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A Beginner’s Guide to Cacao Powder
Raw cacao powder is a must-have ingredient for any cupboard. Whether you want to boost the nutritional value of your meals or add a touch of indulgent chocolate flavour, it’s incredibly versatile and easy to use.
From enhancing your morning smoothie to creating homemade treats, cacao opens up endless possibilities. And with its natural health benefits, it provides more than just a chocolate hit.
In this article, we cover all the cacao powder basics, so you can make informed choices about enjoying this natural superfood.
What is Cacao Powder?
Cacao powder is made from raw cacao beans (the seeds of the cacao tree) which are processed at low temperatures to preserve their nutrients.
Unlike cocoa powder, which is roasted, cacao powder retains more of the natural antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It has a rich, slightly bitter chocolate flavour, making it a popular choice for both sweet and savoury recipes.
Packed with nutrients and free from artificial additives, cacao is celebrated as a superfood for its potential health benefits and incredible versatility.
How is Cacao Powder Made?
Cacao powder is made through a careful process that focuses on preserving the natural nutrients of the cacao beans.
First, the raw cacao beans are harvested from the pods of the cacao tree and then fermented to develop their flavour. After fermentation, the beans are dried and gently processed at low temperatures to ensure they retain their nutritional content. Once dried, the beans are cracked and separated into nibs, which are then cold-pressed to remove the cacao butter. What remains is a nutrient-rich powder that is finely ground into the cacao powder we use.
This low-heat process helps preserve the natural antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that make cacao powder a sought-after superfood.
Why is Cacao Powder Good For You?
Cacao is packed with nutrients that can contribute to overall health and well-being.
It’s an excellent source of antioxidants, which help fight free radicals in the body and support cellular health. Rich in magnesium, cacao powder plays a vital role in muscle function, energy production, and maintaining a healthy heart. Additionally, it contains iron, which is essential for oxygen transport in the blood, and potassium, which supports heart health and helps regulate blood pressure.
Cacao also contains natural compounds like theobromine and flavonoids, which are known to promote mood enhancement and brain health.
How Much Cacao Powder a Day for Health Benefits?
The recommended amount of cacao powder to consume daily for health benefits typically ranges between 1 to 2 tablespoons.
This amount provides a good balance of essential nutrients and natural compounds like flavonoids without overloading your diet with excess calories or caffeine. Keep in mind that moderation is key—while cacao offers numerous health benefits, consuming too much can lead to unwanted effects, such as increased sugar intake if paired with sweeteners.
Opt for unsweetened, raw, or minimally processed cocoa products to maximize the health benefits and ensure you’re enjoying it as part of a balanced diet.
How to Use Cacao Powder
Cacao powder is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of delicious ways.
Add cacao powder to smoothies for a chocolatey boost that pairs well with fruits like bananas or berries. You can also stir it into oatmeal or yogurt, giving your breakfast a rich, chocolatey flavour along with added nutrients.
Although cacao powder can be used in baking in place of cocoa, it is best used raw (or at low temperatures) to retain nutrients.
Whisking cacao powder into warm milk or a plant-based alternative is a great way to indulge chocolate cravings. You can add a touch of natural sweetener if you wish, but it is also great unsweetened.
Finally, you can sprinkle a little cacao powder into your coffee to create a mocha-style drink or blend it into energy balls with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for a quick, nutrient-packed snack.
With a little creative thinking, there are endless ways to use cacao powder to create healthy alternatives to chocolate.
Tips for Balancing Flavour When Using Cacao Powder
Cacao powder has a naturally bold and slightly bitter flavour, so balancing it out can really enhance your recipes. Here are some tips to get the most out of its unique taste.
Pair it with natural sweeteners
Ingredients like honey, maple syrup, or mashed bananas can complement cacao powder’s bitterness while adding a touch of natural sweetness.
Use creamy ingredients
Blending cacao powder with items like almond butter, coconut cream, or avocados can help mellow the bitterness and create a smoother, richer flavour profile.
