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Club News
Finding The Lost Cocoa of Trinidad
In 1727 something catastrophic hit the island of Trinidad that changed the complexion of cocoa forever… The Blast Some say it was a hurricane, others suggest it might have been drought or disease. Whichever way you look at it, however, the “blast” that
hit the West Indian island of Trinidad in the 18th century all but destroyed the island’s cocoa industry. It was the Spanish who first brought cocoa to Trinidad around about 1525 and they brought with them the fine flavour Criollo trees. But it wasn’t until the beginning of the 18th century that Trinidad’s cocoa industry really took off – thanks to the French who colonised Small but perfectly formed – the historic first pod from our rare strain of Trinitario cocoa
the island after the Spanish. So when the “blast” hit, it devastated the fledgling industry. In 1757, efforts to rebuild the industry began in earnest with Forastero trees imported from nearby Venezuela – known for their resistance to disease. The new trees then interbred with the remaining Criollo trees and formed a brand new strain of cocoa, which was called Trinitario. The new strain combined the best of both parents – the hardiness of Forastero and the fine flavour of Criollo. The Science Bit The hybrids quickly multiplied and formed the basis of most of the estates that needed replanting. After that, there was no continued on page 3...