cacao

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

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

In a food processor, pulse cashews, coconut flakes, pitted dates, cacao nibs and salt a couple of times until ingredients are mixed and broken down.

— alexander lobrano, WSJ, "Parlez-Vous Vegan? A French Chef’s Healthy, Wholly Satisfying Recipes," 1 Sep. 2017
The New York Post reports that Coco Loko contains ginkgo biloba, taurine, and guarana, as well as cacao powder.

— nick thieme, Slate Magazine, "You Can Now Buy Chocolate Powder to Snort," 12 July 2017
Cacao fruit is a white meat that surrounds the cacao beans in each pod.

— rachelle robinett, Bon Appetit, "7 Ways to Get the Healthy, Chocolatey Goodness of Cacao into Your Diet," 27 Sep. 2017
The actual origins of the practice of eating the seeds carried by the chocolate fruit–cacao beans–remains a mystery.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "A Brief History of Chocolate in the United States," 13 Sep. 2017
This Bondi bowl simply exudes morning goodness: goji, hemp, cacao, preserved and fresh fruit, and granola in coconut chia pudding.

— michael klein, Philly.com, "Let's Eat: I'll show you The Love; a sweet drink to Crush on," 1 Nov. 2017
Coconut ash and 98 percent cacao powder is the best.

— christina pérez, Vogue, "Oh My Goth: The Food Trend as Black as Your Heart," 27 Oct. 2017
The island in this parable is home to unusually tall cacao trees, hungry people, and little else.

— The Economist, "Kicking the can down an endless road," 31 Aug. 2017
Saving and investing both store value and add to it, turning one cacao fruit into a whole tree.

— The Economist, "Kicking the can down an endless road," 31 Aug. 2017

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.