Valentine's Day brings focus on cocoa prices
Love is in the air as Valentine's Day sees millions renew their affairs with chocolate, with prices of cocoa having seesawed to 30-year highs
On this Valentine's Eve, as the thoughts of millions of lovers across the world will turn to one comfort - theobroma cacao, or to you and me, chocolate - my own thoughts turn to food security - a high-priority issue for our trade officials at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum.
As supply has seesawed in recent years, so demand has soared, particularly in China. As a result, world prices are close to the highest levels for more than 30 years.
Since the Aztec leader Montezuma in 1519 gave the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes a solid gold cup full of - cocoa to us - the world's love affair with the "food of the gods" has grown steadily.
Today, cocoa is grown by about five million farmers around the world, employing up to 50 million people in the chocolate industry, and playing a very large part in providing comfort and happiness to many in times of stress.
Despite its popularity, chocolate took a time to catch on. The that Cortes drank was bitter, but its reputation as a stimulant was strong. Among the Aztecs, it was regarded as far too intoxicating - and expensive - to give to women or children.
