Cocoa flowers, and subsequently cocoa pods, grow directly on the trunk and older branches of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). This unusual growth pattern is called cauliflory.
The cacao tree is native to the lowland rainforests of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. While it still grows in these regions, cacao is also commercially cultivated in other tropical areas around the world. These areas include:
- The New World Tropics: Central and South America, particularly regions near the equator.
- Western Africa: Countries like Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon are major cocoa producers.
- Tropical Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian nations.
The tree thrives in hot, humid climates with regular rainfall and shade. The flowers are small and delicate, often pollinated by tiny midges. After successful pollination, the cocoa pods develop over several months, eventually containing the cocoa beans that are processed into chocolate.
