Sarah Arnold
Quite scary seeing the figures on #cocoa production in 2023 and 2024. The start of the 2024 harvest was OK, but early signs suggest it may not stay that way. We apparently need a few good years of cocoa production to make the supply deficit, but climate change, ageing trees, #CropPests and #CropDiseases mean "good years" may become the exception. I guess we will see how this affects confectionary prices in shops.
Dec 12, 2024 at 8:47amWeb
Show threadHelen "Good Morning!" Caton 🇬🇧Dec 12, 2024

@sejarnold

What's sold as 'chocolate' in the UK is so low in cocoa as to be negligible. And don't get me started on palm oil!

Show threadSarah ArnoldDec 12, 2024

@HRCH Obviously depends on what brand you are buying! Artisan/premium brands will be higher in cocoa mass and probably use cocoa butter and less/no palm and shea oils, so will be more impacted by the supply.

But even mainstream brands will be about 20% cocoa solids, so a tripling in price of that ingredient will have an impact, and can't be easily substituted (yet) for anything else.