What is the difference between cacao and cocoa beans

Cacao products: Cacao can also refer to a specific type of product made from the cacao bean. If a product is made by cold pressing non-roasted cacao seeds, it is said to be cacao. This further differentiates it from cocoa more on this below. What does cocoa mean?

Cocoa is a chocolate powder among other things made from roasted and ground cacao seeds. So, while cacao refers to the plant itself and the products made from non-roasted seeds, cocoa products are made from roasting its seeds. In the English sentence , cocoa can be a noun or an adjective. As a noun , cocoa usually means a hot, creamy drink flavored with chocolate.

The sentences below are examples:. As an adjective , cocoa usually denotes products made from or related to cocoa, like cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and others. Minimally processed, raw cacao products contain little or no added sugar and are higher in antioxidants than more highly processed products.

Cacao beans and the products derived from them are rich sources of beneficial plant compounds, particularly flavanols, which have antioxidant, heart-protective and anti-cancer properties, among other health benefits 2 , 4. Cacao also contains iron that is readily absorbed by your body, unlike some plant sources of the mineral.

Vegetarians and vegans may especially profit from this, as their sources of iron are limited 2. Cacao products also contain tryptophan, which is an amino acid your body uses to make serotonin, a brain chemical that helps you relax 3.

Despite these benefits, remember that chocolate is high in calories. By choosing dark chocolate and unsweetened cacao products like nibs, you can minimize health risks linked to eating too much sugar , including weight gain and dental decay 8.

Cacao products stand out for their disease-fighting plant compounds, easily absorbed iron and relaxation-promoting tryptophan. Still, they can be high in calories and sometimes sugar , so enjoy them in moderation. For example, unsweetened cacao nibs are healthier than standard chocolate chips, but you may find them too bitter. Consider mixing the two as you adapt.

As for raw cacao powder, you may find its taste and quality superior to standard unsweetened cocoa powder. However, raw cacao powder generally costs more. If you buy raw cacao powder, remember that some of its antioxidants will be destroyed by heat if you bake with it. Consider adding it to a smoothie instead. Try using raw cacao nibs in trail mix or other uncooked creations to avoid destroying antioxidants via heat.

Less processed, unsweetened and raw cacao products can be bitter, but you may grow accustomed to the flavor. If you buy raw cacao products, understand that baking will destroy some of their rich antioxidants. Generally, raw cacao products — made from fermented, dried, unroasted cacao beans — are less processed and healthier. Though it's most famous for its role in chocolate production, cocoa has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries.

Finally after roasting, the nibs are finely ground into a mass that is partially defatted then pulverized to form cocoa powder. Next, the cacao nibs are dried at low-temperatures and ground into a powder. Clearly, this method uses much less processing compared to cocoa powder. Our quality of life, especially as we age, is dependent on the absence of chronic disease. What if you could help reduce your risk of chronic disease by eating a healthy, plant-based diet? What if this diet involved eating raw cacao?

Lucky for us, there is a large amount of scientific evidence that shows eating plant-based, including raw cacao, has many positive health benefits, including reduced risk of chronic disease. For example, polyphenols are able to impact the composition of the gut microbiome in favor of beneficial gut bacteria. On the other hand, gut bacteria can metabolize polyphenols into absorbable bioactive compounds, which produce clinical health benefits.

If you have the choice to buy heat treated, overly processed cocoa powder or antioxidant-rich, raw cacao powder, we hope you see the value in spending a few extra dollars for the less-processed version. Not only will you increase your intake of beneficial plant-compounds like flavonoids, you will also be able to take advantage of their health benefits, thanks to the bacteria in our microbiome.

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Just added to your cart. Continue shopping. Cacao vs. Cocoa: What's The Difference? So, how is raw cacao powder processed differently? How Raw Cacao Powder is Made: In general, raw cacao powder is made from unroasted, non-alkalized cacao beans. After the shells are removed, the oil cacao butter is cold pressed out of the cacao nibs.

Why Raw Cacao is Better Excellent source of several minerals including selenium, magnesium, chromium, manganese, iron, potassium, and copper. Minerals are affected by heat treatment during processing, which may lower their bioavailability. Since raw cacao powder is not processed with heat, the bioavailability of its minerals are preserved.