cacao
Source of chocolate
Cacao is the tropical tree whose seeds are processed into chocolate and cocoa.
The seeds themselves, found in large pods, are also called cacao—or cocoa beans after fermentation and drying.
Cacao often appears in marketing to suggest less-processed chocolate products: raw cacao nibs, cacao powder.
The spelling cocoa emerged as a variant and now typically refers to the processed powder or drink.
Seed case or cetacean group
criollo · fermentation · drying · roasting · germination · genetics · aroma · mucilage
Substances counteracting oxidative damage
- polyphenolsPlant-derived antioxidant compounds
- flavonoidsPolyphenolic plant metabolites
- theobromineBitter stimulant from cacao
- magnesiumAlkaline earth metal
iron · superfood · health · wellness · anti-inflammatory · catechins · phytochemicals · benefits
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- aromaPleasant distinctive smell
- earthyCoarse and unpretentious
- richnessState of abundance
- complexityState of being complicated
notes · profile · fruity · nutty · floral · acidic · astringent · roasty
Large-scale farming operation
- harvestGathering mature crops
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- dryingMoisture removal process
- seedlingsNewly germinated plants
grafting · pruning · shade-grown · organic · agroforestry · nursery · irrigation · mulching
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
- equatorMidpoint circle of rotation
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
- AmazonGreek warrior women
- GhanaWest African republic
Ecuador · Indonesia · canopy · shade · climate · understory · biodiversity · Mesoamerica
pod
Seed case or cetacean group
seed · criollo · fermentation · drying · roasting · germination · genetics · aroma · mucilage · cotyledon
antioxidants
Substances counteracting oxidative damage
- polyphenolsPlant-derived antioxidant compounds
- flavonoidsPolyphenolic plant metabolites
- theobromineBitter stimulant from cacao
magnesium · iron · superfood · health · wellness · anti-inflammatory · catechins · phytochemicals · benefits · raw
bitterness
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
complexity · notes · profile · fruity · nutty · floral · acidic · astringent · roasty · depth
plantation
Large-scale farming operation
- harvestGathering mature crops
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- dryingMoisture removal process
seedlings · grafting · pruning · shade-grown · organic · agroforestry · nursery · irrigation · mulching · composting
rainforest
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
Ghana · Ecuador · Indonesia · canopy · shade · climate · understory · biodiversity · Mesoamerica · indigenous
confectionery
Sugary foods or their shop
dark · milk · white · bittersweet · semisweet · chocolatier · tempering · molding · bonbon · mousse
- indigenous foodspemmican, bannock, fry bread, poi, taro
- tropical seedscoconut, coffee bean, vanilla bean, mango seed, avocado pit
- alimentosarroz, frijoles, tomate, lechuga, cebolla
- chocolatedark, white, bittersweet, semisweet, white chocolate
- rainforestrainforest, jungle, tropical, tropics, canopy
- bitter thingsbitter melon, quinine, tonic water, black coffee, espresso
cacaochocolate bar
Cocoa candy rectangle
milk chocolate · cocoa powder · white chocolate · candy · confectionery
- cacao beansTropical seeds yielding chocolate
- cacao butterFat from cocoa beans
- cacao nibsCrushed roasted chocolate seeds
- raw cacaoUnprocessed chocolate seed material
- cacao treePlant yielding chocolate pods
- crème de cacaoCocoa-based sweet liqueur