Cacao or cocoa is the fruit of a small evergreen tree called theobroma cacao it grows in tropical climates particularly in south america cacao is best known as the base material in chocolate production but has in recent years become known as a highly nutritious food in its own right cacao is a source of antioxidant flavanoids the cacao flavanoid group is known collectively as flavanols the antioxidant provision of foods is measured on a scale referred to as orac oxygen radical absorban