Handsome chocolate tree
Theobroma speciosum

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 8-14 m high. The crown is narrow and sparse. The trunk is upright. It is an irregular shape. It is 15-25 cm across. The bark is rough. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaves are shiny on the upper surface and with rusty hairs underneath. Leaves are 20-40 cm long by 7-17 cm wide. There are 4 pairs of side veins. The flowers are mostly on the stem. They are in dense groups. The flowers are red and have a strong lemon scent. The fruit are the size of a baseball. It has a velvety feel. The fruit are yellow when mature. The pulp has a sweet taste. There are about 20 seeds.

Also put in the family Byttneriaceae and the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the understorey in the tropics. It cannot tolerate cold or frost. It grows in the rainforest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, South America, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw. They can also be used for drinks. Occasionally the seeds are used to make low grade chocolate.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and the seeds removed. The seedscan only be stored for a few days. The fresh seeds with their pulp can be sown. They germinate in 15-25 days. Seedlings can be transplanted to the field in 6-7 months.

Plants grow slowly. They reach 1.5 m after 2 years.

Its other names

Local names

Boesi kakaw, Cacahuillo, Cacao de macaco, Cacao de monte, Cacaorana, Cacaui, Cacu de macaco, Chocolatillo, Macambilloa, Makambo, Tobenaka, Tobenakawe, Tubenaca, Tubenacahue

Synonyms

Sapokaia brasiliensis Rich. ex Chev.; Theobroma quinquenervia Bernoulli; Theobroma speciosum var. coriaceum Huber; Theobroma speciosum var. quinquenervia (Bernoulli) K. Schum; Theobroma subincana Spruce;