Is Theobroma cacao a fruit?
Theobroma cacao, also called the cacao tree and the cocoa tree, is a small (4–8 m (13–26 ft) tall) evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae,….
| Theobroma cacao | |
|---|---|
| Cacao fruits on the tree | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
What is Theobroma cacao used for?
Cocoa, scientifically known as Theobroma cacao, is a small evergreen tree native to South America. Its seeds are used to make cocoa powder and chocolate. It is economically important as cocoa butter extracted from the seeds is widely used in the confectionery industry.
Can you eat Theobroma cacao?
Raw cacao is the purest form of chocolate you can consume, because it is far less processed than cocoa powder or chocolate bars. Cacao and cocoa are very similar and both come from the Theobroma cacao tree, but cacao is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans. Meaning, the natural nutritional content is preserved.
What are benefits of Theobroma?
polyphenol content.
- May Reduce High Blood Pressure by Improving Nitric Oxide Levels.
- May Lower Your Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke.
- Polyphenols Improve Blood Flow to Your Brain and Brain Function.
- May Improve Mood and Symptoms of Depression by Various Means.
- Flavanols May Improve Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes.
Where does Theobroma cacao get its seeds from?
Theobroma cacao is the cocoa tree, from which cocoa seeds are derived as dried, and either as fermented or unfermented. Cocoa is a significant crop for countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Evidence has shown the medicinal uses of cocoa in many ancient civilizations such as the Olmec, Maya, and Mexica (Aztec).
How long after pollination does Theobroma cacao abscise?
The self-incompatibility of Theobroma cacao is an important issue. The fruits abscise several weeks after pollination. Self compatibility is rare but important for breeding. We have more than 50 T. cacao trees at the UL Ecology Center.
Which is the most common species of cacao?
From 22 species present in the genus, Theobroma cacao is claimed to be the only species that have been cultivated commercially and the most popular on the market. Anatomy of cocoa pods were divided into several parts, that is 73.73% rind cacao (cacao pod), 2% placenta and 24.2% seed.
Where does the cocoa tree grow in the Amazon?
The cocoa tree ( Theobroma cacao, family Sterculiaceae) is a small tree that grows naturally in the lower storey of the evergreen rainforest in the Amazon basin. Cocoa is commercially grown within the latitudes 20° north or south of the equator.