Using an historical point of view and using the analysis of Jorge Amado in his books and works on cocoa, I will analyze the relation between Cocoa’s crop and the Bahian society that created the 'cocoa civilization' using Adonias Filho’s words. 'Cocoa' is the umbrella encompassing the varying and often conflicting demands and agendas of cocoa men and women, agencies and authorities. I will analyze the possible causes of the actual crisis of the cocoa economy in Southern Bahia.