Common Name: Cacao

General Information

Cacao is a small, evergreen tree with a globose crown; usually growing about 8 metres tall, though exceptionally it can reach 20 metres[]. The short bole is 20 - 30cm in diameter[].
This species is widely cultivated in lowland tropical areas around the world for its seed, the source of chocolate. It was grown by the Aztecs and Mayans, who considered it a divine plant and even used the seeds as a form of currency[, ]. As well as food, the trees also provided them with a wide range of commodities including medicine, fibre and materials for construction[].

Known Hazards

Chocolate can cause allergies and migraine in some people[].

Botanical References

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Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, the Guyanas; C. America - Belize, Guatemala, southern Mexico.

Habitat

An understorey plant of evergreen rainforest in the wet humid tropics, growing in places that are not usually seasonally inundated[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	8.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Thrips, Midges, Ants, Aphids
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of the lowland tropics, usually found below 300 metres but occasionally found as high as 900 metres[]. It succeeds where the mean annual temperature is in the range 18 - 28.5°c with a maximum temperature of 30 - 33.5°c and a minimum 13 - 18°c[]. The absolute minimum is 10°c, below which trees are likely to suffer severe damage[]. Rainfall should be plentiful and well distributed throughout the year[]. An annual rainfall level of between 1,500 - 2,000mm is suitable, though it is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 480 - 4,300mm[].
Requires a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in sun or part shade in a position sheltered from the wind[]. Prefers an acid soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4 - 8[]. An understorey tree of the forest, it grows best in dappled shade[], but can even produce well in quite dense shade[].
There are three main types of cacao:-
Criollo Cacaos originated in Central America. It is red skinned and the highest grade, but is low-yielding[].
Trinitario Cacaos arose in Trinidad. It is high grade[].
Forastero Cacaos comes from the Amazon Basin[].
The insignificant flowers have a faint, sweet fragrance[]. In favourable conditions both flowers and fruit will be borne throughout the year[].
Freshly planted young trees are slow to establish and grow away, rarely growing more than 1.5 metres tall after 2 years[].
Weeding and temporary shade are essential within the first 3 - 4 years of establishment before the canopy closes. Plantain appears to meet most of cocoa's requirements in this respect, whereas bananas compete heavily for moisture during the dry season[].
There are some named varieties[].

Edible Uses

The dried, fermented and roasted seeds of this plant, called cacao beans, are the source of cocoa, chocolate and cocoa butter[]. These are widely used in the confectionery industry to made chocolate confections, cakes, ice cream, drinks etc[]. The somewhat bitter flavour is usually moderated by adding sugar or other sweeteners[]. The seed contains up to 50% fat[]. The ripe seeds are cured by pressing, fermenting and then drying them[]. The cured seeds are then roasted and ground into a powder to make cocoa[].

A butter-like fat (called cocoa butter) is extracted from the seeds[].

The fruit contains about 20 - 40 seeds surrounded by a thin, succulent pulp with a slightly sweet flavour[]. This pulp is sucked as a sweet snack[, ]. It can be made into juices and jellies[].

The seed contains a pigment that is said to be useful as a food colouring[].

Medicinal

Although used mainly as a food, cacao does also have some therapeutic value[]. The seed contains a range of medically active constituents including xanthines, a fixed oil and endorphins[]. It is a bitter, stimulant, diuretic herb that stimulates the nervous system, lowers blood pressure and dilates the coronary arteries[, ]. Cacao powder and butter are nutritive, the latter also soothes and softens damaged skin[].
The seed is used in central America and the Caribbean as a heart and kidney tonic[]. An infusion of the baked seed-membranes is drunk as a remedy for anaemia[].
Combined with the stems of Chromolaena odorata and the wood of Cecropia obtusa, the seed is applied externally as an emollient in a remedy to extract splinters or prickles embedded in the skin[].

Cacao powder is taken internally in the treatment of angina and high blood pressure[].
The rural people in Amazonas State, Brazil, rub cocoa butter on bruises[]. It is often used to treat chapped skin and burns[]. Research has shown that it can help to counter the bacteria responsible for boils and septicaemia[].

The leaf contains genistic acid. This has been shown to be antirheumatic and analgesic[].
An infusion of the leaf buds is used with incense to treat diarrhoea[].

An infusion of the dry pods is used to decrease leprosy spots[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is often interplanted with bananas, coconuts and rubber[].

Other Uses

The cacao tree provides a wide range of commodities for local peoples including fibre for cloth, thread and paper; wood for construction, making implements etc; coverings for their houses and many other items[].

The ash from pod husks contains potassium oxide, which can be extracted in the form of potassium hydroxide, a useful alkaline in the saponification process[]. The burnt husks can be pounded and made into a paste that has a soapy residue and can be used for washing clothes[].
Cocoa-bean fat from unfermented cocoa beans can be extracted and used in soap making[].

Cacao butter, obtained from the seeds, is used as an emollient and skin conditioner in skin creams, cosmetics and as a suppository base[, ].
An extract of the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

The wood is light, soft and of low durability[]. Of little value, it is sometimes used for fuel or to make charcoal[].
The cocoa bean testa is used for fuel[]. It has a calorific value of 16 000-19 000 BTU/kg, a little higher than that for wood[].

Propagation

Seed - loses its viability within 5 - 7 days from being separated from the pulp[, ]. Sow the seed as soon as it is ripe, in individual containers in a shaded position, covering them with about 5mm of potting compost[]. The seeds readily germinate when sown fresh, and do not pass through a dormancy period. They usually germinate within 7 - 10 days[]. Seedlings grow away slowly[].
Air layering.
Leaf-bud cutting.
Grafting.

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