Copoazú Tree (Theobroma grandiflorum)
Scientific Name: Theobroma grandiflorum — Copoazú, also called Cupuaçu.
Native Home: Amazon rainforest, especially Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia.
Height: 5–15 m.
Lifespan: Around 30–50 years under suitable growing conditions.
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Not commonly harvested for timber; the tree is primarily grown for its fruit.
Harvesting: Ripe fruits are collected when they fall naturally from the tree.
Age to Harvest: Approximately 3–5 years after planting.
Products: Fruit pulp, juice, ice cream, chocolate-like products, cosmetics, and cupuaçu butter.
History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Amazonian communities have traditionally used the fruit pulp for food and drinks and the seeds for fermented products.
Global Spread: Native to the Amazon Basin and cultivated commercially in Brazil, with smaller plantings in other tropical regions.
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