Subject: The Spread of the Cacao Tree

The age of colonialism saw the start of the spread of the cacao tree, as did the introduction of cacao beans and chocolate as well. The first European to see cacao was Christopher Columbus, on his fourth and final voyage to the Americas. A large dugout was seen near an island off the coast of Honduras, it was the largest native vessel ever seen by the crew. Described as being as long as a galley, it was filled with trade goods including cacao beans.

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Seizing the vessel and its goods, the skipper was retained as a guide to Columbus. Ferdinand Columbus, his son, later wrote about this meeting, he was impressed by the value these natives placed on the cacao beans, he observed that when the beans were brought on board, if one dropped, the natives would pick it up as if something of great value had been lost. They did not realize that what they were seeing was the local money, in parts of Central America, as recently as the last century; some areas still use cacao beans as currency.

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Even though Columbus took the cacao beans back to Europe, their value was not known by the Spanish King and his court. When the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez brought back three chests of cacao beans twenty years later they were recognized as a treasure.

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Because cacao seeds are only viable for a short period of time, it was difficult for the cacao tree to make the move it needed to spread out of its native lands. The cacao tree is also very difficult to grow; it grows best when shaded by larger trees. The cacao trees are pollinated only by midges, which are small gnats, and the well manicured areas on most plantations do not allow for the midge to grow. Midges are found in the rot of the forest floors in dead animals, leaves and other waste.

Thank you,

Bill Anderson
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