cacao

[ kuh-kah-oh, -key-oh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural cacaos.

a small tropical American evergreen tree, Theobroma cacao, cultivated for its seeds, the source of cocoa, chocolate, etc.
Also the fruit or seeds of this tree.

cacao

/ kəˈkɑːəʊ; -ˈkeɪəʊ /

noun

a small tropical American evergreen tree, Theobroma cacao, having yellowish flowers and reddish-brown seed pods from which cocoa and chocolate are prepared: family Sterculiaceae
cacao bean
another name for cocoa bean
cacao butter
another name for cocoa butter

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cacao¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish, from Nahuatl cacahuatl “cacao seeds”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cacao¹

C16: from Spanish, from Nahuatl cacauatl cacao beans

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The wholesale price of the key ingredient, cocoa – which is made from fermented, roasted and ground cacao beans – has increased by an astonishing 300% in 2024.

From

The soap is flavoured to taste like beans on toast, and is made out of cacao butter, organic oat flour, avocado oil and paprika as well as beans and toast flavouring.

From

Blackley desires a chocolate firm with cacao trees grown and cultivated right here in Southern California.

From

“Speak it into the cacao, your intention, your wisdom, what you choose to let go of. Anything and everything: Speak it into the cacao.”

From

Chocolate itself first began as Xocolatl, or “bitter water,” a spiced drink made from ground cacao beans, chiles and spices that originated with the Aztecs and Mayans.

From

ca'canny cacao bean

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