Theobromine

What is Theobromine?

Theobromine is a special kind of chemical found in cacao plants. Cacao is used to make chocolate! Theobromine has a bitter taste and can dissolve a little in water. It looks like a white or colorless solid, though sometimes it can look yellowish.

Where Else Can We Find It?

Besides chocolate, theobromine is also in other foods like tea, some types of holly plants, and kola nuts. In factories, it is used to make certain cosmetics. When people eat theobromine, their bodies process it in the liver.

Why Do We Know About It?

Theobromine is famous because it can help the heart and open up airways. But it is very important to know that some animals like dogs and cats can get very sick if they eat chocolate, because their bodies process theobromine much more slowly than humans do.