Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ha’s cocoa garden, which spans over 1 hectare in Ea Na commune, Krong Ana district, Dak Lak province, attracts numerous visitors who come to explore, experience, and learn about the cocoa cultivation process.
Mrs. Ha’s cocoa garden currently consists of over 1,000 cocoa trees. During this harvest season, her garden yields approximately 1.5 tons of cocoa.
Cocoa trees are relatively easy to grow, requiring minimal care and investment. The trees bear fruit throughout the year, with two main harvest seasons. Upon irrigation, the cocoa flowers bloom, releasing a sweet fragrance.
Beneath the lush green canopy, the ripening cocoa pods display vibrant hues of red and yellow.
While cocoa powder is widely known, fresh cocoa fruit may be less familiar to many.
Once harvested, the ripe cocoa pods are split open to reveal the cocoa beans inside.
The cocoa beans are encased in a thick, white pulp that has a sweet and sour flavor.
The pulp is removed and fermented for five days, during which time the white coating separates from the beans.
Following fermentation, the cocoa beans turn brown and are then sun-dried. These beans serve as the raw material for various products, including chocolate, cocoa powder, and cocoa butter.
Last year, cocoa prices ranged from 70,000 to 80,000 VND per kilogram. This year, prices have surged to 130,000-140,000 VND per kilogram, nearly doubling compared to last year’s prices, bringing joy to the farming community.
