Cocoa Nibs

The cocoa tree, a member of the hibiscus family, is native to the Amazon and Orinoco rainforests and is now widely cultivated in West Africa and Asia. Its pods, called cocoa pods or cherelles, take about six months to mature and contain the valuable beans used for chocolate. Cocoa comes in three main types: forastero (the most common), criollo (rare and delicate), and trinitario (a hybrid prized for premium dark chocolate)