Theobroma cacao 可可

Keke, sold in China, Henan Dengfeng Cigarettes Factory

可可(Theobroma cacao)是熱帶常綠植物，原產於南美，現在廣泛在非洲、東南亞和拉丁美洲種植。可可樹最高可達15米，每年成熟兩次，主要收穫期為10月到12月。果實為莢狀，長15至30厘米，外為綠色，內有20至100粒種子。收穫後需發酵數日，使其內部變為紅棕色，並產生濃郁的香味，然後剔開果肉，取出可可豆。每棵樹一年只可以收穫1-2公斤乾可可豆。

Theobroma cacao, also called the cacao tree and the cocoa tree, is a small (4-8m tall) evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae, native to the deep tropical regions of the Americas. Its seeds, cocoa beans, are used to make cocoa mass, cocoa powder, confectionery, ganache and chocolate.