Where do you get cocoa beans?

Cocoa beans are the seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), which is native to the tropical regions of the Americas. The beans are found inside the cacao fruit, which is about the size of a large avocado. The cacao tree can grow up to 15 meters (49 feet) tall, and it bears fruit all year round. The fruits are harvested by hand, and the beans are then removed from the fruit and fermented. The fermentation process brings out the chocolate flavor of the beans. After fermentation, the beans are dried and roasted. The roasted beans are then ground into a powder, which is used to make chocolate.

Cocoa beans are mainly produced in West Africa, which accounts for over 70% of the world's cocoa production. The top cocoa-producing countries in West Africa are Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Other major cocoa-producing regions include Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

The demand for cocoa beans has been increasing steadily over the years due to the growing popularity of chocolate. However, the supply of cocoa beans has not been able to keep up with the demand, which has led to higher prices for cocoa beans. The fluctuating prices of cocoa beans have had a significant impact on the chocolate industry.