM
Sebastian
@sebastian
04/24/14 06:17:33AM
754 posts

very common. ecuador's a terribly difficult place to dry beans properly, so a great deal of them mold. if you don't have the proper relationships and controls in place, those beans will find their way to you. there's a saying in the ivory coast that's applicable here - it roughly translates to " there's no graveyard for cocoa beans" - meaning all beans will find their way somewhere other than the trash.

Don't worry so much about surface mold - what's important is if the mold has penetrated the bean. cut 100 of them in half and if more than 5 or 6 of them are moldy inside, then you have a problem.

Isaac Ekblad
@isaac-ekblad
04/25/14 05:33:34PM
5 posts

thanks for the response. yeah, I'm seeing quite a bit of mold that's made its way inside the bean. No fun

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