Happy Valentine's Day ~ You say cocoa I say cacao...

What is the difference between cocoa and cacao? Cacao is raw and unprocessed. Available in beans, nibs and powder form. Cocoa on the other hand is processed. Cocoa is made from Cacao it is heated at high temperatures then different chemicals and additives are combined with it (like soy lecithin and sugar). 

Chocolate can be made from either cacao or cocoa. So why use cacao which is higher in fat? There are a few reasons firstly Cacao is full of nutrients, it contains over 1,200 active compounds. Cacao is packed full of antioxidants (polyphenols) more than some of the big hitters we all know about like blueberries, goji berries, acai berries, red wine and pomegranates. The antioxidants in cacao prevent bad cholesterol from becoming oxidized so it potentially can protect the body from things such as heart disease and high blood pressure.


A few fun facts:

• Cacao is full of Phenylethylamines (the LOVE chemicals) ~ which makes it the prefect choice for a Valentine's day treat. 
• Mayan and Aztec cultures believed that cacao "invigorated men and made women less inhibited" . 
• Cornell University food scientists found that cocoa powder has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times what is found in green tea.
• Cacao is one of nature’s richest sources of magnesium, which is a heart as well as brain mineral.
• Cacao is choc full of chromium (which is the #1 trace mineral deficiency in North America)
• Cacao is high in vitamin C
• Cacao is high in (sulfur) the beauty mineral. 
• Cacao is said to diminish appetite

And a note: Buy Fair Trade. Child labour is a huge problem in some countries that produce cacao. Fair Trade ensures a livable wage is given to food producers. Fair trade bands people together into fair trade cooperatives which ensure them a fair price for their crops.

A few raw & rawish cacao recipes yum!!

Aztec AM 

• Almond or Coconut Milk (to taste
• Heaping tablespoon of cacao powder
• 1 teaspoon (to taste) of cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon 
• 1/2 cup of organic coffee or espresso

This should be thick and very rich. 

Cacao Fudge

• 1/2C of finely ground cacao nibs (a coffee mill works well for this)
• 1/2C of Macadamia (ground into a powder) 
• 2T of maple syrup (dark)
• 1 smallish piece of vanilla bean
• 1 medium date (soaked and pitted)

Blend all together until sticky. Roll in to ball and roll in cacao powder or shape into a bar and let sit in fridge until firm. YUM