Cacao

Theobroma cacao

Also known as Cocoa, Chocolate Tree, Xocolatl, Cacahuatl, Food of the Gods

At a glance

Family

Malvaceae (mallow family, formerly classed in Sterculiaceae)

Type

Tropical evergreen tree

Parts used

Seeds (beans), and to a lesser extent the pulp and butter pressed from the seeds

Size

15 to 25 feet cultivated, though wild trees can reach 40 feet in the forest canopy's shade

Bloom

Tiny pink and white star-shaped flowers that sprout directly from the trunk and older branches, blooming and fruiting nearly year-round in the tropics

Habitat

Native to the understory of Central and South American rainforests, where it grows in the dappled shade of taller trees

Acquisition

Grow or buy

This plant in HerbSense

Key benefits

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Rich in flavonoid antioxidants

Traditionally lifts mood and spirit

Supports healthy circulation

Gentle, sustained energy

Traditional uses

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Long before it became a candy bar, cacao was sacred. The Olmec, Maya, and Aztec peoples prized the beans so highly that they were used as currency and offered to gods and rulers alike, ground and whipped into a bitter, foamy, chili-spiced drink reserved for priests, warriors, and nobility. The Aztecs called it xocolatl, and it was believed to grant strength, wisdom, and even courage before battle. Carl Linnaeus later gave the tree its scientific name, Theobroma, meaning food of the gods, a nod to just how revered this bean had been for thousands of years across Mesoamerica.

How to grow & use it

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✦Remedies & preparations
✦ Growing guide
✦Harvest & storage

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Pairs well with

✦Cinnamon
✦Vanilla
✦Chili pepper

Substitutes

✦Carob
✦Roasted chicory root

Choose it when

“For a little ceremony in your cup, warmth for the heart, and a lift for the spirit.”

Did you know?

Cacao beans were once so valuable that the Aztecs used them as literal currency, with historical records suggesting a single turkey could be bought for around 100 beans and a fresh avocado for just one.

Safety

Cacao's caffeine and theobromine can cause jitteriness or a racing heart in sensitive people if eaten in excess, and it may interact with MAOIs or some heart medications. It is toxic to dogs, cats, and other pets and should be kept out of their reach.