The official name of the Chocolate Tree is Theoborma cacao, but some experts think the word cacao (pronouned ka-kow) was changed over time to be called cocoa as in cocoa bean. Recently there has been a movement to reclaim the beans rightful name cacao. Often times the words cacao and cocoa will be used interchangable but chocolate experts agree "cacao" is used to refer to the bean while the powder made from the cacao bean is called "cocoa".