By Joselina Rodríguez
Photos: Liliana Elías
At 40 meters above sea level, specifically in Colon Municipality of Zulia state, there is the Germplasm Bank of Criollo cocoa, the only natural laboratory in the world that covers an area of 6 hectares of this type of cacao. This was made public by Iraima Chacón, Coordinator of the Socialist Centre for Research and Development of Cacao (Cesid-Cacao), who pointed out that this Bank aims to collect, evaluate and preserve cocoa materials of interest in natural observation areas.
“This bank located in the facilities of Cesid-Cacao in Corpozulia, is the place where Criollo Porcelana cocoa has been studied, classified and preserved for 36 years at both morphological and molecular level. Morphological, because of its physical structure and its quantitative features, and molecular because its DNA has been analysed through microsatellite indicators, “Iraima Chacón explains, an Engineer from Corpozulia, in charge of ensuring the well maintenance of the Germplasm bank
As a natural laboratory that preserves the genetic diversity of Criollo Porcelana cocoa, this Germplasm Bank has managed to draw attention of scientists, chocolate masters, scholars and other cocoa lovers in the world, thanks to its organoleptic qualities. According to Chacón, those who visit this place are amazed by the highly productive material that can be observed.
“When you speak about Criollo Porcelana cocoa, you are talking about a type of exclusive cocoa, because of its unique flavour and aroma. That is why this bank has been visited by most of the chocolate makers in the world. Because it houses one of the best cocoas, the same one that was cultivated, praised, selected, isolated in the mountains of South Lake and taken care by our indigenes. They knew that this cocoa was special and unique, “Chacon explains.
According to the expert, the plantations that are seen in this Germplasm bank have been utilised for making cocoa grafts and propagating new plants, which subsequently are given to South Lake producers. She emphasizes that there are specific features that have allowed to study, to select, to preserve and to increase the material in Cesid-Cacao.
“Among the qualities offered by this bank it should be mentioned that the cocoa plants were sown under permanent shade of the bucare and the red sapote, while for temporary shade there were used plantain crops. Likewise, it is important to note that the cocoa trees are sowed every 3 meter from one-another, in order to achieve a high density of plants, “she says.
Cacao Porcelain of the purest
For Chacón, this Germplasm Bank represents a world reference centre where the true Porcelana cocoa is found and characterized by its flavour, aroma and texture, being completely different from other cocoa varieties. This cocoa laboratory was founded 36 years ago as part of an agreement between the National Cocoa Fund (Foncacao) and the former National Fund for Agricultural Research (Fonaiap). Once this agreement was dissolved, Corpozulia resumes the idea of continuing to preserve the genetic material, thus promoting the development of Criollo Porcelana cocoa, nowadays recognised as one of the best cocoa in the world both nationally and internationally.
By Joselina Rodríguez
