A type of lozenge or small candy made from catechu (a plant extract) that was used historically to freshen breath or improve digestion.
From French 'cachou,' derived from Portuguese 'cachu,' which came from Hindi 'kachu' or Malay 'cachou,' referring to the catechu plant native to Southeast Asia. The spice trade brought this word and substance to Europe in the 1600s.
Cachechu extract comes from the acacia tree and contains tannins that were used in tanning leather—so the same plant gave us both breath mints and durable clothing materials across centuries of trade!
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