Samoan Sun-Dried Cocoa

Preferred In Uk

Hot-Air Was “Smoky”

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, December 19.

REPORTS on various brands of Samoan cocoabeans supplied to the London market, together with samples of chocolates manufactured from Samoan and other cocoabeans, were recently re ceived by the Acting Director of Agri culture. Mr. H. S. Newton.

A large proportion of the cocoa sent to London for report was from Samoan growers. This (sun-dried), was pro nounced first class and seems to be pre ferred by London buyers to the various brands of hot-air dried cocoabeans shipped by European planters and the New Zealand Reparation Estates. A large proportion of the latter samples was marked “smoky,” and chocolates manu factured therefrom retained a smoky taste which is apparently difficult to eliminate. To a great extent, this smoky taste is due to carelessness in processing the beans or to faulty driers and every care should be taken by producers to at tain a universallv high standard of quality in the interests of the whole in dustry.

The report also commented on a large proportion of Criollo (high class cocoa beans) amongst the Samoan cocoa samples. Presumably these Criollo samples originated in Savaii where there is a good nroportion of pure and hybrid criollo cocoa still grown The New Caledonian Governor-General has withdrawn the licences of five traders found guilty of selling alcohol to the natives.