cacao bean

or cocoa bean

noun

1. a seed of the cacao tree.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cacao bean¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Unlike cacao beans, which are used to create chocolate, carob is naturally sweet and does not contain the stimulants caffeine or theobromine, which may be appealing to some, and unappealing to others.

From Seattle Times

During production, cacao beans are separated into meaty solids, known as nibs, and a fatty portion called cocoa butter.

From National Geographic

Freshly harvested cacao beans don’t have much lead, but as they dry, they accumulate dust.

From Seattle Times

Two millennia after Mayans ground cacao beans into an unsweetened, heavily spiced beverage, most modern Mexican styles still use stone-ground chocolate tablets, now with varying degrees of sweetness.

From Seattle Times

It’s true that potent antioxidants called flavonols are plentiful in the cacao beans used to make chocolate.

From Washington Post