Difficult weather conditions and disease have affected production in West Africa, which produces about 70% of the world’s cocoa. The two largest producers, Ivory Coast and Ghana, have been hit by a combination of heavy rain, dry heat and disease recently.
Late last year, heavy rain and the spread of black pod disease in the two countries affected farming, according to a November report from the International Cocoa Organization. Poor road conditions also made it difficult to bring the available beans to port, according to the report.
Yeah, chocolate is delicious and I love it, but even if made with just cocoa and sugar, it is radically different than what comes off of the plant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaCZcdWk1DU