There really are Magic Beans!

Magical!

Walking on the farm about two years ago, my son remarked to me that cacao seems like something some child had made up. I see what he means. Cacao is like a tree out of a fairy tale. Unlike most fruit, cacao is so primitive the tiny flowers and thus fruit come straight off the stem and branches, not off the ends. So it's a strange looking plant. The pods change color as they ripen. One of our varieties starts maroon, and as it ripens it becomes bright red with yellow stripes. They look like a dragon's eggs.

When you cut them open there are large seeds covered in a sweet, white flesh. The flesh itself tastes sweet and a bit citrusy. Then if you cut the seeds of this variety open while they're still fresh, they are deep purple. Ferment away the sweet flesh, dry and roast them, and you get cacao nibs, the heart of chocolate.

A dragon's egg with purple seeds that becomes chocolate? That does seem magical, doesn't it.