Cacao, tropical evergreen tree grown for its edible seeds. Native to lowland rainforests of South America, cacao is grown commercially in the New World tropics as well as western Africa and …

Theobroma cacao (cacao tree or cocoa tree) is a small (6–12 m (20–39 ft) tall) evergreen tree in the Malvaceae family. [1][3] Its seeds— cocoa beans —are used to make chocolate liquor, cocoa solids, …

The Olmecs in Mexico cultivated the cacao tree for its beans as long ago as 400 BCE. The cacao tree is unusual because it produces flowers directly on its trunk and branches, rather than on new shoots.

Apr 14, 2025 · Few plants have shaped human civilization as profoundly as Theobroma cacao, the cacao tree. This remarkable plant, native to the rainforests of Central and South America, has been …

Nov 21, 2024 · The cacao tree (theobroma cacao) is a tropical plant that produces seeds (AKA cocoa beans) that are the main ingredient in chocolate. Cacao trees grow in warm, humid climates, usually …

Mar 2, 2025 · Whether you’re interested in starting your own cacao farm, improving your current plantation, or just learning about how chocolate is made from bean to bar, this guide will cover …

Discover the origins and biology of Theobroma cacao, from its tropical habitat and pollination to the cultivation practices shaping fine flavor cacao today.

1 day ago · The plant responsible for chocolate is the Theobroma cacao tree, a species whose scientific name translates from the Greek as “food of the gods.” This name reflects the high esteem the tree …

Cacao, or the cocoa plant, is a small, tropical New World, evergreen tree, Theobroma cacao, that is widely cultivated for its seeds, which are used to make chocolate, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder.

Jul 18, 2023 · The cocoa plant is also known as the cacao plant, cocoa tree, and food of the gods. More than half of the world’s cocoa comes from only two countries, where the tree is native: the Ivory …