A genus of small trees. See Cacao.

cacao plants

Theobroma, which literally means "food of the gods" in Greek, was the name given to cacao beans when they were discovered by the Spanish. At this time the beans were used as a form of currency based on units of twenty and only the high dignitaries (the emperor and his court), who considered themselves to be the direct descendants of the Gods, had the right to consume the beans ­ hence the term Theobroma. It is also worth noting that theobromine which characterises cocoa is a powerful pulmonary dilator, or to put it more simply, a natural E.P.O. which is used by certain sports men and women.