I have not used them because they can be toxic to dogs.

Saw a yard on a garden tour once that had huge amounts of cooca mulch - looked great, but don't know about the sliminess.

I've used it and didn't care for it. I didn't like the cocoa scent with the roses, even though the scent didn't last long.

When it got wet it would form a slimy, gooey clump. I didn't care for that either.

They rot and become absolutely disgusting - and on top of that, they tend to contain high levels of pesticide residue. Yuck.

I really like the cocoa mulch, but I only use it in the front yard since I was worried about the dogs in the back. The smell lasts about a week or so. It is very easy to spread which is why I like it, and it mats down a bit once it has sat for a while. It holds in moisture well. It does get some white mold growing under it but you'll only see it if you're digging in it and even then it doesn't last more than a few days once exposed to the sun. I've never had a problem with it rotting or being slimy. You'll have to add some more after about a year because it doesn't last terribly long. It is environmentally friendly as it is a byproduct that would otherwise be thrown away. I've never thought about the pesticide residue on it. Do you have a link to an article on that Stefanb8?

I have used and loved it. It smells like someone made cocoa when it's first put down. I would gently hose it down to keep it from blowing away. Eventually it would harden into chunks by matting together, and turn more black than brown. I much preferred it to any other kind of mulch because it was easier on my hands and knees when I worked in the garden. If it got wet in the bags, it would become a little slimy before hardening. It worked GREAT for mulching roses for the winter. As you mentioned, it's lovely and light and pours on like a dream. I could cover all my roses in about an hour. I still use it for that, but no longer for the rest of the garden, because it is just too expensive around here. It's around $5.00 per bag, and I just can't justify that, with the amount I need. Other than that, I thought it was perfect.

Currently, it seems there is no standard imposed on the industry to demonstrate that levels of unsafe chemical pesticide residues are within safe limits. Countries of Central America and other cocoa-producing nations do not have the same standards and use pesticides banned here, too. Rules have been proposed to standardize testing of these products, as seen here:

http://www.leg.wa.gov/documents/wsr/2000/13/00-13-012.htm

I believe this kind of document demonstrates that there is at least a reasonable safety concern involved. Some organic guides I've seen also advise avoiding use of these products unless pesticide levels have been tested and disclosed. The bean itself is located within the interior of a fruit, but I suspect that the pesticides may be picked up during post-harvest processing, such as when the beans are spread out (they used to do it between banana leaves, I'm not sure how it's done now) to ferment and develop the delicious chocolate flavor.

The mulch probably doesn't decay so much if located where the sun can dry it quickly. In the shade and with moisture, it's always molded very quickly on me.

There were bags for sale at Hershey Gardens this summer and I was tempted for the scent of cocoa. DH was encouraging, but my prevailing reasoning was at tht cost, what if I really liked it?
Local mulch is so much cheaper.

Mmmmmmmmmm......the delicious smell. And then the outrageous price!
The pretty smell is gone soon and then it's not too pretty as a crusty black brown layer with white mold underneath. It does protect against snails and slugs however. Somebody said the copper in the mulch creates an electrical charge that zaps them and they don't want to touch it.
I only buy it now to put in the tops of pots where my pets can't get into it and I always use gloves when handling it. I put it on for special times like holiday parties because people like the smell. Otherwise it's too expensive and traditional mulch cost less, lasts longer and looks nicer longer. Also, I worry about the pets getting sick if I spread it on open ground.

I used it once and loved the look! Then months later we were introduced to billions of fungus knats. We were not thrilled meeting the little white wigglies EVERYWHERE! Even crawling out of the TV's - not watching'Twilite Zone'. Pine needles look nice and chocolate is fabulous melting in my mouth.

I ruled it out when I heard about the dog thing.
Sammy

My husband and I both love it. We used it for three years when we lived in PA, and have wished we could find it again ever since moving 6 yrs. ago. I never noticed any mold. It stayed light and didn't compact. It spread easily and smells great. But the thing we liked best is the color and uniformity. It gives the best dark brown backdrop possible for setting off all kinds of plants - looks from a distance like rich black dirt. So beautiful in landscaping. It was a little more expensive, but worth it for your more prominent locations that you really want to look spectacular. I would definitely use it if I could only find a source for it.

I believe cocoa mulch is a problem for cats as well as dogs.

I used it in when I lived in Wisconsin & loved it. For some reason it wasn't expensive there. At the time I didn't know about the hazard to dogs, & my dogs never bothered it anyway. I would think they would have to eat a fair amount for it to be toxic - not just a lick or something.
Anyway, it did form a moisture retaining mat & every fall I would mix it in with the soil to finish decomposing.
Out here in Oregon it's really spendy!