Russia, the largest and economically most powerful state of the CIS (Confederation of Independent States), is vast (the largest country in the world), but has less favourable climatic conditions than formerly “union” countries – Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Krygizistan, and Azerbaijan.

In 1753, Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus called the cocoa tree Theobroma cacao – Greek for “Food of the gods”. It was used in Aztec religious ceremonies, and cocoa developed more monotheistic affiliations in the 19th century.

The undulating Alentejo region, in southern Portugal, covers approximately 33 per cent of the mainland, and is considered the beard basket of the country.

"There is no place on earth like Sonoma County". James Laube

Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal in the third century B.C, founded this Mediterranean city in Catalonia.