{"id":12500,"date":"2018-06-21T17:36:01","date_gmt":"2018-06-21T17:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ikachocolate.com\/?p=12500"},"modified":"2018-06-24T12:26:11","modified_gmt":"2018-06-24T12:26:11","slug":"cacao-tree-hugging-ikas-introduction-to-the-healing-effect-of-cacao-trees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ikachocolate.com\/ja\/travel\/cacao-tree-hugging-ikas-introduction-to-the-healing-effect-of-cacao-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"Cacao Tree-hugging: Ika\u2019s Introduction to The Healing Effect of Cacao Trees"},"content":{"rendered":"

This month we are\u00a0taking a more spiritual path into the cacao trees plantations. If you still haven\u2019t caught up with the Tree Bathing – “Shinrin-yuku” trend, here is your opportunity to plunge in, and also to learn more\u00a0about the magnificent trees that give us chocolate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For thousands of years, cacao has been considered a sacred food.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Kakaw for The Maya<\/strong> people was a gift from The Gods. A creature called The Plumed Serpent gave cacao to the Maya, so their mythic scriptures say. An annual spring festival celebration was dedicated to honor their cacao god, Ek Chuah<\/strong>, with gifts, sacrifices and what you might call today \u2018cacao face painting\u2019 –\u00a0ear lobes in particular.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Depiction of the Cacao myths, from a Mayan painted ceramic vessel, Guatemala City Museum<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another version of the cacao creation\u00a0story was offered by The Aztec civilization<\/strong>: <\/span><\/p>\n

God Quetzalcoatl<\/strong> discovered cacao (<\/span>cacahuatl<\/span><\/i>: “bitter water”) in a mountain.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Aztecs had cacao priests taking care of rituals, including some awful ones we won\u2019t mention here… As long as there is constant supply of cacao, sure… By the way, the cacao beverage used for their ritual was only allowed for men, as it was believed to be toxic for women and children. This meant there was more cacao\u00a0for the men, then. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Spanish explorer Cort\u00e9s<\/strong> and his entourage were curious to see the vast quantities of the cacao beverage the Aztec emperor consumed, when they arrived in the Aztec capital Moctezuma in 1519. <\/span>They brought back to Europe some samples of cacao beans, along with other agricultural products,\u00a0but it seems that the use of cacao in Spain started only in 1544, thanks to a visit of some senior\u00a0Kekchi Maya<\/strong> nobles. <\/span><\/p>\n

This introduction was the beginning of our own addiction. <\/span><\/p>\n

These poor souls were brought from the New World to Spain by Dominican friars to meet Prince Philip; Later on, their\u00a0native people\u00a0would be humbled and exploited.<\/span><\/p>\n

Being so good (as you well know), chocolate had spread to France, and to other countries in Europe. Demand for chocolate had to be satisfied. <\/span><\/p>\n

The desire for chocolate led to establishing cacao plantations in the Caribbean colonies (by the French), while\u00a0Spain developed cacao plantations in the Venezuelan and Philippine colonies. <\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s stop here to look at why things happened that way, and the consequences of supplying huge amounts of cacao globally: \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Six key fact to know about cacao trees:<\/b><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Theobroma Cacao, which is the cacao tree’s botanical name, means “Food of The Gods” in Greek. <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Theobromine is the ‘cacao\u2019s caffeine’ – the name given to an organic compound that is found in cacao, affecting us humans for the better (yes!).<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. A cacao tree can grow only in a narrow band 20 degrees either side of the equator; it needs high humidity lots of rain to thrive.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Cacao tree will start to bear fruit at the age of 5, and usually live to age 100. The average cacao tree will retire from fruit growing when it’s about 60-70 years old. <\/span><\/li>\n
  5. The cacao tree needs the shade so it is often grown beneath other trees such as papaya, rubber, and mango trees.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Typically, a cacao tree produces about 1 – 1.5 lbs (~ 0.5 kg) of dried cacao beans annually, over two harvesting periods.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \n\t\t

    <\/div>
    <\/div>
    <\/div>\n
    \"Colombian

    A Colombian farmer picking cacao fruit<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n\t\t

    <\/div>
    <\/div>
    <\/div>\n

    Sticking with (and for) the trees, and moving in closer, to cacao trees,
    \ncan become a life changing experience,
    \nand it has happened to Ika ten years ago.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

    Bathing in a rainforest is good for you <\/b><\/h2>\n

    If you haven\u2019t yet heard about <\/span>\u201cShinrin-yoku\u201d, the latest Japanese wellness <\/span>trend, here is\u00a0the gist of it: <\/span><\/p>\n

    Shinrin-yoku means \u2018<\/span>taking in the forest atmosphere\u2019, or Forest Bathing. It is about the therapeutic effect of forests and trees in general. According to Wikipedia<\/a>, there are over 60 <\/span>Forest Therapy Camps in Japan today. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Some lovely<\/a> books <\/a><\/span>about Forest Therapy and Nature Healing came out recently, following the popularity of a positive new data: <\/span>studies suggest that visiting nature parks has therapeutic effect. <\/span>Spending time with trees seems to raise levels of white blood cells, which equals to a better immune system. Scientists found <\/a><\/span>that \u201cbeing among plants produced lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, and lower blood pressure.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

    Just like the compound in chocolate\u00a0being good for your health (releasing the “happy hormones” serotonin and dopamine), so are the phytoncides<\/strong> that trees emit into the air.<\/span><\/p>\n

    So let us suggest a visit to a cacao plantation!
    \nThis would be a most invigorating trip for the senses, surely. <\/span><\/p>\n

    If you are up for a once-in-a-lifetime journey, search for a meditation retreat, or a mindful exploration of cacao tree forests, to see how they are grown and harvested. Busk in the shade together with them. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Go to one of the \u201cCacao Belt\u201d counties, such as Mexico, or Indonesia. <\/span><\/p>\n

    These special retreats offer unique ways to research the bean-to-bar chocolate trend,\u00a0explore nature, and yourself, if you wish. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Maybe a place where the programme also offers chocolate tasting, making, cacao growing tours, and of course, meditation sessions under the trees. <\/span>Perhaps even where an ancient cacao ritual is performed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Until you go there, why not take some good quality chocolate to the nearest park, and sit under a big old tree? Perhaps bring a book<\/a>, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Have a relaxing summer,<\/span><\/p>\n

    Ika<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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