The cacao tree is a tropical evergreen tree that has been cultivated for centuries for its valuable beans, which serve as the primary ingredient in chocolate production. Cultivating cacao trees requires a warm and humid climate, flourishing in well-drained soil and a shaded environment, both often found in rainforest ecosystems. The cacao pods, containing seeds known as cocoa beans, are harvested when mature. Historically, cacao held significant cultural importance among Mesoamerican civilizations like the Mayans and Aztecs, who used cacao in religious rituals and as a form of currency. Over time, the beans were traded and introduced to European cultures, leading to the development of the chocolate industry. It is from here that the British Empire imported cacao trees, establishing large estates dedicated to the production of this cash crop across northern Oceanyka. Even today, the continent remains a major cultivator of this wondrous tree.
