Fruit People
Cacao Box
Theobroma Cacao, commonly known as Cacao, is an exotic tropical fruit tree which is native to Mexico. The trees are grown throughout the tropics, especially in Africa, Indonesia, Central American countries and the Caribbean. Cacao is a superfood which has a high concentration of phenolic antioxidants, and flavonoids such as epicatechin, and catechin. Cacao is also loaded with iron and copper, and is a good source of protein, apart from that, it is absolutely delicious!
Cacao pods are ovoid shaped and generally range from a half a foot in length to a foot long. Cacao pods vary in color depending on species and environmental factors. Common color variations are yellow, red, and brown. The outer surface of the pods are ridged, bumpy, with a semi-hard outer shell. Inside the pod are individual pods that look like soft pillows of sweet, white pulp that completely envelope the Cacao bean or seed within each segment.
This sensational fruit is used to make chocolate through a process of drying, grinding and fermenting these beans which develops the flavor. Each Cacao pod will contain approximately 20-60 seeds. However, Cacao is commonly consumed as a fresh fruit without the need of any special process.
To enjoy the fresh Cacao, simply lay the pod on a flat surface and using a knife, carefully make a cut just through the outer shell starting at the pointed end of the fruit and cut along the edge of the pod lengthwise. Just before reaching the knobby end of the pod, turn the knife 90 degrees and cut across the top of the pod to the other side and run the knife along that edge back to the pointed end where you started. By using this technique, you are essentially cutting a lid that can be lifted off the pod without disturbing or cutting into the fruit and beans inside. The individual fruit segments can easily be lifted out with your fingers. Each segment will contain a single, edible seed. After placing the segment in your mouth, the sweet and flavorful pulp can be sucked from around the bean. The bean alone will taste mildly bitter like strong dark chocolate, however when eaten with the fruit at the same time, the sweetness of the fruit creates a delicious combination.
All Cacao that we grow or locally source is sustainably and ethically grown.
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Why Our Fruits Are the Best:
Our fruits are allowed to grow on the trees further into the growing season to allow proper fruit development for optimal flavor, vitamin and nutrient content. Our fruits are picked from our own rare tropical fruit trees, from the trees of our local partners, collectors, and sourced internationally from sustainable organic niche farmers. Follow us on Instagram @Fruitpeople_com
Please Note: We are currently unable to ship this product to the following state(s): California. This is in compliance with restrictions placed by the respective Department(s) of Agriculture regarding the importation and shipment of various tropical fruits, due to the potential ecological impact of the possible introduction of various foreign fruit fly species upon Agricultural Infrastructure within the listed state(s). Please check out our other products as this restriction does not apply to all fruits & produce. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
Pre-Orders will ship in the order they are received, as soon as the fruit is in season and ready to be picked.
- Small Box contains 2 Cacao Pods
- Medium Box contains 3 Cacao Pods
- Large Box contains 8 Cacao Pods
Box weight and amounts vary depending on fruit type, volume and density. All boxes are shipped with sustainably produced biodegradable packing material instead of Styrofoam or bubble wrap. See our Shipping Guide for more information pertaining to our shipping schedule.
Please be mindful of estimated delivery times for orders, as prolonged package exposure to outdoor weather conditions, such as snow or extreme heat, will affect perishable produce.
All boxes are assembled and shipped starting on Monday of the week following your purchase. Please allow 1-2 weeks for your order to be shipped for any product which is in season. Pre-Orders will ship the following season for each respective fruit type, see details below.
Pre-Orders:
When one of our fruits is not currently in season, or has sold out, we highly recommend placing Pre-Orders. Placing a Pre-Order of our rare and premium tropical fruits reserves your Box for the following season. When supply is low and demand is high, Pre-Orders are shipped first. Pre-Orders are shipped in the order in which they are received for each type of fruit. Your Pre-Order is shipped as soon as the fruits are in season and ready to be picked. Some fruits have only one season per year, others have multiple seasons. Please refer to our Fruit Seasons Guide for more information. You don’t want to miss out on these delicious and sensational fruits!