Theoretical moisture and temperature evolution during cacao fixed bed drying were estimated with non-steady heat and mass transfer equation both in particle and bed. The model takes into account the cacao internal profiles and the air macroscopic balance of moisture, acidity and temperature. The results showed that the theoretical model predicts the experimental evolution of these state variables during cacao drying at three different conditions with average % of error lower than 18%. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.