Cocoa was introduced in Trinidad in 1525, with the industry contributing significantly to the island's wealth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when cocoa was in high demand. In fact at one point, in 1830, Trinidad & Tobago was the world's third largest producer of the product.

Though the islands are no longer dominant in the industry — most of Tobago's plantations were destroyed by Hurricane Flora in 1963 — the cocoa grown in Trinidad is still of superior quality and fetches a premium price on the international market.