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Cocoa Butter
- Latin Name
Theobroma cacao - Family: Sterculiaceae or Byttneriaceae
- Etymology
Cacao is from the Mexican cacauati. Linnaneus gave the plant the name Theobroma from the Greek, meaning 'food of the Gods'. Also known as cacao butter, beurre de cacao and Kakao butter.
- THE PLANT AND ITS ENVIRONMENT
The tree are native to Central and Southern America where they have been cultivated for centuries, and cocoa butter was first made in 1695. The seeds have always been prized, at one time they were even used as a form of currency. -
- CAUTIONARY NOTES
Theobroma oil may cause an allergic reaction on the skin . It is sometimes adulterated with waxes, stearins and animal or vegetable tallows (Trease & Evans 1983. - References: Brunton J 1995 Pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, medicinal plants, Intercept, Andover pp 889-891 Leung A Y, Foster S 1996 encyclopedia of common natural ingredients. John Wiley & Sons. New York pp 181-184
- Monograph 11991 Cacao semen. Bundesanzeiger no. 40 27 Feburary. Cited in : Leung & Foster 1996 Stuart M (ed.) 1987 The Encyclopedia of herbs and herbalism. Black Cat, London p. 271. Trease G E. Evans W C 1983 Pharmacognosy 12th edition. Bailliere Tindall, London p. 335
- Carrier Oils For Aromatherapy Massage: Len Price with Ian Smith & Shirley Price.