Every chocolate bar starts with a tree. Theobroma cacao is a small tropical tree from the upper Amazon that grows its pods straight from the trunk. Its seeds are the cocoa beans the whole industry runs on. This hub covers the plant itself. What cocoa beans are and how cacao, cocoa and chocolate differ. Where cocoa grows today. The varieties, from Criollo and Forastero to Ecuador's native Nacional and modern clones like CCN-51. And the wider Theobroma family, including relatives like cupuaçu. If you buy or work with cacao, botany is not trivia. Variety sets the flavor potential of every bean you use. Cocoa beans are the seeds of Theobroma cacao, a tropical tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae, native to the upper Amazon. The traditional varieties are Criollo, Forastero and Trinitario, with Ecuador's Nacional often listed as a fourth. Cacao is native to the upper Amazon. The earliest known evidence of cacao use, about 5,300 years old, comes from southeast Ecuador. Traceable Ecuadorian cacao beans and ingredients for makers of every size.Cacao Botanical Hub
Guides in This Hub
Frequently Asked Questions
What plant do cocoa beans come from?
What are the main cocoa varieties?
Where did cacao originate?
Source the cacao behind these guides