how do u eat it?  Can u eat it fresh?  how many varieties are there?  How come u can only find it processed in stores (like in powder or some how prepared form)?

thanks.

thank u so much for your help, but I think i was not clear enough or u misunderstood my question.

I am really more interested in the actual plant/fruit.  I was wondering if u eat the beans?  can u just eat them out of the plant?  does it spoil fast?  is that why u never see the fruit in stores?  would it be considered a fruit?  Is this the right place to ask that?

thank u so much for the info and book recommendation.

I am not from australia, however, i think this is a great online bessage boards/ community.  I especially love the raw beauty and fitness section.  it's motivating to hear about everyone's journeys.  I have learned a lot. 

I am in Southern California/ Costa Rica.


thanks.

I am in an area where cacao thrives, I am new to this tho..  I don't generally see it sold in fruit form, and never in the states (unless u consider it being processed into powder or bars or whatever fruit form), so I wanted to ask someone who would give me a straight answer before I  ate something that may or may not make my eyeballs sink into my head and fall out of my colon in a horrible, messy, and painful way.  There is a fruit here called peji valle, and from what everyone tells me you have to cook it in order to eat.  Tastes like a cheese, and smells like a foot (it is better then it sounds, but they tell me that if u eat them raw your mouth burns and blisters or something terrible and uncomfortable). 

It's really interesting how people I meet in Southern California are generally much much more accepting of my choice in a raw lifestyle then the people I meet when in Costa Rica.  from what I have experienced most of the people I have come across love to eat all meals w rich meats, tortilla (or bread at breakfast), rice, beans (gallo pinto at breakfast- a mixture of rice and beans), and lots of fresh rich and salty cheeses.  I notice that a lot of people will put either lots of salts, sugar, or both on most things.  When I have dinner with my family in Costa Rica they are like, alls u eat are fruits?  u crazy, gurl.  u like a bird or what?  At sit down places to eat from my experience it is really difficult to ask for a salad w out cooked veggies, salad dressing, or palmito sauce.  It is a good thing that fruit is so abundant or i may not survive.  It's hard to imagine how everyone gets by in the hot humid climate with all the meats and cheeses in their system.  I feel like my body would suffocate.  I used to eat small portions of meats and cheeses there, and even still I think my body had a hard time adjusting to the climate because before the weather was uncomfortable, and now i find it to be invigorating.  It seems like this type of lifestyle is more obscure in the agricultural areas where most of the fruit grows then in the more touristic areas like the beach or the city.  it is very interesting.  I always hear about raw foods in costa rica.  i suppose i have not explored enough yet.   

thank you for the information.