The cocoa bean, also known as cocoa (/ ˈ k oʊ. k oʊ /) or cacao (/ k ə ˈ k aʊ /), [1] is the dried and fully fermented seed of Theobroma cacao, the cacao tree, from which cocoa solids (a mixture of nonfat substances) and cocoa butter (the fat) can be extracted.

Jul 12, 2023 · Chocolate is made from cacao beans — or rather seeds — from the Theobroma cacao tree. This plant produces large, pod-like fruits, each containing 20–60 beans surrounded by a sticky, sweet-tart...

Mar 19, 2025 · cocoa bean, seed of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), which is used to create cocoa and cocoa butter, key ingredients of chocolate. The beans themselves can be crushed or chopped into “nibs” for a variety of culinary uses, from salad dressing to ice cream toppings; they can also add thickness to a sauce or texture to a cake.

Oct 17, 2023 · Cacao powder is made from raw cacao beans and nibs that are fermented, roasted, and milled into a powder. It's similar to cocoa powder, but it’s more nutritious because it's less processed.

Fermentation is an important step in processing cocoa beans to make chocolate. In fermentation, beans that have been removed from their pods are put together in close proximity.

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, cocoa butter and chocolate. [4]

Apr 25, 2017 · The cocoa bean (or cacao) is native to South America, and is used to produce a wide array of culinary treats including chocolate and hot cocoa.

Mar 12, 2025 · 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 tropical Asia. Learn more about the cacao plant and its …

Nov 21, 2024 · What are cacao trees? 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 within 20 degrees of the equator, in places like Ghana, Ivory Coast, Brazil, and Indonesia.

Cacao beans are used to make cacao solid, cacao butter, and chocolate. They were first consumed in Central and South America as a liquid treat mixed with spices like chilli and vanilla. The flesh of cacao fruit has a tropical taste like passion fruit and mango.