Once upon a time, in a land far away,
There was a magical plantation, where cacao did sway,
In the fields, the plants grew tall and strong,
And the farmers worked hard all day long.

With machetes in hand, they harvested with care,
The pods from the trees, so rich and rare,
Then they took them to the mill to be ground,
Into powder, so delicious and brown.

The cacao was mixed with other ingredients,
And left to ferment, with no impediments,
Until the mixture became mole, so thick and sweet,
The aroma and flavor, simply couldn't be beat.

The children would come from miles around,
To consume the mole, that was so renowned,
They'd lick their lips, and savor the taste,
Of the magical concoction, they could not waste.

So now you know the story of the plantation,
Where cacao was king, and mole was the sensation,
And if you're ever lucky enough to visit,
You'll get to taste the magic, and surely won't miss it.

Reflections

Here are a few questions to ask kids to help them think about the story:

1. What is cacao and where does it come from?
2. What do farmers do to harvest the cacao pods, and what tools do they use?
3. What is fermentation, and why is it an important step in making mole?
4. Have you ever tasted mole before, and if so, what did you think of it?
5. What other foods can you think of that are made from ingredients that grow on a farm?