08/04/09 13:37:41 @mark-j-sciscenti:
Hi Clay, that photo was taken in Comalcalco, Tobasco, Mexico on the famous "criollo" cacao plantation. Can't remember the name of the plantation - Steve DeVries knows the one I'm talking about. Really large plantation too, about 40 hectares and she wanted to develop another 20 - I was surprised, though I've only seen a few so far. The cacao was all grafted with some small amount of seedlings, a monocrop if ever I've seen one. Hardly any mother trees or 3 tiered canopy. Ah well, commercial production... I don't know if the plantation was criollo (I doubt it) but the cacao pods we broke open to partake of the fruit of had really white seeds which had a mild and not bitter taste, a better variety I suspect. The final chocolate was decent as well, although I can't stand how much sugar is put into Mexican chocolate!I was in Tobasco and Chiapas in Feb. 2007 co-leading a chocolate and archaeology tour to cacao plantations and Mayan sites. Went to several plantations and in Chiapas went to Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilan. Had great fun!I am in the process of writing a proposal for a trip to Oaxaca, MX for 2010 to combine culinary, archaeology and botanical for the Slow Food group. I will let you know when this us up for advertisement.-Mark
08/03/09 19:20:36 @clay:
Hey Mark - Where was this taken? Any other story(ies) about the photo?
Hi Clay, that photo was taken in Comalcalco, Tobasco, Mexico on the famous "criollo" cacao plantation. Can't remember the name of the plantation - Steve DeVries knows the one I'm talking about. Really large plantation too, about 40 hectares and she wanted to develop another 20 - I was surprised, though I've only seen a few so far. The cacao was all grafted with some small amount of seedlings, a monocrop if ever I've seen one. Hardly any mother trees or 3 tiered canopy. Ah well, commercial production... I don't know if the plantation was criollo (I doubt it) but the cacao pods we broke open to partake of the fruit of had really white seeds which had a mild and not bitter taste, a better variety I suspect. The final chocolate was decent as well, although I can't stand how much sugar is put into Mexican chocolate!I was in Tobasco and Chiapas in Feb. 2007 co-leading a chocolate and archaeology tour to cacao plantations and Mayan sites. Went to several plantations and in Chiapas went to Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilan. Had great fun!I am in the process of writing a proposal for a trip to Oaxaca, MX for 2010 to combine culinary, archaeology and botanical for the Slow Food group. I will let you know when this us up for advertisement.-Mark
Hey Mark - Where was this taken? Any other story(ies) about the photo?