Cacao Plantation and Factory

On our return to Villahermosa from Comalcalco we took a side trip to a Cacao Plantation and Factory Museum. The tour of the plantation was a botanical bonanza. The Cacao itself grows only in a very narrow ecological zone limited by temperature and humidity. There are several varieties of cacao around the world but only one that produces the desirable beans. The beans have been cultivated by the Mayan Culture, dating to as early as 200 BC, maybe earlier. The Maya cherished the beans for two major reason, the first being the frothy drink and second as a currency. The drink was mixed with water and flavored with chilies and or vanilla. Many ceramic pots recovered from Maya burials by archaeologists, are inscribed in hieroglyphs as a "Cacao vessel belonging to a specific AHOW." The word AHOW is Maya for Ruler or Lord and from that it is assumed that the drink was primarily for the elite.

The sign pictured below was in the Plantation's Gift Shop where all kinds cacao products were sold. We were given samples of cacao drink, candies with different percentages of cacao, ice cream, and even wine and liqueur. The cacao pod contains a very sweet pulp which is probably used in making the spirits. Obviously the Vendor had no problem in making a lot of sales. Yum!!!



The Plantation tour was a botanical delight of tropical plants many of which were over forty years old. The two flowers below are pink and red ginger. In the center of the collage is a rubber tree with slash marks used to harvest the sap. The picture beside it is a Monkey Tail Flower growing above a newly sprouted palm. Right side is a Cinnamon Tree.


The Spilt Leaf Philodendron, lower left, is clinging to a Cieba tree about twelve feet above the ground. The next two pictures are the Chiclet tree, the sap of which is used in chewing gum.


Our guide in the stripped shirt is standing beside a Nutmeg Tree. The large pods hanging from the trunk of the trees are the Cacao fruit. The lighter colors show pods of different maturity. On the right side is a Cacao tree trunk with blossoms and the splotches are where previous fruit have grown .

Lower left is inside the factory. Our guide is showing how the beans are graded after roasting, and the process of making the drink. Ricardo, our Mexican guide, is standing by the demonstration table. Roasting and crushing is done in one operation in this machine (two pictures, lower right). The factory has been operating for many years and the machinery appeared to be of 1930 vintage.

Dinner at the Hotel, very good fish but the broccoli and cauliflower were served cold (interesting!).