Despite its name , there is no bromine in it -- theobromine comes from Theobroma , the name of the genus of the cacao tree , ( which itself is made up of the Greek roots theo ( `` God '' ) and brosi ( `` food '' ) , meaning `` food of the gods '' ) with the suffix - ine given to alkaloids and other basic nitrogen-containing compounds . Despite its name , the compound contains no bromineâ '' theobromine is derived from Theobroma , the name of the genus of the cacao tree , ( which itself is made up of the Greek roots theo ( `` God '' ) and brosi ( `` food '' ) , meaning `` food of the gods '' ) with the suffix - ine given to alkaloids and other basic nitrogen-containing compounds .