VU22602 / VU22604 : Information Texts : A Certificate 2 in EAL Reader and Quiz
The cacao tree of Central and South America gives us one of the world's favourite treats - chocolate.
The tree produces pods with pulp and seed inside.
The pods are split open and the seeds - or beans - are left to ferment in the sun.
Then they are separated from the pulp.
The beans are cleaned, roasted and then ground.
When the beans are ground, cocoa butter is released. A mixture called chocolate liquor forms.
Chocolate bars are made by squeezing out the liquid.
Raw chocolate is bitter in taste.
The Aztecs of Central America were the first to make a drink from cacao, spices and pepper. Later in the 16th century, the Spanish conquerors changed the recipe. They removed the pepper and spices and added sugar instead.
Over a hundred years later, a Frenchman created blocks of sweet chocolate.
The new sweet was immediately popular around the world.
