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 Sterculiaceae) 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

Top the mixture with fresh berries, cacao nibs, and chopped nuts. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 9 Sep. 2024

Brewed with cacao nibs, cocoa and a hint of vanilla, the moreish stout is ideal with a slice of chocolate stout cake. —Irenie Forshaw, theweek, 2 Sep. 2024

Tannins are found in many plant foods, such as legumes, cereal grains, nuts, cacao, leafy and green vegetables, coffee, and tea.5 Tannins are antioxidant-phenolic compounds that can reduce the absorption of some minerals and proteins in the body. —Aviv Joshua, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024

It’s inspired by the Tortuga, a tiki classic with a rum blend, cacao, dry curaçao, housemade grenadine, lemon, orange and a whole bottle of champagne. —Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Nahuatl cacahuatl

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cacao

• cacao bean
• cacao butter
• cacao tree
• 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