Uses of cocoa

Mar 17, 2009

Cocoa beans are still the source of commercial cocoa. The four intermediate cocoa products are cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, (cocoa cake and powder) and chocolate. Although the market for chocolate is the largest consumer of cocoa beans, intermediate produc

Cocoa beans are still the source of commercial cocoa. The four intermediate cocoa products are cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, (cocoa cake and powder) and chocolate. Although the market for chocolate is the largest consumer of cocoa beans, intermediate products such as cocoa powder and cocoa butter are used in several areas.

Cocoa powder is essentially used as flavour in cakes, biscuits, ice cream, dairy drinks (beverage industry) and in the manufacture of coatings for confectioners or frozen desserts. Besides the traditional uses, cocoa butter is used in the manufacture of tobacco, soap and cosmetics.

It is also a traditional remedy for burns, cough, dry lips, fever, malaria, rheumatism, snakebites and wounds. It is reported to be an antiseptic.

Lwanga says cocoa pod husks are useful. After removing the beans in Nigeria, they are dried, crushed and mixed with other poultry feeds. Husks are used as organic fertilisers and in liquid soap making. They are burnt to ash, dissolved in water and boiled, then filtered to get liquid soap.

The liquid that comes out with pulp is used to make cocoa juice, wine and jam. Cocoa trade More Ugandan farmers are now engaged in cocoa production to supplement their household incomes, according to the Cocoa Development Organisation.

Bundibugyo district accounts for a 60% share of all the cocoa grown in Uganda where ESCO Uganda Limited has established a factory to dry the beans to international standards. Uganda’s cocoa beans are bought by exporters like UGACOF Coffee Exporters and Processors, ESCO, Olam Uganda Limited and Bakwanye.

In the last five years, there has been a considerable growth in Uganda’s major export markets mainly in Switzerland, Singapore, Netherlands, UK, US and Malaysia, according to Strategic Market Forecast for Uganda’s Export Product, October 2008. Uganda’s cocoa exports represent 0.22% of the world exports and its global ranking position is number 18.

The world cocoa trade has been growing at an average of 5% per year and cocoa is a high-value crop. Cocoa export values grew 59% from sh19b ($10m) in 2006 to sh30.5b ($15.9m) in 2007. Uganda has over 250,000 hectares certified for organic cocoa production

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