cocoa bean

noun

plural cocoa beans
: a dried, fermented, fatty seed of the fruit of a South American tropical evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Malvaceae) that is used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter : cacao sense 1
The cocoa bean contains cocoa solids (particles) and about 53 percent cocoa butter.Rose Levy Beranbaum

Examples of cocoa bean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mulch Many rustic paths make use of a mulch of some kind, such as shredded bark, cocoa bean shells, or arborist chips. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026 To be considered milk chocolate, products must contain at least 10% chocolate liquor, which is a paste made from ground cocoa beans and contains no alcohol. Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026 Cocoa prices have dropped in recent months, but, as experts have told CBS News, retail prices remain sticky because of a lag between purchases of raw cocoa beans and when companies produce their candies. CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026 To be considered milk chocolate, products must contain at least 10% chocolate liquor, which is a paste made from ground cocoa beans and contains no alcohol. ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocoa bean

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cocoa bean was in 1799

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Cite this Entry

“Cocoa bean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocoa%20bean. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

Medical Definition

cocoa bean

noun

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