Cocoa butter is a type of vegetable fat that comes from cocoa beans. Manufacturers extract creamy cocoa butter from the beans by fermenting, drying, roasting, and then pressing them. They turn the remaining portion into cocoa powder.

Cocoa butter is a common active ingredient in lotions, creams, and lip balms.

In more recent times, researchers have found that cocoa has several healthful properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Many of these properties are due to substances that cocoa powder contains, such as catechin. Cocoa butter may also have healthful benefits.

Cocoa butter is also a primary ingredient in chocolate. Chocolate is made up of cocoa butter and cocoa powder, often with milk and sugar.