Which African Country Is Very Famous For Chocolate? 5 Other Countries

Apparently, the Ivory Coast is the African country famous for chocolate and the world’s biggest producer of cocoa which is the main ingredient in the production of chocolates
Despite this, the West African nation like other cocoa producers such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon are not well known for turning their cocoa into chocolates compared to other countries like Switzerland and Belgium
Notably, the world’s best chocolate brands are produced outside Africa except for a few indigenous brands that are coming up in Africa

Pinpointing the African country famous for chocolate is almost synonymous with looking for the major producers of cocoa the main ingredient used in producing chocolate. Over the years, chocolate production and consumption is linked to countries like Switzerland and other European countries.

Notably, Switzerland which is considered the world’s best consumer of the product and one of the best producers does not have cocoa. On the other hand, the largest producers of cocoa are mostly African countries like Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Despite being the main producers of the product, how come they are not well known for it’s popular product-chocolate? Here is all we know about the largest producers of cocoa in Africa.

Cocoa Was Once Known As the Drink of the ‘Gods’

African Country Famous For Chocolate — Cocoa Beans(Image Source)

Though some African countries are known as the largest producers of cocoa, it was first found and domesticated by the Olmecs of present-day Mexico. They drank it as medicine and for ritual purposes. As a result, the Mayans later regarded it as the ‘drink of the gods’ for centuries later.

Cocoa had so much importance that it was regarded as money on trees, especially during the Mayan times when cocoa beans was used as currency.

All in all, cocoa which is the main staple of chocolates has a history spanning 4000 years from Mexico in South America to Africa.

Here Are The African Countries Famous For Chocolate/Cocoa

African Country Fammous For Chocolate — A Cocoa Plantation(Image Source)

1. Ivory Coast Is The Leading African Country Famous For Cocoa/Chocolate

Metric Tons: 2,034,000
Population: 27. 72 Million

The West African country of Ivory Coast is the leading producer of chocolate as well as the largest producer of cocoa. Ivory Coast’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture which makes up 70% of the sector. Of this percentage, the country puts out a yearly output of over two million tonnes which in turn makes up about 40% of the global output.

Recently, Ivory Coast joined the league of chocolate-producing countries in the world. Instant Chocolat, an indigenous company founded by three former bankers is one among many Ivorian chocolatiers that has placed the country on the list.

Obviously, Instant Chocolat is doing well going by the patronage it enjoys from Air France and Citibank aside from individuals.

2. Ghana Is the Second Highest Producer of Cocoa

Metric Tons: 883,652
Population: 32.37 Million

After Ivory Coast, Ghana is the next biggest producer of cocoa. Since like most African countries, Ghana exports most of the raw material to the markets of Europe, her local varieties are still unpopular.

One of the most common chocolates made by indigenous Ghanaians is the 57 chocolate founded by Pricilla and Kimberly Addison. Both sisters trained abroad and it was there that they hatched the idea for their chocolate. According to their story, Kimberly went on a chocolate factory tour with a friend which impacted her.

While the chocolates produced in Ghana are not as much or popular as those from Switzerland and Belgium, they are a diversion away from only exporting the raw material. Other common Ghanaian chocolates include

Kabi Chocolates
De’Laugh Chocolates
Chocoluv
Fairafric Organic Chocolates
Adansi Bar
Bioko Treats Chocolate
Midunu Chocolates

3. Nigeria

Metric Tons: 328,263
Population: 216.7 Million

Nigeria is the 4th largest cocoa producer in the world and the third in Africa. The cultivation of the crop started as far back as the 1800s in Lagos before spreading to other South Western and South-South states.

Aside from producing the raw material, indigenous chocolates like LoshesChocolate are fast becoming household names. The local brand was started by Oluwafemi Oyedipe, a biochemist with the support of her husband who is an engineer.

4. Cameroon

Metric Tons: 295,028
Population: 27,911 Million

Cocoa is also one of the mainstays of the economy while producing about 280 tons on the global market making it the 6th producer in the world. In 2019 it ranked as the fifth largest producer of cocoa in the world and the fourth in Africa.

At the moment, Cameroon is facing the challenge of turning its cocoa into chocolate. So far the known indigenous Cameroonian chocolate is the Moka origins.

5. Madagascar Consumes Its Own Chocolate

Metric Tons: 6000-7000 metric tons
Population: 29. 02 Million

The Island country located in the southern part of Africa offers many attractions. Its cocoa which makes about 0.5% of total output is regarded as one of the best. The dark cocoa of Madagascar is now being refined into chocolates of unique taste. Inasmuch as there are other African countries like Sierra Leone that produce more cocoa than Madagascar, they have not been able to process their cocoa into chocolate.

Madagascar has a long history of chocolate production that dates back to 1937. The two popular brands in the country are Chocolaterie Robert and Cinagra. Both are bean-to-bar chocolates meaning they have a single origin located within a 50-kilometer radius of land.

Interestingly, most of the island nation’s chocolate is consumed within the country. Other brands include:

Chocolaterie Colbert

Quick Facts About Chocolate

Chocolate is a nut sourced from the largest seed of the cocoa fruit otherwise also known as the cocoa bean. It takes about 400 beans to make a pound of chocolate.
There are three main types of chocolates- white, dark, and milk chocolate. Of the different types, dark chocolate is the best. Reportedly, dark chocolates contain more cocoa
Cocoa, the main ingredient in making chocolate first come to Ghana( West Africa) from Sao Tome by Tetteh Quarshie in 1876
Chocolate can induce feelings of love due to the chemicals it produces such as phenylethylamine and serotonin.
The best chocolates are produced in Switzerland, Belgium, France, the UK, and the US yet, these countries do not produce cocoa. Notably, the beans from Ecuador are regarded as the best in the world due to the ‘fine aroma’ that most do not have.
Chocolate is considered a flavor and has been used in cakes, ice cream, and food yet cocoa its main ingredient is bitter.
Switzerland is the highest consumer of chocolate.
African countries are unable to turn cocoa into chocolates due to a lack of industries