The pulp will turn to liquid and drain away.Ĥ) Next, lay the beans out on wooden boards and dry them for a week in the sun. If it has a deep, hollow sound, it means the beans inside are ready!ģ) Place the beans and the yummy pulp into large wooden boxes, cover them and leave them to ferment for a week, changing boxes every couple of days to allow air inside to help the process. Want to make chocolate yourself? Here’s how to go about it…ġ) First, get yourself over to the Equator – because cacao only grows near there, where the trees get all the warmth, shade and humidity they require.Ģ) Wait six months for the cacao pods to ripen, then gather your family together to harvest them! Because cacao pods in your chacra (an area a bit like a large orchard) will have different colours, the best way to find out whether they’re ripe is to tap the pods.