Last November 2018, I wrote some of my thoughts on how Chocolate can save the Grenada Cocoa Association (GCA).
Now I am going to expand on these thoughts as we prepare for the GCA Annual General Meeting. The GCA must now make the Diamond Chocolate Plant (DCP) the main producer of cocoa liquor and couverture for a new Milk Chocolate Plant located in Mt. Horne, St. Andrew geared towards attracting agri-tourism and foreign exchange earnings.
Emphasis must be on Marketing and Sales with bulk milk chocolate powder supplied to all schools. Every school child should experience a cup of chocolate tea at least once per week and/or a cold chocolate drink.
In addition the Milk chocolate plant would manufacture chocolate bars similar to “Jouvay” and Truffles and Bonbon for export to the Caribbean, Latin America, the USA and Canada.
As you would see emphasis in this plant would be on branding, Marketing and Sales. If this is done soonest we can easily pay our hard working cocoa farmers up to three dollars per pound for wet cocoa beans.
In addition, we must begin producing Grenada cocoa cider vinegar bottled and sold to replace the current “Apple Cider Vinegar” now sold by supermarkets and Pharmacies all over the world. The Technology is very simple and I am willing to help in the production of “Grenada Cocoa cider vinegar”.
In addition, our cocoa pods can be dried, painted or glazed and be used not only as a packaging material for Bonbons and Truffles but also for coated pieces of dried fruits and nuts but for similarly snacks.
We can also use the dried cocoa pods for making Christmas Wreaths and other similar decorations. The Junior Achievers and other young students can get involved in the commercialisation of a product that now go to waste.
Finally, it is my hope that a decision be taken that everybody in Grenada be able to taste Grenada chocolates.
Before I close I would like the Public to know of the Health benefits of Cocoa and by extension Chocolate.
The Cocoa is full of nutrients such as dietary fibre, protein, fats and carbohydrates in descending order – Vitamins such as Riboflavin, Niacin, Folic acid, and vitamin B6; also Minerals such as Manganese, Copper, Magnesium and Iron.
Besides these contents:
(1).Cocoa helps with cholesterol digestion that can cause heart attacks and circulation problems in the blood;
(2). Cocoa helps in lowering your blood pressure and improving the elasticity of the blood vessels;
(3) .Cocoa helps in maintaining a healthy brain; helps in providing relief from asthma; helps in reducing a high fat diet that induces fattiness;
(4). Cocoa is effective in very persistent Diabetes and Glucose metabolism;
(5). Finally cocoa aids in preventing infections in the body;
So as you see Cocoa is a great food product and the Cocoa fat helps with marks and bumps on the skin; as a matter of fact there is an opportunity for someone to manufacture cocoa butter cream or even cocoa oil.
Dr. Reginald Buckmire