Cocoa Tree
Theobroma cacao
The Cocoa tree is native to the Americas. Cocoa trees require constant warmth and rainfall to thrive. They need to be shaded from the strong tropical sun and sheltered from the wind, and grow best in the shade of other trees. Cocoa Tree is a wide-branching evergreen tree. The plant is "cauliflorous" with flowers (and later fruits) protruding directly from the woody branches and trunk. Cacao beans contain the caffeine alkaloid Theobromine, which is a mild stimulant. Cacao is the source of chocolate, which is obtained by roasting and grinding the seeds. Chocolate is also said to contain the chemical Phenylethylamine, a natural amphetamine found in the human brain, which induces a feeling of euphoria.
Cacao, Chocolate