I went to the Island of Combu. This verdant area is surrounded by fresh water in the Amazon River delta, and home to cocoa trees. The Ribeirinhos are a community of locals living along the side of the river. One family used their recipe for creating high-quality chocolates from local cocoa trees, and created a booming business.
The cocoa fruit grows from the cocoa tree and is cultivated to make chocolate. Its a large, almond-shaped fruit that changes from green to a yellowish color.
I took a tour around the chocolate factory where high-quality chocolate is produced by a Ribeirinho family. None of the cocoa trees were planted, but they already existed on the island. The family utilized this resource and created jobs - and a larger tourist economy on the island. I was thoroughly impressed!
The cocoa plant did not originate from Brazil, but it has been used in the Amazon region, specifically in the state of Pará, where I live, for centuries.
