Actually it kinda does. We spent a fun day harvesting cacao for Patricio's mom. Everyone comes together and helps out -- called a "minga". Picture an Amazonian easter egg hunt - where're you looking for bright red, orange, yellow mini-footballs hanging from trees no more than seven feet tall. Normal heat, humidity, bugs and bites apply - but it's quite nice and satisfying work. Twist and tug and you're done.
After the harvest is in, then it's seed extraction time. After being split open with a machete (of course), we pull all of the slimy seeds out of the pod into a bucket. You stick your hand in a slimy, sticky mess and you pull out all the seeds. That's sugar cane in my mouth, btw.
Choclate freaks jump ahead to the next section - you've been warned. The white gook is actually quite tasty. You can pop one iny our mouth and suck all the goo off the seed...and then...the seed goes back in the bucket with the rest of them.
Then it's off to be dried and ground. What a beginning.
p.s. local conversation has it that cacao is like...what word did they use? Viagra. Hey, I don't make the news, just report it.
Cacao - Viagra - love the story! Thank you so much for doing all this - I am sure you made the life of your hosts more beautiful ... I only wish they can comprehend how hard this is for us who did not like life with bugs and dangerous species with strange language people that do not use high hill things on their feet or do not put their jewelry "from the cheek to (through) the cheek ... How’s food Maggie - if it's good for losing 8kg I could maybe visit!? Anyhow, I took 3 days off to help kids with school and rest a little bit (teens - rest ?!)... Thinking and praying you get all the best as you deserve all teh best! Wish your way back home takes you via Belgrade! In the meanwhile spread teh news or check Boki and his Carpe Diem Team http://wwwcroatia-cruise-guletcom.blogspot.com/2010/08/gulet-cruise-croatia-montenegro-albania.html Take care! Love, Nada (Hope:)
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