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Cacao.

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    • Abstract:
      Cacao, or Theobroma cacao, is a fruit-bearing tree that produces cacao beans. The seeds of cacao beans are used to make cocoa products such as chocolate, cocoa powder, and chocolate liquor. Cacao trees primarily grow in hot climates such as West Africa, South America, and parts of Asia. Usage of the cacao plant dates back to ancient times, and many early cultures considered cacao drinks and foods to be beneficial to a person's health. Sweetened cacao products emerged following the arrival of European explorers to the Americas. Candy makers began mass-producing chocolate treats by the nineteenth century. The cacao plant has become a popular and lucrative crop for the regions that grow it. Apart from its use in the making of chocolate products, the cacao plant is also the source of many personal care products. Theobroma cacao bearing fruit. By Cbaile19 (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons Cacao beans in a pod. By Keith Weller, USDA ARS [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons