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Monday, October 14, 2013

CACAO TALK - PART VI

What is the difference between cocoa and cacao?
Cacao is the bean that comes from the cacao tree.
Cacao refers to the raw form of chocolate, including the tree and bean. Raw cacao powder is not roasted, relatively unprocessed, and contains no sugar or cocoa butter.

The beans are harvested, fermented and dried, then cleaned and roasted, after which point the products are often referred to as cocoa.
It means cocoa is cacao bean that have been processed 

broken cacao fruit (cacao pod)

fresh cacao seed
Cacao and cocoa are both antioxidant powerhouses, though cacao is significantly more powerful. ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) is a method of measuring antioxidants in biological samples.
Per 100 grams:
  • Raw cacao powder has an ORAC value of 95,500
  • Raw cacao nibs have an ORAC value of 62,100
  • Roasted cocoa powder as an ORAC value of 26,000
Please check www.bodyunburdened.com 


Raw cacao powder therefore has significantly more antioxidant power. 
Raw cacao is an excellent source of essential fatty acids, fiber, iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium and sulfur. 
Roasted process will relieve much of its nutritional benefits.

Dried cacao bean
selected cacao bean
 The theobromine naturally found in raw cacao is a mild, non-addictive stimulant that some believe can treat depression and improving heart function. 
Raw cacao is believed containing of antioxidant flavanoids, sulfur and magnesium. 
The essential fatty acids may help the body to raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol. 
Raw cacao (without added sugar or dairy products) will reduce risk of cancer and the amount of free radicals in the body.

Chocolate egg roll, biscuit and soft cake


What would you choose, cacao or cocoa?
Both of them have a lot of benefit.
So... the choice is up to you.
Certainly, you get the benefit from the cacao or cocoa.
This is the last post of 'cacao talk' series, don't miss the next monthly series about other commodity.
Have a wonderful day with cacao or cocoa.

10 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Yeah Lisa. Maybe you will try cacao face mask or chocolate face mask, Both of them so popular in my country. Almost of ladies love it, cause it's early anti aging benefits. Cheap but very efficacious. But I love to eat them.

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  2. Oh Endah, I imagine how wonderful it smells so fresh cocoa.
    I dream that I can get to know the flavors.
    I send greetings from distant Polish.
    Lucia

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    Replies
    1. Long process will reduce the benefit of products that base on cacao. Right now, we should be more wisely choose the product to get more benefit.
      Thank you for coming.

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  3. I like chocolate covered raisins, do you make those with it? In the winter we drink hot chocolate after coming in from the snow, I think hot pepper goes good with chocolate.

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    Replies
    1. I have never make chocolate covered raisins yet, cause that's not easy to find raisins on supermarket. But I ate chocolate-raisins several times. The most popular chocolate in Indonesia is chocolate - cashews. Oh... I have no idea about hot pepper with chocolate. It sounds so strange. But, there is no harm in trying.

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  4. The dried beans look like nuts. I'm wondering if your chocolate tastes the same as ours does here in the UK. Chocolate in different countries tastes very different, I suppose because different ingredients are used.

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    1. I think the taste is depend on it ingredient. Cocoa mass and cocoa butter have main influence on chocolate taste, texture and flavor. Although the process also have influence on it.

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  5. I have enjoy all of this on Cacao beans...I have learned some much.
    Thanks for posting..looking forward to the next post.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Teresa. I hope we all know what we eat, and make a better choice.

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