Chocolate Theobroma

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree.
The Greek term theobroma means "food of the gods".

Real chocolate is a cocoa paste made from the fruit of the cacao tree. Cacao seeds are called Theobroma cacao. The cacao tree is found in the forests of Central and South America. It grows in the shade an altitudes of 1,300 to 2,300 feet, in the tropics 20° above and below the equator. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod that produce about 30 cacao beans. It takes 20 to 25 cacao pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa.

The cacao beans are fermented then dried. They are roasted and shelled to obtain the center cacao nib. The nibs are ground into a thick, dark-brown paste called chocolate liquor. Chocolate liquor is the base from which all chocolate products are made.