Raw chocolate processed chocolates, it does not have chemicals, Pesticides, fillers, and Preservatives. The low-heat or "cold" production process (which avoids roasting) may help to preserve vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals which are naturally present in raw cocoa. Many, if not most, marketers produce chocolate that is certified organic or fairly-traded. Raw chocolate has been promoted on major networks such as Fox News, and appeared on series 13 of popular UK show Dragons' Den. Among the (recognized) brands of raw chocolate are RAW Chocolate, Rawflect, Xocai, Gnosis, and Sacred Chocolate. The cacao tree, also known as Theobroma cacao, is where chocolate is first
Ceratocystis cacaofunesta Ceratocystis cacaofunesta Ceratocystis cacaofunesta is an ascomycete fungus that causes a wilt disease in cacao trees. It has led to significant economic losses in Latin America. Once considered to be a form of "Ceratocystis fimbriata", the fungus was described as a new species in 2005. The specific epithet "cacaofunesta" means "cacao-killing". Two closely related sublineages exist within this species, one centered in western Ecuador and the other containing isolates from Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica. The disease known as "Ceratocystis wilt of cacao" (or "Mal de machete") is a serious disease of the cocoa tree ("Theobroma cacao") in Latin America.