Raw Cacao Bars Recipe — 4 Ingredients (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in raw cacao? ›

Raw cacao beans, which are usually sold as cacao nibs, tend to have similar nutritional values to cacao powder. Two tablespoons of them will contain 140 calories, 2 grams of protein, 12 grams of fat, 7 grams of carbs, and 4 grams of fibre. They will also contain about 1 gram of sugar.

Cacao is very powerful on the central nervous system and eating large quantities can interfere with calcium retention. Don't consume more than 40 grams (or four to six heaped teaspoons) of raw cacao a day.

Cacao powder is packed with flavonoids, which have been shown to help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to your brain and heart, and help prevent blood clots. The antioxidants in cacao and cocoa may affect how your body responds to insulin, which could lower your chances of diabetes.

Cacao vs. Cocoa. While cacao refers to cacao beans that have not been roasted, what is called cocoa is made of beans that have been roasted. So, in turn, a product that is labeled cacao is the raw bean and is often packaged as vegan chocolate that has been minimally processed with no additives.

Both cacao and cocoa contain caffeine, something to be cautious of if you're sensitive to its effects. One teaspoon of cacao nibs contains about 4.6 milligrams of caffeine, while an 8-ounce cup of coffee typically contains 96 milligrams of caffeine, according to the USDA.

Benefits of Raw Cacao

Cacao beans are rich in natural antioxidant compounds with many health benefits. The theobromine naturally found in raw cacao is a mild, non-addictive stimulant that some believe can treat depression.

Individuals currently taking any SSRI antidepressants, low blood pressure medication, or those undergoing chemotherapy treatment should not drink more than a meditation dose. The combination of medication and Cacao can cause adverse effects when consumed in higher doses.

Night Consumption: Consuming cacao at night may help improve sleep quality and relaxation. A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that consuming a cacao drink before bedtime improved sleep quality and reduced symptoms of insomnia in older adults (3).

High temperature will definitely affect some of the raw cacao's antioxidant properties. To minimize the destruction of antioxidants due to heat, make sure the water added is not boiling hot and is at a comfortable drinking temperature. Baking with raw cacao powder is not recommended due to high heat exposure.

Some studies show that cocoa may help fend off fat.

Keep in mind that eating chocolate with added sugar won't help you fend off fat, and can actually make you gain weight. Pure cocoa is great, but cocoa with added ingredients won't help you lose weight.

Is cacao anti-inflammatory? ›

Cocoa is one of the richest sources of polyphenols. It's especially abundant in flavanols, which have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

This may help with long-term memory, and reduce the risk of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and stroke. Cocoa's brainy benefits are, in part, due to it's amazing antioxidant ability, but also because of how it can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as increase insulin sensitivity.

Rare cacao varietals such as Nacional and Porcelana have been found in parts of northern South America, and many people regard those as some of the best cocoa beans in the world. The Caribbean island of Trinidad only grows Trinitario cacao, a highly flavorful type of cacao developed on the island hundreds of years ago.

Ingredients: Hot chocolate gets its deep, chocolatey flavor from the base of thick, melted chocolate. Warm liquids like water, milk, or cream are added to make the drink liquid. Hot cocoa, however, is made from a powdered base of cocoa, sugar, and added flavorings.

So what's the difference? The answer is in the heat. Cocoa powder and cacao powder are very similar, the only difference being that cocoa is processed at a much higher temperature (and often packaged cocoa contains added sugar and dairy).

One of the most known active ingredients in cacao is theobromine. This alkaloid is from the same family as cafeïne, but works differently. Theobromine gives you energy, increases your heart rate and dilates your blood vessels at the same time, increasing circulation.

Cocoa products are made from cocoa beans, the kernels of the cocoa fruit. These fruits sprout directly from the trunk and the thicker branches of the cocoa tree. In the wild these trees can grow to a height of 15 metres. In cultivated forms they are kept shorter, up to 4 or 5 metres, in order to facilitate harvesting.

Cacao products are excellent sources of several minerals, including selenium, magnesium, chromium and manganese, but these often aren't shown on nutrition labels ( 2 ).

Cocoa beans' composition

Each bean is made of about 50% of a fat called cocoa butter. The beans are 20% protein and also contain water, as well as a large amount of nutrients such as theobromine and vitamins. The beans also contain starch and other minerals.