THE VENEZUELAN COCOA
Investigations made by several authors on the geographic distribution of the Cocoa species in the world, has certified that the greater concentration of varieties has per Venezuela origin. Until nearly ends XX Century, Mexico was considered as the only original cocoa source. This recent acknowledge of its origin, explain the fame the Venezuelan Cocoa has from XVII Century, Especially the Criollo variety, in which the Porcelain Cocoa stands out.
The Spaniards had found in Venezuela the tree of cocoa spread in diverse coastal regions toward the east, the center and the south of the basin of the Lake of Maracaibo , for the riverside of their rivers and flowing. They also noticed the existence of big cocoa fields in the forests of the Black River and the High Orinoco, which were known as "mount cocoa" or COCOA. The Indians took a prepared drink with their almond that they called CHACOTE, and they offered in the altars of their idols shortening of cocoa, burned in grills of mud and served as sacrifice. The same as among the Aztecs, our Indians also used the beans of cocoa like average currency, they also prepared a drink with medicinal, religious, and cosmetics ends.
The Venezuelan cocoa didn't have rival; it was the CREOLE cocoa of high fragrance and white the only sweet cocoa that existed and which is left only a very few, because in 1825 it was introduced to Venezuela the seed of Trinidad, now called TRINITARIAN OUTSIDER, of higher production but of inferior quality. The result of the hybrid of these trees of cocoa has gone losing its original quality. They are only today, as
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 Chuao, Venezuela (Drying Cocoa) |
| representatives of the Creole cocoa, the called varieties "Maracaibo", "Chuao" and "Choroní" that are quoted to much higher price that the other varieties. |
The state Trujillo , located in the west of the country, was one of the first places where the cocoa was cultivated. The Spaniards founded big country properties in the valleys of Pocó and they exported their fruits through the Lake of Maracaibo from the Venezuelan port of Gibraltar towards Spain . Nevertheless, most of the shipment was deviated towards the Caribbean island of Curazao , colony of Holland , being created this way an illicit trade of big proportions toward other countries of Europe that offered to pay better prices. For this reason, the Spanish Colony creates the Company Guipuzcoana, with the purpose of guaranteeing the supply of Venezuelan products to its country, including the cocoa. According to the Venezuelan writer Rafael Baralt "during the second half of the XVIII century, Spain didn't receive a single grain of its plantations in Venezuela , having it to be bought to the Dutch men in Amsterdam."
During the time of the Colony (1600-1800) the cultivation of the cocoa was expanded for the whole country. The first plantations in Barlovento, region located in the coastal area, were founded by the Aragonese cappuccinos in Curiepe and Panaquire. The almond of Orituco, cultivated beside the river Tuy, in the same coastal area, conquered a deserved fame for its aroma and excellence. Also in the east of the country numerous and vast country properties were founded and soon it flourished a rich trade of cocoa there.
By 1810, before beginning the war of Independence against Spain , Venezuela harvested 200.000 annual fanegas of cocoa (20.000 tons). During the time of the Republic (1850-1880), in spite of the ups and downs that it experienced this cultivation, it continued occupying outstanding places. After the economic recession taken place by the war of Independence , By the end of the XVIII century and principles of the XIX one, the cocoa occupies its high-priority place again, being the main activity of the society of the time. It represented 75% of the exports of Venezuela , surrendering big earnings. For then the cocoa was sold to towering price, eighty pesos for an average fanega, and the Mantuanos, wealthy owners of all the big country properties, they could be given the luxury of living as princes. Thanks to the trade of the cocoa a new denomination arises for this social class: THE BIG COCOAS.
With the war of Independence the main buyer of the Venezuelan Cocoa disappeared: Spain . This also coincided with the immense popularity that acquired the coffee in the entire world, giving as a result that by 1840 the production shranked in half, about 100.000 fanegas (10.000 tons). According to Humboldt, for the time of their visit to Venezuela (early 1800), there was in the country about 6 million trees, with a very superior production to the current one.
