Cocoa Husk | Testa | Shell

Cocoa hull (also known as testa, husk, or shell) is the outer covering of the cocoa bean, typically separated during winnowing in chocolate production. Once discarded as waste, it is now recognized as a nutrient-rich, fiber-dense, and polyphenol-packed material with diverse commercial uses. Harnessing cocoa hull is a prime example of the circular cocoa economy, turning a byproduct into revenue streams

Woatome Ghana Origin Cocoa shells or husks is classified as Waste grade, though there is the option to sanitize to be edible. Impurities are usually cocoa mass deposits.

Garage / Small-Scale

• Home garden mulch & organic compost booster

• Herbal teas & cocoa husk infusions (marketed as caffeine-free, antioxidant-rich)

• Small-batch livestock feed supplements (fiber source)

• DIY natural scrubs & exfoliants in soaps and cosmetics

Commercial / Medium-Scale

• Food industry: extraction of dietary fiber for functional foods (biscuits, protein bars)

• Beverage industry: cocoa shell teas, flavored beer, and “cocoa husk cold brews”

• Agriculture: animal feed additives, poultry fiber blends

• Cosmetics: natural exfoliant for scrubs and masks

• Energy sector: biomass fuel pellets & briquettes

• Packaging: source of bio-based plastics and papers

Experimental / Academic

• Extraction of theobromine & polyphenols for nutraceuticals

• Activated carbon production from hull for water purification

• Development of biogas feedstock & biochar for soil improvement

• Research into cocoa shell lignin for advanced materials (e.g., composites, 3D printing biopolymers)

• Functional Beverages: Cocoa shell teas gaining traction as a sustainable alternative to coffee & chocolate drinks.

• Clean Label Foods: Hull-derived dietary fiber marketed for gut health & weight management.

• Upcycled Beauty: Exfoliant powders from cocoa shell incorporated into “eco-friendly scrubs.”

• Pet Food & Livestock: Controlled formulations for poultry and cattle feed (note: must manage theobromine content).

• Circular Economy Branding: Major chocolate brands piloting zero-waste cocoa supply chains by valorizing shells.

• Energy Transition: Biomass briquettes from cocoa shells promoted in West Africa and Latin America as clean cooking fuel.

• Academic Push: Universities experimenting with hull extracts in biodegradable plastics and pharmaceutical excipients.

NAICS / HS Codes

• NAICS: 311119 – Other Animal Food Manufacturing

• NAICS: 325199 – All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing

• HS: 1802.00 – Cocoa shells, husks, skins, and waste

Vital Info

• MOQ: Open

• Shelf Life: 12–18 months (dry, cool storage)

• Compliance: Food/feed safety (mycotoxin & theobromine testing), Phytosanitary for export