Herb. No. 134 · Malvaceae
Amazonian and Mesoamerican understory tree. A humid equatorial farm crop.
Native · Mexico & Central America · South America
Native Also grown
LegalGentleplant
Cacao
Theobroma cacao
Food of the gods — a cauliflorous rainforest tree whose seed became chocolate, and a traditional bitter tonic before it became dessert.
Cacao flowers and fruits on the trunk. Mesoamerican kitchens fermented, dried, and ground the seed into a bitter, spiced drink long before sugar. Theobromine is a gentle stimulant; culinary chocolate is food. High-dose cacao ‘ceremonies’ are a modern product, not this plate’s job.
Flavor
Bitter chocolate, fruit, a little tobacco. Sugar is a later idea.
Parts used
Fermented dried seed
Helpful
- A true food
- A magnificent greenhouse tree
Cautions
- Tropical
- Stimulant in quantity
- Migraine trigger for some