A Ðeld comparison of solar drying and open-air sun-drying of cocoa (T heobroma cocoa L) beans was carried out in St Lucia. Four methods of drying (indirect solar drier, direct solar drier, open air/perforated steel surface and open air/non-perforated wooden surface) were examined at three loading rates : 13É7, 26É9 and 40É4 kg m~2. Beans from the open air had a higher incidence of external mould and poorer external appearance, though di †erences were minor. Beans dried at the lower rate of 13 kg m~2 showed the best colour, but the highest titratable acidity. Conversely, beans dried at the higher loading rate of 40É4 kg m~2 showed signiÐcantly lower titratable acidity, but poorer colour. Differences in cut-test score, colour, pH and titratable acidity between the open air and closed driers were small or not signiÐcant. While not signiÐcant, the indirect drier did show the highest cut-test score and the direct drier the poorest. Beans from the indirect drier were darker and more purple, while those from the direct drier were lighter coloured and less purple. The beans from the direct drier, dried to 6% moisture (WB) were, though not signiÐcantly so, more brittle and higher in titratable acidity than those from either the open air or indirect drier. Overall the beans from the indirect drier showed the highest quality and those from the direct drier the poorest. Whether the modest improvement of the indirect drier over the open air driers is sufficient to warrant investment in such a drier is unclear.