I just returned from a wonderful trip to Costa Rica. (Plenty of blog posts on it if you care see some of what we saw.). One of our adventures was a visit to Villa Vanilla where, besides vanilla and other spices, they make chocolate. Here are three photos, and a wrap-up photo, to get you from pod to chocolate.
To see more examples of “Threes“, click on the word.
Pick the cacao pods.
Take out the pods which, at this point although edible, look very sci-fi!
Dry the pods.
Once the pods are dry, it’s time to grind them into cacoa powder so you can make chocolate. Kept in the fridge to stay firm in the heat and humidity, the chocolate we tasted was the best I’ve ever eaten. It was slightly grainy, very dark and totally wonderful. The grinder in my “cheat” fourth photo is the style that would have been used by the Aztecs as they prepared their aphrodisiac drink.
This, that and the other thing 
The pods look embryonic before they’re dried!
Weird, aren’t they? Maybe that’s a good metaphor for people.
janet
For people it would be “they look embryonic before they tried!”
I was thinking more of lives that could turn into something good. 🙂
I guess we’re saying pretty much the same thing 😉 (It’s been a long day for me, forgive me if I’m not coherent)
:-). No problem. I may have just read it wrong. Doesn’t matter.
Ah, amazing! I’m bubbling over with jealousy, because I’ve been on a mission to eat all the exotic produce I can out here in Hawaii and raw, fresh cacao pods are high on the list. Sadly, they’re all grown on the Big Island, so it’s incredibly unlikely I’ll come across any on Oahu. Doesn’t mean I’ve stopped looking though… Perhaps I’ll just need to plot out another expedition to Costa Rica soon.
🙂 Have you been there before? It’s a beautiful place filled with interesting things. Did you read my post on the trip to the vanilla farm? (https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/youre-so-vanilla/) Popping one of those babies in your mouth is a bit-off-putting, but they were really rather nice. And the chocolate!!@@!!
Have fun on your trip! I’ve never been to Hawaii.
janet
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Interesting photos Janet.
great post! i love homemade chocolate too. 🙂
This photo trio is both amazing to look at and educational. I love Costa Rica – glad you had a great trip!
A great post. We don’t think of how chocolate begins, we only think about it when it has been processed so much. Time to eat some more now. 😀
Any excuse is a good excuse. 🙂
janet
😀
Janet, I love this weekly photo challenge. My very favorite…chocolate. You were so close to Nicaragua. Please come visit us on Ometepe Island next time you’re in Central America.
I might hold you to that! I had so much fun in CR that I’d love to go back and your place looks amazing.
janet
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Gawd, Janet! – the insides of the pods are … well … you said science fiction, and that’s about spot on. Lordy …!
I’ve always thought that if people in sci-fi movies and books stayed away from glistening pods…there wouldn’t be any movies or books. 🙂
janet
I believe the late John Wyndham would agree with you!
I found the images almost erotic… so lush and compelling. And a latte, now I need one! 😉
Chocolate or vanilla?
janet
Just a touch of really good chocolate! There’s a place in town that makes THE most amazing mochas… which is what I meant, mocha vs latte. 😉 Now I’m craving one!
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Threes | This, that and the other thing […]
You can’t go past good chocolate! Who would have thought something so delicious could come from something that looks so ugly and weird.
No kidding! The beans fresh from the pod looked disgusting, but had a very mild, inoffensive taste (thank goodness!)
janet
I can’t believe you actually tasted one when they look like that. Maybe knowing what they were made it easier. Well done.
Our guide put one in her mouth first, so what was I to do? The gauntlet had been thrown down. 🙂
I’m glad you took up the challenge. Now I can take your word for it instead of trying one myself.
🙂
Great idea for this theme!
Thanks.
janet
Glad to see this. I visited a chocolate museum a number of years ago and I don’t think they showed the undried pods.
I don’t imagine they stay dry too long once out of their shell. But it was pretty cool to see.
janet
If McDonalds can make a burger that will look the same after a decade, a museum can find some way to preserve items for a much shorter time span…
How about the fake food the Japanese have at lots of restaurants? At least I think it’s fake. 🙂
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That middle shot IS sci fi… I hope I don’t think of that the next time I eat chocolate… It’s a great story of three (plus one). 😉
LOL! I’ve probably ruined chocolate for a lot of people, at least for a time. Glad you liked the story, though. I think that middle photo’s probably one most people haven’t seen (or wanted to see!)