Add a pinch of salt
A small amount of salt can bring out the cacao’s natural flavour and subtly tone down any overwhelming bitterness.
Combine with spices
Warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or chili powder add complexity and balance to cacao-based dishes.
Try adding a whole vanilla pod to your stored cocoa powder, to add a hint of sweetness.
Pair with fruits
Sweet fruits like ripe berries, oranges, or even dates pair wonderfully with cacao powder and help create a naturally well-rounded flavour.
With these tips, you can create delicious cacao-based treats that highlight its unique flavour without letting the bitterness overpower the dish.
Buying and Storing Cacao Powder
When it comes to buying and storing cacao powder, a little knowledge goes a long way in ensuring you get the best quality and retain its rich flavour for longer.
Where Can I Buy Cacao Powder?
You can find cacao powder at most grocery stores, typically in the baking aisle or health food section. It’s also widely available at speciality health food stores and organic markets.
If you prefer shopping online, numerous retailers and brands offer cacao powder on websites like Amazon, Thrive Market, and other health-oriented platforms. When purchasing, look for cacao powder labelled as “raw” or “minimally processed” to ensure you’re getting a product with maximum nutrients and pure flavour.
Organic and fair-trade options are also worth considering for high-quality, ethically sourced cacao.
Our cacao powder is raw and organic, and available to buy online with bulk buy savings.
How to Store Raw Cacao Powder
To keep your raw cacao fresh and flavorful, it’s important to store it properly.
Always keep your cacao powder in an airtight container to protect it from moisture and contaminants. Store it in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat, as exposure to these elements can degrade its quality and taste over time (the pantry or a kitchen cabinet works perfectly for this purpose). Also, make sure the lid is securely closed after each use to prevent clumps from forming due to humidity.
Proper storage will help maintain the powder’s rich flavour and nutritional benefits for months.
A Final Word
As we have seen raw cacao is a versatile and nutritious addition to any pantry. Used unsweetened, especially when mellowed by dairy or other creamy ingredients, it provides the ideal sugar-free chocolatey hit.
By choosing high-quality raw organic cacao and storing it correctly, you can ensure that it remains fresh and packed with nutrients. Why not explore the possibilities and enjoy incorporating this superfood into your daily routine? It’s a small change that can make a big difference!
Keen to learn more about why some foods earn superfood status? Read our in-depth article ‘What Are Superfoods?’
Take a look at our cacao products, or explore our larger range of superfood smoothie ingredients.
This article was reproduced on this site with permission from operafoods.com.au the “Superfood Ingredients Wholesalers”.
See original article:- A Beginner’s Guide to Cacao Powder
How to make healthy bliss balls with superfood ingredients and fruit powders
Healthy bliss balls are the perfect boost and organic fruit powders are ideal for amping up the mix. Get creative, get colourful and get a superfood boost the easy way.
What are bliss balls?
Bliss balls are an easy to make snack food, perfect for keeping up energy levels during the day or as an easy way to boost your intake of superfoods. Instead of reaching for chemical-laden sugary snacks when energy levels are low, grab one or two delicious homemade energy balls as a nutritious alternative.
Are bliss balls healthy?
Packed full of nutrient dense ingredients, bliss balls are a great way to stave off hunger without resorting to empty calories. Not only do they provide a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats but they also come with a whole host of benefits.
Switching it up with different recipes and superfood ingredients ensures you will never get bored and you will cover the whole spectrum of micronutrients and phytochemicals from these powerful plants.
Stick to one or two a day though as they are high in calories and natural sugars.
How to make bliss balls
Can you freeze bliss balls?
Bliss balls can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. They will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 weeks though, so freezing is not really necessary unless you want to make up a huge batch.
Basic bliss ball recipe
Bliss balls could not be easier to make. All you need is a handful of store cupboard ingredients and a food processor. The basic recipe already provides plenty of macro and micronutrients but from there you can boost flavour, texture and nutrient value by adding in extra superfood powders.
