How is chocolate made?

First step is the cocoa pods. These grow on trees neer the equator because they need the heat and humidity. It also needs fertile soil and rainforest conditions. They grow in places like Brazil or Nigeria. The pods grow on the trunk of the tree and one tree provides 20-30 pods a year. Each tree would make around 1lb of cocoa a year! When the pods turn a golden colour, it is ready to be harvested. They are cut down and wrapped in banana tree leaves. They are left there for 5 days or untill the pulp around the beans drain away. Then they are left to dry in the sun because if they are left wet they will go mouldy. Next they are weighed and put into sacks at buying stations.

http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/theobroma-cacao.jpg