Tree native to tropical South America producing cocoa beans - the source plant of cacao and chocolate

concept

The Indian Nectar, or, A discourse concerning Chocolata : Wherein the Nature of the Cacao-nut, and the other Ingredients of that Composition, is examined, and stated according to the Judgment and Experience of the Indians, and Spanish writers, who lived in the Indies, and others; with sundry additional Observations made in England: The ways of compounding and preparing Chocolata are enquired into; its Effects, as to its alimental and Venereal quality, as well as Medicinal (especially in Hypochondriacal Melancholy) are fully debated. Together with a Spagyrical Analysis of the Cacao-nut, performed by that excellent Chymist, Monsieur le Febure, Chymist to His Majesty. / By Henry Stubbe.

Fruit of the cacao tree and a Guatemalan almond tree. Drawing by Thomas Malie, 1730.

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.): fruiting and flowering branch with separate numbered sections of flowers, fruit and seed. Chromolithograph by P. Depannemaeker, c.1885, after B. Hoola van Nooten.

"Maravilla cocoa" : sole proprietors, Taylor Brothers, London.

Cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao), Chinese citron or natsumikan (Citrus natsudaidai), jak fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), muhimbi tree (Cynometra cauliflora) and bilimbi tree (Averrhoa bilimbi), in separate plates. Line engraving after C. de Bruins, 1706.

A fruiting cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) Photograph.

Plants, fish and a landscape from the East Indies, including pepper, cocoa, indigo and coffee plants. Line engraving after C. de Bruins, 1706.

Cacao plant (Theobroma cacao): fruiting branch with separate leaves and seeds. Watercolour.

Dell'uso e dell'abuso del caffé : dissertazione storico fisico medica / Giovanni Dalla Bona ; prefazione alla ristampa della seconda edizione di Giovanni Zaffignani.

The economics of chocolate / edited by Mara P. Squicciarini and Johan Swinnen.

Epps' reference book of facts and figures : money, weights, measures, interest, geographical, asronomical / James Epps & Co. Ltd.

Advice medical, and economical, relative to the purchase and consumption of tea, coffee, and chocolate; wines, and malt liquors: including tests to detect adulteration. Also remarks on water. With directions to purify it for domestic use / by J. Stevenson.

Les sucres : le café, le thé, le chocolat / A.-L. Girard.

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Shop

Café

We're experiencing some technical problems in the library today. 

If you’re visiting us, you won’t be able to print or use our PCs or laptops. If you want to sign-up for a free library membership, we’ll give you a temporary card for today and complete your membership next time you visit.

You can access items from the collection as usual and our team is on hand to help. Thank you for your patience while we resolve these issues. 

We're running paid user research studies to improve Wellcome Collection online

Cacao

Images from the collections

Images referencing Cacao

Works from the collections

Dell'uso e dell'abuso del caffé : dissertazione storico fisico medica / Giovanni Dalla Bona ; prefazione alla ristampa della seconda edizione di Giovanni Zaffignani.

The economics of chocolate / edited by Mara P. Squicciarini and Johan Swinnen.

Epps' reference book of facts and figures : money, weights, measures, interest, geographical, asronomical / James Epps & Co. Ltd.

Advice medical, and economical, relative to the purchase and consumption of tea, coffee, and chocolate; wines, and malt liquors: including tests to detect adulteration. Also remarks on water. With directions to purify it for domestic use / by J. Stevenson.

Les sucres : le café, le thé, le chocolat / A.-L. Girard.

Cacao

Images from the collections

Images referencing Cacao

Works from the collections

Dell'uso e dell'abuso del caffé : dissertazione storico fisico medica / Giovanni Dalla Bona ; prefazione alla ristampa della seconda edizione di Giovanni Zaffignani.

The economics of chocolate / edited by Mara P. Squicciarini and Johan Swinnen.

Epps' reference book of facts and figures : money, weights, measures, interest, geographical, asronomical / James Epps & Co. Ltd.

Advice medical, and economical, relative to the purchase and consumption of tea, coffee, and chocolate; wines, and malt liquors: including tests to detect adulteration. Also remarks on water. With directions to purify it for domestic use / by J. Stevenson.

Les sucres : le café, le thé, le chocolat / A.-L. Girard.

Related topics