Cacao Bean
/kæˈkaʊ biːn/noun
The dried and fully fermented fatty seed of Theobroma cacao, used to produce chocolate.
Did you know?Cacao was so revered in ancient Mesoamerica that it was used as currency and in sacred rituals, believed to connect humans with the divine.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Mesoamerican
PMA
*kakaw
“the fruit of the cacao tree, revered as a divine gift.”
Classical Maya
Mayan
kakaw
“the sacred drink made from cacao, often consumed in royal ceremonies.”
Spanish Conquest
Spanish
cacao
“the term adopted from the indigenous languages to describe the cacao beverage.”
17th Century
English
cacao
“the introduction of cacao as a luxury drink in European courts.”
18th Century
English
chocolate
“the transformation of cacao into a sweetened drink, becoming widely popular.”
Modern English
English
cacao bean
“the seed from which chocolate products are derived, symbolizing indulgence and luxury.”