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Student Article

How Chocolate Is Made: From Bean to Bar

By: Holly Spanner
Originally Published in  Science Focus

Discover the fascinating process of transforming bitter cacao beans into delicious chocolate.

The article "How chocolate is made: From bean to bar" from BBC's Science Focus explains the journey of cacao beans from the Theobroma cacao tree to the final chocolate product. Learn more about the steps of growing, harvesting, fermenting, drying, roasting, cracking, winnowing, grinding, tempering, and molding.

Student Article Info

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An image of a cacao bean split open
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Most passages are available in three different versions: Level 1 (Grade 3-5), Level 2 (Grade 6-8), and Level 3 (Grade 9-12). Some more complex texts are available only in Level 2 and Level 3. Use the versions that are most appropriate for the students in your class.

Note: The BBC Learning Hub Editorial Team made use of AI tools to create multiple versions of this article, each tailored to different student reading levels. Every version undergoes a thorough review by our BBC Learning editors to ensure accuracy, quality, and appropriateness.

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Level 1 Reading Passage
Grades: 3-5Lexile Level: 400-600L
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Level 2 Reading Passage
Grades: 6-8Lexile Level: 700-900L
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Level 3 Reading Passage
Grades: 9-12Lexile Level: 1000-1200L
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