Cacao

Cacao can only grow within about 20° north and south of the equator.

Cacao trees only prosper under specific conditions, including fairly uniform temperatures, high humidity, abundant rain, nitrogen-rich soil, and protection from wind.

Cacao trees thrive in rainforests.

The world's leading cacao producers are Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia.

The cacao tree can be cultivated only in certain climates. It bears fruit only within the region 20° either side of the equator. Additionally, it needs good soil and sufficient water.

If Mesoamerica interests you, maybe read the article "Sweet Cacao and Sour Atole: Mixed Drinks on Classic Maya Ceramic Vases."

The confections at Honest Chocolate are made with agave nectar, rather than cane sugar, and have a very high percentage of cacao... something customer Jessica Bonin appreciates.

The cacao tree grows with moisture and heat.

Therefore they left Port à Paix just as the first streaks of gray were appearing in the east, depending on a good hot cup of cacao and a couple of bananas to nourish them sufficiently until they could enjoy the breakfast that Dave would prepare for them at the end of their morning’s share of the day’s trip. […] “Doctor, we always say ‘cocoa’ in the north, but you and all these people where it grows say ‘cacao,’ I notice. How is that?” asked Hal. / “There are four very distinct vegetable growths that have names so much alike that they are constantly mixed in the minds of those who are not botanists or do not know them in nature,” the Doctor began. “These are: Cacao berries, Coca leaves, Coco roots, and Cocoa nuts.[…]”

Cacao was copiously used at their feasts, being colored with the red seeds of the achiote, or arnotto (Bixa orellana Linnæus), so that it resembled blood. At the festivals an intoxicating beer of corn was also copiously used and the rolled leaves of tobacco were smoked. […] And the Indians, both men and women, continued to drink the above-mentioned beverage, going and coming with it, and in the course of this drinking there were brought large cups of cacao prepared as they are accustomed to drink it.