This small evergreen from Central America is grown throughout the wet, lowland tropics under the shade of taller trees and is the source of commercial cocoa and chocolate. The 8-12" long, yellow or red fruit has a white, mucilaginous, mildly sweet pulp which can be eaten and many flat seeds. The oil from the seeds is used in cosmetics and perfumes. Propagated by seed, cutting, air layering or grafting.
