Cocoa tree still has sylvan existence in its natural environment in upper Amazon, on oriental slopes of the Andes from it is native. Then was cultivated and extended in Central America where it was discovered, at the beginning of the 16 century by the Spanish conqusitadors.
Cocoao tree likes the environment of the rain and warm forests and sedimentary grounds rich in organic matter.
There are many varieties of Amazon cocoa. Each upper Amazon basins (Ucayali / Urubamba, Maranon and Huallaga in Peru, Pastaza, Napo and Tigre in Ecuador) has its specifics natives varieties with distinct properties from those grown in tropical coastal regions.
One of he latest classifications distinguish ten main groups of amazonian cocoa in 2008 : Amelonado, Criollo, Nacional, Contamana, Curaray, Cocoa guiana, Iquitos, Marañon, Nanay, Purus. However, broader classifications exist.
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