cacao

noun

ca·​cao kə-ˈkau̇  kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō 

plural cacaos

1

or cacao bean : a dried, fermented, fatty seed of the fruit of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Malvaceae) that is used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter : cocoa bean

… polyphenols also make cacao beans taste astringent and bitter.

—Patricia Gadsby

2

or cacao tree : a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods from which cacao is obtained

Chocolate starts as the seeds in the fruits of the cacao tree, a tropical plant that produces flowers and fruit not at the tips of branches but on the trunk.

—Kenneth Chang

The cacao tree is native to the tropical countries of South America, but now grows in other parts of the world, notably Africa, the West Indies, and Central America.

—Joanna Morris

Illustration of cacao

• cacao 2

Examples of cacao in a Sentence

a farmer who grows cacao

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s why much research into chocolate’s effect on heart health has focused on either cocoa extract or dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao, which contains more flavanols than its milk and white chocolate counterparts. —Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 11 Feb. 2025

The best part, of course, is sampling cacao nibs, loads of fresh fruit and nuts, as well as honey, along the way. —Tanvi Chheda, AFAR Media, 17 Jan. 2025

Its Original flavor is a masala chai with black tea, cinnamon, turmeric, and cacao (along with a dash of Himalayan salt for good measure). —Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appétit, 8 Jan. 2025

At the Andaz Mayakoba, the resort offers a cacao ceremoney that involves consuming ceremonial-grade cacao in a group to build connection, healing and self-exploration as part of a special ritual. —Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Nahuatl cacahuatl

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cacao

• cacao butter
• crème de cacao

Kids Definition

cacao

noun

ca·​cao kə-ˈkau̇ 

kə-ˈkā-ō

plural cacaos

1

: a South American tree that bears small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy yellow pods containing many seeds

2

: the dried fatty seeds of the cacao from which cocoa and chocolate are made

called also cacao bean

Medical Definition

cacao

noun

ca·​cao kə-ˈkau̇  kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō 

plural cacaos

1

: the dried partly fermented fatty seeds of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Sterculiaceae) that are used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter

called also cacao bean, cocoa bean

2

: a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods with many seeds that bear cacao

called also chocolate tree