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Cacao

Cacao refers to the beans or plant material of the cacao tree, used to make chocolate, cocoa, and beverages.

Cacao — illustrative ingredient image

About Cacao

Cacao refers to the seeds of the cacao tree and, depending on context, closely related minimally processed plant material made from them. It is used in chocolate making, drinks, confectionery, baking, and savoury preparations.

It has a pronounced bitter, earthy, roasted flavour. Texture ranges from firm and crunchy in nibs to powdery when ground, while whole beans and other forms retain differences created during processing.

The seeds are enclosed in a fleshy pod and are commonly fermented and dried before use. Cacao may be sold as whole beans, nibs, or ground cacao; roasting, alkalizing, grinding, and added ingredients produce distinct forms that should not be treated as identical.

Ingredient type
whole food

Forms & related ingredients

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Where will you meet it?

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Where cacao appears

2 linked foods

Find foods to recognise by country and type. Recipes and products vary; these are recorded ingredient connections.

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Drinks

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for cacao

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

cacao

English

RAW CACAO

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Cacao nutrition & diet

Cacao nutritional value

Representative benchmark: Chocolate, dark, high cocoa solids

Representative nutrition benchmarkOfficial table values for a comparable food category, not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient.

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
528.2kcal
Protein
3.9g
Carbs
62.6g
Fat
30.3g

Representative benchmark from a comparable official food-composition category; it is not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient. The displayed reference form must be considered, and species, cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Clarify whether cacao means whole fermented beans, nibs, unsweetened ground material, cocoa powder, or another plant part. Roasting, grinding, pressing, and alkalizing change the reference form and edible portion. Separate added sugar, dairy, oils, and flavorings from the cacao material when evaluating a preparation.

Compare the right form: Match references to fermented beans, roasted nibs, unsweetened powder, liquor, or another specified cacao form, with processing and edible portion documented.

Diet considerations

Cacao is plant-derived, but compatibility depends on processing and additions. Chocolate, drinks, and desserts may contain dairy, sweeteners, cereal ingredients, or animal-derived additives, while plain nibs or unsweetened material differ. Check the exact product and recipe rather than inferring from the word cacao alone.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically compatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically compatible
The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Australian Food Composition Database, Release 3 — F002921 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .