cacao

[kuh-kah-oh, -key-oh]

noun

plural

cacaos 

1. a small tropical American evergreen tree, Theobroma cacao, cultivated for its seeds, the source of cocoa, chocolate, etc.

2. Also the fruit or seeds of this tree.

cacao

/ kəˈkɑːəʊ, -ˈkeɪəʊ /

noun

1. a small tropical American evergreen tree, Theobroma cacao, having yellowish flowers and reddish-brown seed pods from which cocoa and chocolate are prepared: family Sterculiaceae

2. another name for cocoa bean

3. another name for cocoa butter

Word History and Origins

Origin of cacao¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish, from Nahuatl cacahuatl “cacao seeds”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cacao¹

C16: from Spanish, from Nahuatl cacauatl cacao beans

Example Sentences

The ship's hold is full of sacks and the 15 sailors unload the 64 tonnes of olive oil, coffee, cacao, and rum brought from the Caribbean.

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“We recognized the incredible potential of Thai cacao and the burgeoning community of passionate makers.”

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MK suggested they create perfumes from fermented chocolate husks, and before they left Bangkok, he gave them several bags of cacao husks.

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I fantasized about eating an array of bubble plate-friendly foods: crudités, scoops of vanilla ice cream drizzled in olive oil and elaborate yogurt bowls topped with fancy granola, cut-up fruit and cacao nibs.

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While America’s trading partners were given a minimum baseline 10% duty, a number of the cacao producing nations, where Guittard purchases its beans, were slapped with higher tariffs.

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