Peruvian cacao
Theobroma bicolor

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A small evergreen tree. It grows 10-13 m high. It can be 30 m high in the forest. The leaves are papery and 15-35 cm long. They can have 2 colours. The flowers are in small groups on the thin branches. The fruit can weigh 300 g. The fruit is medium to large. It is 8-12 cm across. The fruit is cone shaped. The inside of the fruit is chocolate coloured.

Also put in the family Byttneriaceae and the Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It suits the hot, wet tropical lowlands. It usually grows as an understorey plant in the rainforests in Central and South America. In Central America it grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico (country/location of origin), Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru (country/location of origin), SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seeds are roasted and used as flavouring, like cacao. They yield cocoa butter. The pulp is used in drinks and desserts.

It is cultivated fruit tree.

Edible parts

Fruit pulp, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

A fruit can weigh 300 g.

Its other names

Local names

Bacao, Cacao blanco, Cacao do Peru, Cacau-rana, Chis po yo, Culuju, Himoro amohi, Killa, Macambo, Macavu, Maraca, Maraco, Mocambo, Odaba, Odoba, Patashte, Pataste, Tiger cocoa, Wakamp

Synonyms

Cacao bicolor (Bonpl.) Poir.; Theobroma cordata Ruiz & Pav.; Theobroma ovatifolia Moc., Sesse & DC.; Tribroma bicolor (Bonpl.) O. F. Cook;