Cocoa

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cocoa

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Theobroma cacao
2. What is the primary growing regions?Equatorial belt, with West Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana) dominating global production
3. What is cocoa and where does it come from?Cocoa comes from the Theobroma cacao bean, grown mainly in tropical places like West Africa, which supplies about 70% of the world’s cocoa.
4. How did people in ancient Mesoamerica drink cocoa?They made a frothy drink called xocolatl by grinding roasted beans with water, chili, vanilla, and spices. It was enjoyed by elites, warriors, and during religious ceremonies.

Theobroma cacao: The scientific classification for the cacao tree, meaning 'food of the gods'.
Xocolatl: An ancient Mesoamerican beverage made from ground cocoa beans, often spiced and unsweetened.
Cocoa Press: A mechanical device invented to separate cocoa butter from cocoa solids, enabling powder and solid chocolate production.
Conching: An intensive grinding and aeration process that refines chocolate's texture and flavor profile.