All-British chocolate bar made by scientists using Reading-grown cocoa
Summary
Scientists at the University of Reading have created a chocolate bar made entirely from British-grown cocoa beans, a rare achievement since most UK chocolate depends on imported cocoa. This new chocolate bar celebrates the university’s 100th anniversary and highlights efforts to protect cocoa plants amid climate change challenges.Key Facts
- The late queen was the only person to have eaten a 100% British chocolate bar before, given to her as a child in 1932.
- The University of Reading grew cocoa plants in Berkshire to make a new fully British chocolate bar.
- Cocoa beans were harvested, fermented, and processed by a master’s student at the university.
- The UK chocolate market is worth £10.4 billion but relies totally on imported cocoa.
- The university has over 300 types of cocoa plants and hosts a center handling 97% of the world’s international cocoa plant movement.
- Climate change threatens cocoa production with heat and extreme rainfall harming crops in producing countries.
- Only six bars have been made so far due to slow cocoa pod growth, but production may increase.
- The university hopes to gift a bar to the Princess of Wales, linking her Reading birthplace with the chocolate’s origin.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
