The common name for the fruit of the cacao tree is cacao pod, which contains cacao beans. Cacao is essential for making chocolate, as the beans are fermented, dried, roasted, and processed to create various chocolate products. The cacao tree, native to Central and South America, produces these pods, which grow directly from its trunk and larger branches. Inside each pod are several beans surrounded by a sweet, white pulp. The cacao industry is significant both economically and culturally, with chocolate being one of the most popular confections globally, enjoyed in a variety of forms and flavors.