Cocoa concept

 Cocoa, a word taken from the Nahuatl language, where it was called "cacáhua" (bitter juice) is a tree belonging to the sterculeaceae family, whose scientific name is Theobroma cacao, a name given by the naturalist Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century. XVIII, with the meaning of "food of the gods", in consideration of the primitive aboriginal beliefs.

Cocoa is native to the American continent , initially born spontaneously in the Amazon basin and then taken to Central America, where it was cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas, where it was made with cocoa, an aromatic and stimulating drink, the "xocolatl ”.

The cocoa tree, which can reach a height of between five and eight meters (in its wild form it can measure 20 meters) has a smooth trunk, with evergreen, glossy, large, smooth, hard and alternate leaves; its flowers, in a cluster, hermaphroditic and pentamerous, are star-shaped, and are yellow, green and pink. It is its fruit, a large, fleshy berry that turns red when ripe and weighs about half a kilo, which is highly appreciated, since it is the first ingredient in the exquisite chocolate. It has a rough bark, which hides a sweet and edible pulp, which protects the grains, large and bitter seeds, white in color.

Cocoa 

For chocolate, cocoa powder or cocoa butter is used. The latter is also used in the pharmaceutical industry, and to make cosmetics and soaps. The Aztecs deified this tree, and it was also highly valued by the Mayan and Olmec cultures. Being used in many of these towns as currency.

Raw cocoa has health benefits: it is an antioxidant and an antidepressant. Contains iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, copper, zinc and potassium. It is not the same as chocolate, which contains cocoa, it is also integrated, to a greater or lesser extent, with other ingredients such as sugar, cocoa butter, powdered milk, etc., which add calories and fat.

The cocoa tree needs, to grow, heat, humidity, shade, land at a certain height, porous, rich in nitrogen, potassium and magnesium.

Three varieties are mainly recognized: Criollo cocoa (bears few fruits but of excellent quality, with little tannin, and is cultivated especially in Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua and Guatemala), Forastero (it is the most abundant, originating originally from the upper Amazon, with a strong and bitter flavor, cultivated especially in Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Colombia, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Ghana,) and the Trinitario (hybrid of the Criollo and the Forastero, presenting various flavors, quite refined, being cultivated in Trinidad, Sri Lanka, Java, Cameroon, New Guinea and Venezuela).

90% of world cocoa production comes from the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil, Cameroon, Ecuador and Malaysia.

cockatoo concept

Originating from the Malay term "kakatuwo", an onomatopoeic voice, by imitation of its song, cockatoos, make up the Cacatuidae family, and several species are distinguished among them.

They are diurnal, frugivorous and preying birds, which are abundant in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea and Indonesia.

Relatives of parrots, with whom they share the Psittaciformes order, cockatoos have special characteristics , since in many cases, depending on the species, they are larger, some measuring half a meter (although the nymph cockatoo is small, measuring about 30 centimeters, and is preferred as a pet).

The color of the cockatoos is less striking than that of the parrots, but they have a plume, generally more lively in color. They have, like parrots, two fingers forward and two backwards , and their beak is similar. Their habitat is much more restricted than that of parrots.

cockatoo

Its plumage is white, ashen or black, its wings long and on its head, as we have already said, a plume stands out, with erectile feathers. Its beak is short, curved, and with jagged edges. Its legs are short and its claws are powerful. They are between thirty and sixty centimeters long. They move in flocks and are monogamous. They feed especially on seeds, although they can consume all kinds of vegetables, and insects. Farmers consider them a pest for their crops, and therefore fight them. Because they learn to speak easily and can be tamed, they are often traded illegally.

Their distinctive feature is that they are very squeaky, sounds they use to socialize and to defend their nest, which they make in tree holes. This causes people who talk too much to be called cockatoos, especially if they stun with their loud, high-pitched voice. Their average lifespan varies depending on the species: the nymph lives about 12 years, the alba, about 50, and the galerita, about 30.

In the manuscript "The art of hunting with birds" from the 13th century, owned by Frederick II of Sicily, the image of a cockatoo appeared for the first time, which would have been the gift that Frederick received from the sultan of Egypt. .

In the Cinema, "The Red Cockatoo" is a 2006 German film directed by Dominik Graf. The red cockatoo, is the name of a nightclub, which is the scene of a stormy relationship between three young people who live in Germany, shortly before the Berlin wall is raised, at a time when the young people try to fight against the iron government repression .

chieftain concept

Cacique was a name given by the Spaniards to the leaders of all pre-Columbian societies, taken from "cakchiqueles" the name by which the Tainos (aboriginals from the Caribbean area) knew their chiefs. The Royal Decree of February 26, 1538, claimed the use of the term cacique for all indigenous chiefs, regardless of the group they led, large or small, powerful or not, preventing them from being treated as "lord".

The chiefs of the aboriginal tribes had an authority that varied according to each one of them, since some chiefs (few) were like the absolute European monarchs, or like emperors, while others, the most numerous, were more democratic, and had to respect the decisions of the assembly.

The role of the cacique, a strong man who held a political position generally for life, was to command battles, watch over the population and decide urgent matters.

chieftain

The Mayan caciques were distributed among different city-states, and each of them had extensive power over political, religious, and military matters. It was a hereditary position, of great authority, but it had the advice of a council of nobles: the nobles were the part of the population that enjoyed privileges. Also among the nobles, the chief of the Aztecs was chosen, who was called "tlaotani", having absolute power. Moctezuma, his cacique, who ruled between 1502 and 1520, divided his vast empire into provinces, centrally administered . He was killed during the conquest, although he had accepted the invaders as envoys from his god, but then he was taken prisoner and killed during a demonstration by the aborigines themselves.

In many cases, upon the arrival of the Spanish, the caciques were recognized as such, once they accepted the yoke of the conquerors, and officiated as a link between the new authorities and the native population.

Gradually, the term cacique was extended to any type of authority or leadership: "You must accept the orders of your boss, if you argue with the cacique, he can fire you from your job", "The cacique of the political party , announced the political platform in view of the elections ” or “If you take the role of cacique in this group of hikers, you will have to take responsibility for them”.