Effect:
stimulating, diuretic
Areas of application:
Stimulates the central nervous system, dilates blood vessels, promotes urine excretion, dry and stressed skin
Plant parts used:
Seeds of the fruit
Collection time:
-
To find:
Grows in the rainforests of the tropics
Ingredients:
Alkaloid theobromine, flavonoids, caffeine, fatty oil, linalool, essential oil, acids, tannins, procyanide, polyphenols
Other:
The cocoa tree is also grown in tropical greenhouses. With success, the small, yellow flowers develop into cucumber-like cocoa fruits up to 30 cm long. A fruit contains 50 large seeds, from which cocoa is made.
The tree has been cultivated by Indian tribes for more than 2,000 years. Spanish nuns invented sweetened cocoa in the 16th century. They mixed mashed cocoa beans with vanilla pods and cane sugar, boiled everything and were so fond of this drink that word quickly spread to Central Europe.
Cocoa beans consist of 50% fatty oil, which is used in the cosmetic industry and pharmaceuticals, or it is found in high-quality chocolate. The cocoa powder also ends up in the confectionery industry or comes to our tables as instant cocoa.