Cocoa Bean

chocolate · rainforest · plants

Forest treasure. Cocoa beans grow inside the cacao tree, which is native to the Amazon rainforest in South America. Today, people grow cacao trees in tropical places around the world to make chocolate.

Chocolate source. Cocoa beans are the main ingredient in all chocolate. The beans have a high fat content, which means you can grind them into a rich, creamy liquid called cocoa liquor that forms the base of chocolate treats.

Two useful products. When cocoa liquor is processed, it separates into two valuable things: cocoa butter (the creamy fat) and cocoa powder (the dry part). These are mixed together in different amounts to make different types of chocolate.

Ancient drink. Long before chocolate bars existed, people in Mesoamerica (ancient Mexico and Central America) made tejate, a special indigenous drink from cocoa beans. This shows that humans have loved cocoa for thousands of years.