I saw this Cacao Tree or Cocoa Tree (Theobroma Cacao) at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. I think it’s been there a long time, but this is the first time I’ve noticed it with pods. The pods are the fruit of the tree and if you cut one open, inside you’ll find a cluster of fun-sized candy bars.
Well, maybe not, but you will find an important contributor to those candy bars, cacao seeds or beans, the prime ingredient in chocolate. Each of those seeds, up to 60 per pod, contains a large amount of fat, otherwise known as cocoa butter.
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Graham's Island 
Yay! I could do with a chocolate fix…
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Well, pull up a seat. It will take a while!
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🤣💟
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I’ve always wondered what they look like. How big are those pods, about 30cm? 1ft?
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Probably a bit under that. They’re generally 6-12 inches long.
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That sure looks like an old tree. The pods are quite amazing especially filled with chocolate 🙂
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It might be quite old. I’m not sure how I haven’t noticed it before. Now I’ll have to be alert for flowers.
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