Chocolate's Caffeine Cousin

Beans from the Cacao Tree, Theobroma Cacao, are the source of the world's chocolate.

The Principal Alkaloid of the Cacao Bean is theobromine, a close structural relative of caffeine.

Search through the site to find out more about this fascinating chemical!

• Structure - theobromine's similarities to Caffeine
• Chemical Make-Up - How does theobromine present itself to the outside world?
• Juicy Facts - So, where do you find it, and what can it do for you?
• Myths - Chocolate's role has been fought out by the scientists: Read all about it!
• Chocolate: The Lover's Best Friend - Need we say more?

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• Questions and Answers - A site dedicated to chocolate: How could you resist?
• A History of Chocolate - Another site dedicated to Chocolate: Why are you still here?

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• Credits - This Molecule of the Month was written by first year students as an introduction to computing for chemistry students course run by Karl Harrison.