Buy Liberia Cocoa Beans Directly From Exporters & Suppliers - Best of 2024 Market Prices

Cocoa beans are used in the production of chocolate as well as a cocoa powder that gets used in beverages. Liberia cocoa beans have healthy ingredients with minerals and vitamins that boost health in ways like weight loss, antidepressants, antioxidants, healthy cardiovascular system and energy booster

Since the early 1900s, cocoa has been grown in Liberia. The Spaniards introduced chocolate to Europe, and by the mid-17th century, it had become a popular beverage. They also introduced the cacao tree to the Philippines and West Indies. Europeans then introduced it to the rest of Asia and West Africa. 

Cocoa beans are the seeds that are contained in the cacao tree; Theobroma cacao. This is a branching, evergreen tree that has simple leaves which measure up to 61 cm long and 10 cm wide. The cocoa tree produces clustered pale yellow flowers with five petals each and sepals. Liberian cocoa drupes can either be yellow, purplish, green-white or red, each containing 2.5 cm long 20-50 seeds that are arranged in five distinct rows. The tree can reach a height of between 4-20m.

Cocoa for Liberia is the second export crop. Over 30,000 smallholder farmers are engaged in cocoa production in Liberia. Their yields per hectare are 200kg. Bong, Lofa and Nimba are among the highest cocoa producing counties in Liberia.  As of 2016, they had 9,603 metric tons of cocoa production. Its excellent climate and tropical rainforest are conducive for cocoa production. Cocoas contribution to the country’s economy is substantial. Annually, through cocoa export, Liberia generates around 2B US dollars in foreign exchange. This contributes significantly to its GDP and revenue. 

Forastero cocoa is widely grown in Africa. It accounts for 80-90% of world production and is used to produce bulk beans with a classic flavour. This variety has a smooth skin and bitter taste.

Young Liberian cocoa trees require shade while growing, but once they are mature enough, sunlight becomes essential for their thriving. The growing tree does well in fertile, deep and well-drained soils with a PH of 5.0 -7.5. Well distributed rainfall and a humidity of 100% during the day and 80% during the night are also optimum conditions for its growth. Cocoa trees in Liberia are grown in the lowland areas and at temperatures of 18°c-32°c.

Mature Liberian cocoa trees keep bearing fruit for 25 years and have a lifespan of 40 years.

Liberia cocoa beans harvest happens at the end of the rainy season over the months of October to March. The harvesting process is accomplished through pod plucking using hooks, knives and cutlasses. After harvesting, the pods are opened by hitting them against each other or with a stick or stone to extract the beans. The beans packed in baskets, boxes or heaps in preparation for fermentation, they then are fermented for about 6-7 days. This step is followed by drying, which is accomplished by laying the beans out in the sun, but recently, a solar shed got introduced that makes this process more efficient. The beans then get sorted and graded based on type. They finally get packed in jute bags, stacked and labelled. The seeds are shipped when dry and stored in cool, dry and sealed conditions.

Liberia exports to EU, North America and Asia.

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