Kingdom: Plantae

(unranked): Angiosperms

(unranked): Eudicots

(unranked): Rosids

Order:   Malvales

Family: Malvaceae

Genus: Theobroma

Species: T. cacao

 

 The genus name Theobroma is Greek for “food of the gods.” Cacao comes from the Mesoamerican name for the plant, where is native too. There are 22 species in the genus Theobroma including cacao. [1, Photo 1-6]