This flower is the best of them all and has super powers, don’t believe me? Keep reading it might become your favorite too. ⠀
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Cacao (Theobroma cacao) belongs to the genus Theobroma classified under the subfamily Byttnerioideae of the mallow family Malvaceae.[1] Cacao is one of 17 species of Theobroma⠀
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Theobroma cacao flowers are a cauliflory (grow directly on the tree trunk) that measures 1 -2 cm (2/8 - 13/16 in) diameter. They are not pollinated by bees but by tiny flies, Forcipomyia midges; The fruit, called a cacao pod, is ovoid, 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long and 8–10 cm (3–4 in) wide, ripening yellow to orange, and weighs about 500 g (1 lb) when ripe. ⠀
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The pod contains 20 to 60 seeds, usually called "beans", embedded in a white pulp. The seeds are the main ingredient of chocolate, while the pulp is used in some countries to prepare refreshing juice, smoothies, jelly, and cream. Usually discarded until practices changed in the 21st century, the fermented pulp may be distilled into an alcoholic beverage.[7] Each seed contains a significant amount of fat (40–50%) as cocoa butter. The fruit's active constituent is the stimulant theobromine, a compound similar to caffeine. ⠀
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Yeap this tiny flower makes huge fruit pods with seeds that become chocolate, I hope you get a chance to try fresh cacao fruit the white pulp is one of the most delicious things I have ever tried and no it doesn’t taste like chocolate.