Be aware that if you choose to roll your energy balls in powder they may look pretty but the eating experience is just as important. It is largely a matter of personal preference so test things out before you commit. Raw powders can be bitter or powdery, which sometimes works but not always.
Adding in extra ingredients will affect the mixture so if it becomes too dry to stick then simply add a few drops of water until it comes together. If your mixture is too sticky, add in some more powder.
Makes roughly 18.
6 large dates, pitted
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 tbsp LSA mix
1 tbsp goji berry powder
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp hemp protein powder
- Blitz all of the ingredients together in a food processor until they come together in a sticky ball. Feel free to adjust to the quantities if the texture is not quite right.
- Divide into teaspoon sized clumps and roll in your hands to form balls.
- Keep in an airtight container in the fridge.
Cacao bliss balls
Because…chocolate. Experiment with cacao nibs for extra crunch. You can easily add 2 tbsp of cacao powder, but you may need to blend in a little water to prevent it being too dry.
Banana bliss balls
Banana powder is an excellent natural sweetener. A few teaspoons of concentrated fruit powder is plenty.
Berry bliss balls
A boost of berry flavour, not to mention all those lovely antioxidants, makes for perfect bliss. Add one or two teaspoons of berry powder, or roll your bliss balls. Also goes particularly well with cacao.
Beetroot powder bliss balls
Using raw beetroot powder not only adds a beautiful colour but lends a delicious earthy sweetness too. And it is super good for you. It is really good when blended with cacao.
Mango bliss balls
Mango and coconut anyone? Try adding a few teaspoons of mango powder to the mix and roll in finely shredded coconut.
Inspired to get creative with healthy bliss balls? We have plenty of other organic fruit powders and superfood ingredients for you to try. You can also buy wholesale organic food at our online store.
Cacao vs cocoa. Is cacao really better for you than cocoa?
Cacao vs cocoa. What is the difference between the two? Is cacao really better for you than cocoa?
What is cacao?
Strictly speaking, cacao is the name given to the plant that gives us the raw form of chocolate. The cacao tree, with the botanical name Theobroma Cacao, bears fruits known as cacao pods, with cacao seeds inside. Just to confuse matters more, these seeds are what we also know as cocoa beans. There is no legislation on the naming of related products so the word cacao is interchangeable with the word cocoa.
However it is generally accepted nowadays, as we come to appreciate the power of raw chocolate, that when we say cacao what we mean is the raw natural form. Bought as cacao powder or cacao nibs, this raw unsweetened source of chocolate is a bonafide superfood. Find out more about superfoods here.
Be aware that when you are buying cacao you need to clarify that it is indeed raw. Some manufacturers label products as cacao (and it is perfectly acceptable for them to do so) but it has been roasted. Our cacao powder and cacao nibs are in their natural raw form.
What are cacao nibs?
Cacao nibs are crushed cocoa bean fragments. All cacao, raw or roasted, has been through certain steps of processing. The production of nibs is one of those steps.
The pods of the cacao tree are first harvested and then split open. The cocoa beans are removed and left to ferment for about a week. This step is vital as it develops the flavour of the beans into the chocolate tones we are all familiar with. The moist beans are then left to dry.
You can buy organic cacao nibs right here.
The difference between cacao and cocoa
If the difference between cacao and cocoa is that cacao is the raw product, then this is the stage at which the difference lies. Once dried, the beans are either roasted or left in their natural un-heat processed state. They are then cracked open and crushed to produce nibs.
To produce powder the nibs are ground into a mass. As the beans contain fat (cocoa butter) this is a liquid mass known as cocoa liquor. This is then pressed to remove the fat. What is left is powder. Cacao powder from raw nibs, cocoa powder from roasted nibs.
Cocoa powder is sometimes processed even further to reduce acidity. Treated with an alkalising process, it becomes less bitter, sweeter, darker in colour and more soluble. Which is great for chocolatiers; less great for the nutrient levels.
