Soft Commodities

Cocoa beans are the dried and fermented seeds of cacao.Three main varieties make up the world’s production of cocoa beans: Forastero (about 90%), Criollo (less than 3%), and Trinitario (about 12%). The most common use of cocoa beans is of course to produce chocolate. The beans are grounded into powder and the oil is extracted and is converted into cocoa butter.

Coffee is a soft commodity derived from a plant that grows mostly in subtropical and tropical climates. Coffee plants grow in two varieties – Arabica and Robusta. The cherry that grows on the plant contains seeds – known as beans – that are roasted to make coffee.

Sugar plays a significant role in the human diet in most parts of the world as they are an important source of food energy. It is obtained from the processing of sugar beets or sugar cane. The main difference between the two is that while sugar cane grows abundantly as a tropical grass in warm, tropical climates, sugar beets are a root crop which prefer a more temperate climate. Sugar is valued not only for the sweetness is brings to our food but its preservation and fermentation properties.

Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae. Hot and pungent black pepper is one of the most popular spices in the world. The fruit, when dried, is approximately 5 mm in diameter. The drupes are cooked, cleaned and dried through which black pepper oil, spirit and spice is obtained.  Black pepper is used for both its culinary and medicinal purposes. Due to its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, it is extensively used in the manufacturing of skin care products.