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

Chocolate drinks, served hot or cold, run from from jittery-sweet to a nicely bitter version made with cacao from Tabasco state and a flicker of cinnamon. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024

Most of his cacao beans are sourced from small collectives, Lantry added. —Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2024

Its eco ethos and remote location deep in a forest of cacao trees provide a genuine connection to the near-mythical surroundings. —Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2024

The cacao that grows at a little higher altitude is more floral. —Kristine M. Kierzek, Journal Sentinel, 10 May 2024

These include beverages made from chicory root, figs and barley, dandelion root, mushroom elixirs, cacao, rooibos and yerba maté. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

The company’s signature bitter drinking chocolate, a rich and dense concoction served in an espresso-size cup, is made with freshly ground cacao nibs, lightly sweetened and finished with oat milk. —Caitie Kelly Gisela Williams Julekha Dash Catherine Hong Devorah Lev-Tov, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024

With a mix of hazelnut liqueur, créme de cacao, and a splash of his favorite bourbon, this tasty treat will quickly become one of dad's favorite drinks. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024

Frozen cocktails include the Fly me to the Moon, made with Pearl vodka, espresso martini mix, cacao and coconut. —The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 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