Cocoa tree
Synonym(s)
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Evergreen, up to 15 m high leafy tree, native to tropical West Africa, Brazil and the Philippines. The white to pink flowers grow directly on the trunk and bloom all year round.
The cocoa seeds, which are used for nutritional, medicinal and cosmetic purposes, are embedded in the cucumber-like cocoa fruit, which is around 20 cm long. The 40-60 white, bitter cocoa seeds are subjected to a special fermentation process lasting several days, as a result of which they lose their bitterness and take on their familiar brown-red color.
Ingredient(s)This section has been translated automatically.
40-50% fat (cocoa butter), 15% protein, 8% starch, 1-4% theobromine, 0.1-0.4% caffeine, 7% tannins, 2% sugar, etc.
Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.
Cosmetics: Under the INCI name "Theobroma cacao butter", the butter-like extract from the seeds of Theobroma cacao is used in cosmetic formulations. It acts as an emollient, a consistency enhancer (also in lipsticks).
Theobroma cacao is the parent plant of Semen cacao, the cocoa seeds also known as cocoa beans. Cacao oleum (medical name for cocoa butter) is obtained from the roasted and crushed seeds. Cacao oleum was previously used mainly for suppositories and vaginal balls.