Does cacao have caffeine?
Both cocoa and cacao do contain caffeine but analysis has shown that raw cacao can contain over twice as much caffeine as its roasted brethren.
Is cacao healthy?
Both cacao and cocoa are rich in vitamins and minerals, but the raw form has more of its nutrients intact. Cocoa nibs also have all the healthy fats of the original bean. Raw cacao is rich in magnesium, potassium and calcium. One of the highest antioxidant foods on the scale, raw cacao is packed full of plant-based chemicals that energise both body and mind. The heat processing involved in production of cocoa powder severely depletes the levels of many of these nutrients.
The benefits of cacao for weight loss
We all love chocolate, right? And we already know that it is full of feel good chemicals. But it also comes with a not-so-healthy dose of fats and sugars. So not exactly a health food. But raw cacao can actually aid weight control. A mood booster that helps us to stay positive, cacao may also boost metabolism and help to burn calories more efficiently. It may also suppress the appetite by regulation of certain hormones.
Are cacao nibs keto friendly?
Cacao nibs and cacao powder are both low-carb, but nibs provide more fat so are an excellent choice for those on a keto diet.
How to use cacao
Can I use cacao instead of cocoa?
Cacao powder can be used interchangeably with cocoa powder, anywhere that you want add the flavour of chocolate. It may have slightly different properties, such as being a little less soluble, but you can begin by swapping out on a 1 to 1 ratio. Take note that if you bake with raw cacao powder the heat will destroy some of the antioxidants and other heat sensitive nutrients. Your best bet is to use cacao in raw products such as raw brownies, bliss balls, and smoothies.
You can use cacao nibs in place of chocolate chips but they will not melt like chocolate. So, you can’t use them to melt and pour, but you can add them into cookies and cakes. Again, beware of nutrient loss under baking temperatures. They do make a great crunchy addition to granola, trail mix, or nice cream.
There really are lots of creative ways that you can enjoy cacao instead of cocoa or chocolate.
Does cacao taste like chocolate?
Yes, cacao does taste like chocolate in that it has the unmistakable character of chocolate. Porridge with cacao powder stirred in is most definitely chocolately. Ditto smoothies. Added to creamy ingredients rounds out the bitterness and enhances sweetness so you don’t need to add sugar to make it yummy.
Raw chocolate and cacao are strong and bitter, like eating 90% chocolate. Eating raw cacao nibs on their own is a little like eating coffee beans, but with other ingredients the chocolatey flavour is enhanced.
How to store cacao powder
Store your cacao products in an airtight container away from the light to prevent degradation of valuable nutrients.
Buy raw organic cacao powder from our store and buy in bulk online! We are a major online supplier of superfoods Australia, so check out the rest of our superfoods range.
Organic Cacao Powder Rich in Polyphenols Which Contain Healthy Benefits
Organic Cacao powder is a product of offered by Boost Nutrients that makes a perfect smoothie or acai bowl topping or ingredient. Cacao powder is produced from the Cacao beans that originated in South America.
It can now be available in every shop in Australia; moreover, people can purchase it from our online store. The powdered form of the product has become popular across different countries as it is easy to sprinkle on meals to increase your intake. Organic Cacao powder is considered as a healthy nutrient intake.
People can upgrade the nutrient value of smoothie shakes with the help of Organic Cacao powder. It can be used in smoothie bowl ingredients, toppings for granola bowl and Acai bowl. Organic Cacao powder is made up from crushed respective cacao beans which is slightly bitter and chocolate in flavor. According to research packs of Organic Cacao powder are considered to contain more calcium than cow’s milk. Organic Cacao powder helps to prevent depression, stress, blood pressure, heart attack, and several other severe diseases.
Buy Organic Cacao powder online from our Parent company online health food store at Opera Foods.
Boost Nutrients is a subsidiary of wholesale food suppliers Opera Foods Pty Ltd.