cacao

noun ca·cao \ kə-ˈkau̇ , kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Definition of cacao

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 from which cacao is obtained

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Examples of cacao in a Sentence

a farmer who grows cacao

Recent Examples of cacao from the Web

The sweetness came at a very high cost The exhibit also addresses how as the demand for cacao and sugar rose, millions of slaves harvested these ingredients.

— carol motsinger, Cincinnati.com, "Think you know - and love - chocolate? Well, you don't know it all," 28 June 2018
The Maya usually consumed their cacao as a hot drink, a steamy broth served in a clay cup.

— joshua rapp learn, Science | AAAS, "The Maya civilization used chocolate as money," 27 June 2018
Acai bowl with house granola, coconut and cacao nibs at Yoko Matcha.

— linda bladholm, miamiherald, "Green tea drinks, desserts fuse Japanese and Latin at Yoko Matcha | Miami Herald," 9 Jan. 2018
Dandelion also stands out from other chocolate makers by having a sole person dedicated to working with the farmers growing their cacao.

— jennifer billock, Smithsonian, "A Quest to Find America’s Best Craft Chocolate Makers," 31 Jan. 2017
The closing salvo comes in a container made by Contreras that looks like a cacao pod.

— michael bauer, SFChronicle.com, "Atelier Crenn: SF’s newest 4-star restaurant," 29 June 2018
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cacao powder, and arrowroot powder.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "How to Make Grain-Free, Dairy-Free, Refined-Sugar-Free Desserts That Actually Taste Good," 20 Apr. 2018
Both countries will experience a 3.8°F temperature increase by 2050, which will most likely push the cacao farms out of the rainforests and up into cooler mountainous areas.

— caitlin morton, Condé Nast Traveler, "Chocolate May Be Extinct by 2050, According to Scientists," 2 Jan. 2018
Chocolate is now sold with its cacao percentage listed prominently on the label, and high-quality dark chocolate holds sway on both sides of the Atlantic.

— aleksandra crapanzano, WSJ, "A Chocolate Cake Recipe That’s Seriously Intense," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cacao.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.