Kati Notes

Northern Madagascar

• fertile north is the hottest and wettest region of Madagascar

• most fertile region of Madagascar due to the near location to the equator (about 1.400km south) and regular rainfall, especially in the months from December to March, and an average temperature of 25C

• tropical climate with regular (almost daily) rainfall, mostly during the evening and night

• most of the countryside in the north is cultivated land (farmland) for vanilla, cocoa, sugar cane, rice, coffee, pepper, ylang-ylang, oranges

• Sambirano Valley always wet, humid climate

Ambanja

• located a bit inland of the mouth of the Sambirano river

• located in the northwest of Madagascar

Cocoa Farmers

• peasant farmers (small farmers)

• Robert - bean to bar on location, single source

Cocoa

CRIOLLO

• rare species, grows only in rainy regions (highlands)

• very sensitive and not very fruitful (fertile)

• tender (delicate) flavour - especially suitable for chocolates with a high percentage of cocoa

• a cut Criollo bean is light coloured

• Procelana - best cocoa in the world
  

 Ocumare - a crossing with Trinitario

• 5%-10% of worldwide produced cocoa
  
  

FORASTERO

• more resistant (robust) than Criolio

• more bitter flavour - mainly used for milk chocolate, cocoa powder

• 80% of world production
  
  

TRINITARIO

• relatively recent crossing of Criollo and Forastero - combines the high quality and resistant of both types

• most common cocoa in Madagascar

• a cut Trinitario bean is dark

• 10% of worldwide produced cocoa