In this cutthroat world, companies have to work their tails off  to reach the top. If the top is too much to ask, then it's good to at least keep themselves afloat.

It may be such a tearjerker, but I guess everyone is aware of the widespread economic recession going on. Even the giant countries are not lucky enough to be given immunity. Everyone is at risk including the production of cocoa!

Pardon me for wanting to start this article on a serious note. Because for an aficionado, anything and everything that involves chocolate must not be taken for granted. But do not worry because I will not bore you with that. Heck no.

Still, I want you to read on bearing in mind that the industry that produces our beloved chocolate is at stake. We must remain vigilant.

There is a worldwide fear that the use of cocoa may drop for the first time in a span of three years. It is because grinders opted to utilize cocoa butter instead of the usual processing of beans.

Conventionally, when cocoa beans are ground, about 80 percent are transformed to liquor which is eventually processed into becoming butter and powder. The current market demand is $108 billion, and so manufactures are up for anything to meet that need.

This case is experienced in the United States and Europe. According to Jonathan Parkman, the co-head of agriculture at broker Marex Spectron Group in London, the bean grindings of the world will experience a drop this season.

"Some European grinders, who can, have been melting liquor and butter to supply some of their contracts instead of grinding beans," said Peter G. Johnson, chief executive officer at Morristown, New Jersey-based Transmar Commodity Group Ltd.

They claim that the cost of purchasing already boxed butter and liquor were cheaper as compared to producing them from the beans. In fact, chocolate lovers might find this as a good news because with the use of cocoa butter, chocolate production became cheaper, and the margins for manufacturers have improved tremendously.

It is then safe to say that even if cocoa use has dropped, this does not jeopardize whatsoever the industry that feeds us our favorite chocolates. We can cut the drama and seriousness and return to our chocolate-loving selves again. 🙂

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Joanna Maligaya

Staff Writer/Content Developer at Chocolate University Online

Ever since she can remember, Joanna has always considered chocolate as the ultimate food for her soul. She believes in the saying, “9 out of 10 people love chocolate, and the 10th always lies.”

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