May you have much chocolate this weekend!
janet
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Threes | This, that and the other thing […]
Hi! I nominated you for a Sunshine Award! Details here:
http://bloggedartistry.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/good-day-sunshine/
How nice of you! I’ll check it out.
janet
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[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Threes | This, that and the other thing […]
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Had no idea that’s what it looked like.. Love learning something new every day.
One of the joys of travel is learning and seeing new things. The whole vanilla farm was a learning experience and I was so impressed with the way they did everything.
janet
Wonderful take! I just realised that I had never sen the inside of a Cacao pod! So thank you for shot 2 🙂
My pleasure, Madhu!
janet
I LOVE Costa Rica! I volunteered there four years ago. It is such a lovely place! Looking forward to reading more about your trip! 🙂
Here are the posts I’ve done on the trip so far. There might be another one or two coming up in the next week.
https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/day-trippin-riding-in-costa-rica/
https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/party-on-the-water/
https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/flowery-costa-rica/
https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/coffe-tea-and-cafe-milagro/
https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/youre-so-vanilla/
https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/animal-spotting-in-the-rain-forest/
https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/tale-of-two-meals/
Join the fun. We’d love to have you.
janet
No wonder cocoa is expensive. That’s a long process.
I know they don’t grind by hand now, but it would have been good exercise!
janet
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Threes | This, that and the other thing […]
we have so many cocoa trees behind our home, but I posted about the water apple instead…
That works, too. Do you do anything with the cocoa pods?
janet
unfortunately we do not do anything with the pods, we just take the beans out, dry under the sun and sell them. thats it.
Really interesting pics, Janet. I love vanilla flavour, but have never seen the plant before. 🙂
I hadn’t, either. I didn’t realize it needed something to grow around. I haven’t tried the vanilla yet but the aroma is divine!
janet
We visted Costa Rica but never went to a vanilla/chocolate plantation. I ADORE chocolate and would LOVE to try the hard core, real stuff. I usually do 82% cocoa and love the touch of bitterness. Bet this is fantastic! Thanks for the lovely and informative post!
Tina, the interesting thing about this chocolate was that it wasn’t really hard and smooth like a bar would be. It was a tiny bit granular, in a good way, and completely wonderful. I wish they would have sold it but if it had to be kept the fridge, we would have had to eat it right away–oh, terrible task. Glad you enjoyed the post.
janet
🙂 I keep my chocolate in the freezer and like it best that way!
Interesting texture inside the pod.
Hope the chocolate was tasty.
The chocolate was fabulous and I don’t use that word lightly. Thanks for all the visits.
Blessings on your week.
janet
those pre-dried pods – i would have never guessed that this is chocolate in the making! very cool. thanks for sharing
My pleasure. I appreciate you dropping by to read and comment. Have a great week.
janet
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OOOOhh my! Both nice photos and very informative. I love good chocolate 🙂 I’ve never been to Costa Rica, but it’s on my bucket list. i’ve always been facinated and at the same time a little scared of South America, it’s THE continent I have yet to explore. I almost went last year…Wonderful post! I love your writing style, it always capture my attention.
/Maria
Maria, once I discovered dark chocolate, I wondered where it had been all my life!! My husband still like a Hersey bar sometimes but I’m a dark chocolate devotee. I’d never been to Costa Rica or Central or South America and felt a bit the way you do. So many people said that CR was great and we certainly didn’t have any trouble. There are parts of San Jose and probably other places that you should exercise caution, but we never felt unsafe. If I go again, I’d learn some Spanish before I went. My rudimentary German and French didn’t help. 🙂 As for my writing style, I’m happy you like it and thanks so much for letting me know that.
janet
Dark chocolate is my favorite as well. In my early 20’s I worked as a baker, and to stand out from the crowd I took a 12 week long class in fine chocolate. It was like art! So many things to consider, temperatures, speed while handling it etc. At the time I consider starting a company producing custom made chocolate with company logo’s on. I even got it financed, and when I was about to pull the trigger a company very similar to mine popped up in my small home town. There wasn’t a market for both of us, so I put my ideas on the shelf. It’s still there, but now it’s not as unique as when I first thought of it 🙂
Have a great day Janet!
You, too, Marion.