We have pleasure in introducing ourselves to you as Kocoatrait, Zero Waste, Planet Friendly & Sustainable Bean to Bar Chocolates. We buy our Cacao beans directly from farmers and follow a circular economy approach, where in, we take away the least amount of valuable resources from the environment and try to give a lot more back! An example of circular economy approach in our brand is our chocolate wrapper which is upcycled from reclaimed cotton and these cacao bean shells. With the aim of giving back to the soil and planet, we have pleasure in introducing to you our Cocoa shells (called as mulch) which can be used as a top cover to retain moisture for your plants!
How is cacao bean shell made?
We air roast our cacao beans for producing chocolate and produce a lot of these shells which by regulation should not be used in the chocolate. The shell separates from the bean upon roasting. The roasting process sterilizes the shells so that they are weed free and remain organic. The cacao mulch has the delicious sweet scent of chocolate with a deep, rich, brown color which gets deeper with age. Many gardeners enjoy the sweet smell and attractive appearance of cocoa shell mulch.
Benefits of using cocoa bean shell for gardening
Using cocoa hulls in the garden is an excellent way to increase soil vitality and is an attractive top cover for both flower beds and vegetable patches. It helps reduce weeds and conserve water. Cocoa bean hulls also help retain moisture in garden beds and reduce weeds organically, eliminating the need for chemical-laden herbicides. Cocoa bean mulch lasts much longer than other organic mulches because it slowly decomposes into the ground. Cocoa mulch is often used to enhance soil that is otherwise lacking the proper nutrients to grow flowers and vegetables. It also improves the aeration and drainage in soil while enriching the soil with proper nutrients. Cocoa mulch consists of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and a perfectly balanced pH level.
Cacao shells can potentially enter landfills if not used and hence we would like to encourage home gardeners to contribute and help us utilise this valuable resource. These are available in reusable 200 gms packs. You can buy our cacao shells here.
How to use cocoa bean shells while home gardening
Cocoa bean shells are used to provide a top cover. You should target your cocoa bean mulch use on the part of your garden that receives the most sunlight. Although the shells are sterile from the manufacturing processes, mold occurs across the mulch if it remains wet for most of the day. Using the cocoa bean mulch in brightly lit areas allows it to dry from irrigation watering or rainfall. Consistently wet mulch turns moldy, and though the mold is not harmful, it takes away from the overall garden appearance.
Some useful resources are as follows:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/using-cocoa-hull-mulch.htm
http://cocoabeanmulch.com/places-to-use-cocoa-mulch/
https://www.mymodernhomestead.com/blog-1/2016/3/9/discover-co
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/ideas-cocoa-bean-mulch-44027.html