In a far-off land, so green and lush,
There was a plantation, a place to hush,
Where trees grew tall and wide,
And a magic bean, they did provide.

Cacao was its name, a treasure so rare,
It held the power to make us share,
A joy so pure, a delight so true,
That all who tasted it, felt anew.

But before it could become a treat so sweet,
It had to go through a process complete,
Fermentation was the first step in line,
Turning cacao bitter to taste, but oh so fine.

Then came the ingredient, a secret so bold,
It gave chocolate its flavor, worth more than gold,
The plant's gift to all, to savor and consume,
A treat so delightful, a child's favorite boon.

So when you bite into chocolate so brown,
Remember the cacao, the magic bean from town,
It grew on a plantation, so green and bright,
And was turned into a treat, that brings us such delight.

Reflections

Here are a few questions to ask kids to encourage them to think about "The Magic of Cacao: A Sweet Adventure":

1. What was the name of the magic bean in the story, and where did it come from?
2. Why did the cacao bean have to go through the fermentation process?
3. What is the secret ingredient that gives chocolate its flavor?
4. What is a plantation, and how is it related to chocolate?
5. Why do you think the story is called "The Magic of Cacao"?
6. What did you learn from the story about where chocolate comes from?
7. How do you feel about the cacao bean's journey from a plantation to a delicious treat?
8. Do you think it's important to know where our food comes from? Why or why not?