Drying  

After the fermentation process the beans need to get dried, otherwise the beans would get mouldy. Where the weather permits, they are getting dried by the sun. The beans are spread out on trays, moveable tables or mats and get racked periodically. In case of rain, the mats can be rolled in, the trays and tables can be put under a rain shield. Sometimes a fire is lit up to dry the beans faster. But the smoke can cause the beans to taste unpleasant smokey - if you like a barbeque flavored chocolate, that might be something for you :)

Drying is happening on the open field, which means contamination of wild animals, farm and surroundings is an issue. That’s why cleaning and roasting are crucial and important steps. The required moisture level of 7-8% is reached after about 7 days.