What is the difference between cocoa and cacao

The botanical name of the tree that chocolate comes from is: Theobroma Cacao

The word cacao comes from the native peoples of Mexico, the Olmec people. History shows that chocolate changed hands to the Mayans and then to the Spanish.

It is only a word.

You say tomartoe and I say tomatoe

Hispanics say Cacao

The English say Cocoa

It is all about the trends in marketing and trends in linguistics. Basically it is two words with the same meaning. So that clears up that confusion.