Eat from Trees

There are more than 70 tree species that produce edible food.

July, 2022

Food-producing trees play an important role in sequestering atmospheric carbon in their leaves, stems, trunks, roots and associated soils for extended periods. They also prevent erosion and flooding, recharge groundwater, restore degraded land and soils, and support biodiversity by providing habitat.
Like a forest, food tree forests don’t need tillage to grow, which means the carbon that has
accumulated among the microbes, fungi and mineral aggregates in the soil can remain intact. They also grow bigger year after year, adding carbon-infused mass to their trunks and stems. They can achieve rates of carbon sequestration comparable to those of afforestation, with the added benefit of producing food.
(Chocolate) Breakfast in Southern Mexico
BY ANDERS PRIEN SAXBOL, 
BEAN TEAM ALUMNI

Jose, Maria Suzanna and their large family live in a vivid blue, green and red house. The forest stands intact behind it. As a green wall of bird calls. 

Jose and his family live in one of the indigenous communities in the Selva Zoque that Original Beans has been working with since 2014. Jose’s family is a typical grower family in this region. They work hard in the milpa and cacaotales throughout the day and they only eat what they grow, which sounds modest. But they grow up to 40 different crop and tree species in their cacaotales alone, including such delicacies as cacao, tomatillo, chili, vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, breadnut and annatto. They have perfected the same farming - and culinary - traditions for millennia. 

They have freshly harvested cacao fruits. Maria Suzanna and one of her daughters roast the cacao beans lightly over the fire and grind them together with maize. As she stirs the drink with a peculiar- looking wooden tool, the Pozol - as they call this drink - becomes frothy. They make the Pozol ever morning, as the indigenous people of the Selva Zoque have done for 4000 years, since the ancient Olmecs invented it.

July, 2022

Hints of lychee and coconut in this chocolate from select-tribal Tabasqueño cacao have lifted the spirits of Zoque growers for 4,000 years.

For thousands of years the Zoque have cultivated “kakaw” and given it the name we use today. As they restore their customs and forests (selvas) your purchase of the spirited Zoque 88% helps their cause.


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