How do workers know when the cocoa beans are ready to be dried?

The ripeness of the cocoa pods can be determined through visual cues—a change of color to yellow when they should be split open—followed by sound, and finally scent. This requires the careful and experienced work of farmers. The aroma becomes a crucial indicator at this stage; the pods produce a fermented sweet and fruity note similar to that of bananas or pineapples when they can be harvested.