Brian, Author at Kakao ChocolateKakao Chocolate

What Is Inside a Chocolate Pod?

So that little white flower we saw last time? Once that gets pollinated — by some tiny midges that live in the jungle — some of them will turn into cacao pods. They’ll grow on the trunk of the tree, starting out green and turning red or orange or yellow as they mature. The farmers harvest the pods by hand, selecting the ripe ones and cutting them off the tree. They would then cut open the pods with a machete,...
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23 May

Chocolate Grows on Trees!

By Brian

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Kakao Around Town

Of course, you know that chocolate is magical because you love to eat it — it tastes great, feels great, it even makes you feel great! But there are so many other things that make chocolate magical, from how it grows to how it’s made, to what it does to us when we eat it. So let me start here: chocolate grows on trees, and technically it’s a vegetable. (Some botanists might argue that it’s really a fruit — something...
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13 Oct

Latest Photos

By Brian

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Kakao Around Town

RCI Comes to Kakao

By Brian

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Kakao Around Town

Retail Confectioners International (RCI) has been around for nearly 100 years. Their biggest event is their annual expo – a gathering of confectioners, candy makers and industry suppliers. The expo is an opportunity to see what other confectioners are doing, learn from each other and share candy and chocolate! Kakao is a member, Brian is on the board of directors (and will be president next year) and at least one person from Kakao attends at least one meeting every year This...
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04 Jun

Green Homes Festival This Saturday!

By Brian

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Kakao Around Town

This town just keeps getting greener! Yes, there are leaves on the trees and grass on the ground, but we’re talking about a different green. You may have heard already that the city of Maplewood, in collaboration with the Green Dining Alliance, has become the country’s first Green Dining District. That means at least 25 percent of all independently-owned businesses — including Kakao! — are Green Dining Alliance-certified. Pretty exciting stuff. And later this week, the Missouri Botanical Garden hosts the...
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11 Feb

Valentine’s Day 2014

By Brian

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Kakao Around Town

The “Shopping” Weekend

By Brian

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Kakao Around Town

It’s that time of year again…eating, shopping, eating…maybe shopping again. When you shop for gifts this year, we hope you consider local, small businesses in St. Louis (or wherever you are). Your dollars have the greatest impact on your community when they stay close to home, and locally owned small businesses keep even more of that money nearby. And there’s really no need to stand in long lines of exhausted, aggressive deal-seekers waiting for a big box store to open at...
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02 Nov

Even MORE Farmers Markets!

By Brian

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Kakao Around Town

Summer will last just a little bit longer this year (at least in your mind) – Tower Grove Farmer’s Market has extended it’s 2013 run through November 23rd! How is this possible? Through the miracle of modern technology, farmers are able to protect their crops from frost and extend the harvest into late fall. Ever see a structure on a farm that looks like a long, narrow greenhouse? It’s called a high tunnel and it protects the crops growing...
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19 Oct

Support Your Local Farmers Market

By Brian

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Kakao Around Town

We’ve had an amazing summer at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, as we do every year. We love coming out every Saturday to chat up our friends and bring you amazing chocolate. But this Saturday is special: it’s the market’s 8th Annual Harvest Festival! From 8am to 2pm, come on out for fundraising event to keep the market going. Your usual favorite vendors will be on hand along with many others. And for early birds, Local Harvest Grocery will be...
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04 Oct

Best of the Best of Missouri

By Brian

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Kakao Around Town

It’s that time again! We’re thrilled to participate again in the annual Best of Missouri Market at the Missouri Botanical Garden. This tremendous event draws 25,000 visitors to the Garden to see more than 120 Missouri vendors offering everything from wine to flowers to jewelry to — of course — chocolate! There will also be music, food, and even attendance prizes, as well as activities for kids on Saturday and Sunday. Kakao will be there each day of the event...
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Author Archives: Brian