Where does cacao grow today?

Cacao grown in the Philippines.

Cacao is endemic to the Northern Amazon region of South America. Humans brought cacao from south America into Central and North America (Mexico) thousands of years ago. Hundreds of years ago, humans also brought (via ship) cacao to Asia, Africa, and many other regions of the world.

Today, cacao is grown in hot, humid, tropical regions generally 20 degrees North or South of the Equator, but also beyond these points as well in some cases. Today, cacao trees are grown in South, Central, and North America, The Caribbean, South Pacific, Northern Australia, South East Asia, Africa, and even in greenhouses in non-tropical climates (although this is not intended for chocolate production).

Many people wonder why they can’t find cacao pods (the fruit) in grocery stores in non-cacao growing countries. There are a few reasons, but one being that they don’t have a long shelf life, and usually decompose within a week or so after being picked. As well, many cocoa pods are more seed than fruit, and the fruit is more enjoyed as a juice than as a food.