Discover Cocoa Fruit this summer, it's chocolate but not as you know it
You all know about chocolate but what if we told you there's more to the pod than just the cocoa bean? Discover the unexpectedly refreshing fruity taste of Cocoa Fruit - it's chocolate but not as you know it! So... What is Cocoa Fruit?
Cocoa Fruit is the unsung hero of the chocolate world and we’re finally giving it the spotlight it deserves. Before cocoa beans are processed into chocolate, they’re tucked inside a thick ripe pod, with each bean surrounded by a juicy white pulp (also known as flesh or mucilage) - called Cocoa Fruit.
It has a citrissy, fruity, sweet flavour, with hints of honey, more akin to mango or lychee than chocolate! Animals (& people) love the taste of this fruity flesh, so they will break the pod open to suck the flesh off the beans. This fruity flesh is critical to the cocoa fermentation process (as the beans heat up, the pulp turns to sugars, alcohol & acetic acid which penetrates the beans to stop them germinating & initiate chemical changes which release the flavours of chocolate - but that's getting quite technical!). Suffice to say, that the fresh pulp is lost in that process and unless you are visiting somewhere where you can taste the pulp around freshly picked cocoa pods, it is not a taste sensation you would ever be able to experience...However, our chocolate partners Luker in Colombia, have been busy finding ways to use more of the cocoa pod, including this pulp.
Of a ripe cocoa pod, only the beans are used – they account for 18.3% - so 81.7% is ‘by product’ . The fruity pulp (flesh or mucilage) accounts for 7% whilst the pod itself accounts for 73.4% and farmers usually leave the empty pods on the ground to act as mulch/fertiliser. The shells of cocoa beans are already used as a mulch (you can sometimes find cocoa bean shell mulch in garden centres) as cattle feed, biofuel & now is being used in making recycled papers… These innovations aren’t just delicious—they’re sustainable. By using more of the cocoa pod, especially parts that are often discarded, we reduce food waste and support cocoa farming communities with new sources of income.
So how can we offer a cocoa fruit range? The Luker team in Colombia have found a way to extract some of the juice from the white flesh BEFORE the beans are fermented. They leave enough of the flesh on the beans to enable them to ferment as normal. The juice goes through a number of processes to create a golden concentrate which captures the fruity taste of the flesh. It is made using 100% natural cocoa fruit and therefore vegan-friendly, gluten-free and has no added sugar!
We were the first chocolate company in the UK to work with this Cocoa Fruit concentrate last summer and it is made in just one factory that has been set up by Luker in the middle of a cocoa plantation in the Eastern region of Casanare in Colombia – so it is very precious.
We have created 4 different products with this concentrate which are perfect for the summer
Cocoa Fruit Caramels
We are super proud of this one! the best of both worlds, rich chocolate meets bright, fruity caramel and even better, it won a SILVER Academy of Chocolate award last autumn, so it is officially delicious! It’s not just a chocolate—it's a whole new dimension for a sophisticated and reimagined chocolate flavour experience. Available in a box of 9 online or in our chocolate cabinets in any of our Chocolate Houses.
Cocoa Fruit Sorbet (vf)
Vegan-friendly creamy Cocoa Fruit Sorbet with delicious honey notes - you won't believe it's vegan! Made with real Cocoa Fruit concentrate, our Cocoa Fruit Sorbet is a dairy-free dessert that’s as refreshing as it is indulgent. This frozen fruity treat really brings out the honey notes of the Cocoa Fruit. It’s a sizzling summer sensation bursting with flavour in a spoon! Perfect as a dessert or a midday pick-me-up. Available in our Chocolate Houses (except Westfield).
Cocoa Fruit Spritz (vf)
Sparkle naturally with our Cocoa Fruit Spritz. A refreshing cold sparkling drink made with Cocoa Fruit served with a slice of lemon perfect for a summers day! It’s tangy, citrusy, and naturally hydrating - no added sugar, no artificial flavours, just 100% pure fruit sparkle and naturally vegan-friendly. Enjoy! Available in our Chocolate Houses (except Westfield).
Cocoa Fruit Tea (vf)
Say goodbye to ordinary fruit teas. Our Cocoa Fruit Tea uses Cocoa Fruit concentrate for a unique flavour both soothing and subtly sweet. This hot tropical tea, blows the boring teabags out the water! This is more than just tea - it’s a new way to experience the fruits of the cocoa pod. Served in a teapot, this naturally vegan-friendly hot fruity drink is like nothing you've tried before and can be sweetened to taste. Available in our Chocolate Houses (except Westfield).
Discover the full Cocoa Fruit range in our Chocolate Houses across the south this summer - this is not to be missed, believe us! Check out the opening times for our Chocolate Houses here.