This vein valve diseae is a common reason that people develop leg or ankle swelling. Vein valve disease can lead to varicose veins as well. Vein valve dysfunction can be an inherited condition or it can be caused by blood clot damage or trauma to the veins. Lymphedema is another cause of leg or foot swelling.
Cocoa Pods & Beans. The cocoa tree bears two harvests of cocoa pods per year. Around 20cm in length and 500gms in weight, the pods ripen to a rich, golden-orange colour. Within each pod there are 20-40 purple, 2cm long cocoa beans covered in a sweet white pulp. We buy quality cocoa beans from Indonesia, Malaysia and Ghana.
A much better guide is to tap the cocoa pod. When the pod is still in its unripened state, the beans are packed tightly within the pod. When stuck, if the cocoa pod gives off a deep, hollow sound, the cocoa beans are no longer packed within the pod but are loose, a sure indication that the pod is ripe.