Cameroon: The making of cocoa butter

  1. Posted on Monday 9 March 2009 - 14:45
    Benkam
    Image of Benkam
    Elisabeth Benkam, VoicesofAfrica alumna in Yaounde, Cameroon
    Gathered under the association Essoto of Mbangassina, women of this body come together every Saturday to make cocoa butter. Cocoa purchased in large quantities in surrounding villages is first grilled and then separated from its skin.
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    Then it is transported to the market where it is crushed to obtain a powder that is used to make butter. On the fire they boil water to which they add cocoa powder, stirring gradually. Long after boiling cocoa butter begins to emerge and is collected with a ladle of cooking. The butter obtained is filtered through a white cloth or pure cotton.

    It is put in plastic bottles and sold for 25 000 CFA francs per litre. At the cake from the preparation, they add some ingredients such as sugar and benzoate to get the chocolate. Otherwise, they use it to make lunch. To obtain a litre of cocoa butter they use about ten kg of beans.

    Ms. Justine Ngoury says that for tree years that she and the members of the association have been manufacturing and selling cocoa butter. Their incomes have increased, she says. And they want machines that will facilitate the work ad enable them to produce in large quantities. The traditional doctors and dieticians advise the consumption of cocoa butter in the treatment of cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, skin and hair care.

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