From Coast to Cacao-st
Chocolate has a long history in Africa, but we'll keep this short and semisweet.
From coast to cacao’st, farmers around Africa are growing cacao. Once the tree trunks are choco full of pods, it’s time to harvest.
These pods are harvested by hand…
to make sure the unripe pods aren't mousse'takenly harvested and only the ripest are picked.
The pods are opened, exposing white fruit and beans which are then left to ferment for no morsel than a week.
The fermented beans are finally sun-dried and shipped worldwide to feed chocolate nib'blers across the globe.
Meet Jean, Raphael, and Cylvain—farmers in Cameroon whose fields of cacao have bean passed down from generation to generation.
These farmers will receive microloans to buy equipment for their cacao fields thanks to the fabric finds of two chip’per travelers who explored Cameroon themselves...
(Cameroon Tote by Danielle Chambers)
(Cameroon Tote by Jodie Pelusi)
And here are a few other fabrics found by travelers who em'bar'ked on journeys to Africa to fund their own microloans too...
(Rwanda Tote by Kelsey Friedman)
Here’s to exploring Africa coast to cacao’st and to feeling good—because after all, it’s Friday!
-Jack & Alley, Co-Founders
(Find fabric on your next trip)
Also in Feel Good Friday
Paying It Forward
Wikipedia (ahem, my favorite source) defines “pay it forward” as “an expression for describing the beneficiary of a good deed repaying the kindness to others instead of to the original benefactor.”
In other words, when someone does something nice for you, you do something nice for someone else, sparking an awesome chain reaction of kindness :)
Merry Christmas from Taaluma
Season’s greetings to you and your family!
We hope you have a great thyme this season doing your favorite holiday things: from cumin together with your family, to wearing warm and comfy cloves, to chili-ing out and taking some time off to rest. Oh and have fun opening presents too, just remember that “it is always pepper to give than to receive.”
From all of us at Taaluma, we wish you a rose-merry Christmas and a dill-lightful New Year!