cacao
This entry was posted on Monday, May 11th, 2009
Raw cacao is somewhat of an acquired taste, but if you like bitter dark chocolate chances are you’ll like cacao.
Chocolate, minus the sugar & fat
Cacao is basically chocolate minus the added sugar and fat! You can buy cacao beans in their whole state or in cacao nibs like those shown here.
If you’re trying to watch your fat and sugar intake but love a chocolate fix every now and then, raw cacao might well be for you! Cacao also doubles as an appetite suppressant and has all the good nutrients and antioxidants that chocolate is reported to have without all the negatives.
If you don’t like cacao straight up you can always use it in the following ways:
- As a topping on fruit or ice cream
- As an addition to your own home made dark chocolate, mixed in along with nuts and dried fruit
- In cookies and cakes
- In chocolate truffles like these
- In chilli or salads
It has a great crunchy texture that will liven up your vegan eats and provide added health benefits (as well as a great talking point!).
May 12th, 2009 at 6:04 am
My husband loves them blended into fruit smoothies! <3
May 12th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
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May 13th, 2009 at 10:03 am
It’s not minus the fat–the bean contains fat. Cacao is fatty. It’s good for you.
The nibs you get at Whole Foods are especially crunchy! I think they are already roasted. Try roasted them for optimal flavor and crunch factor!
May 13th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Hi Lauren,
Yes - the bean does contain fat!
I tried to make that clear in my post by referring to ‘added sugar and fat’ and by saying ‘chocolate minus the sugar and fat’. Most ‘chocolate’ as many people know it is made of cacao, sugar & fat (namely milk fats). And cacao is what’s left after you remove the added sugar and fat.
I’ve never roasted cacao nibs myself before, but think I’ll give it a try, thanks!
July 22nd, 2009 at 2:29 am
Yes, I do agree too with your point of view. Great post! Our bodies make their own antioxidants, but they also make use of antioxidants in the foods we eat. Studies have shown there are many benefits from eating plenty of antioxidant-rich foods which, together with an active and balanced lifestyle, can help reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease.