Organic Raw Cacao
Cacao Recipes
DID YOU KNOW?
At one time, money really did grow on trees – cacao trees, that is. When Spaniards arrived in Central America in search of gold during the 16th century, imagine their surprise when they discovered the Aztecs used cacao beans as currency, trading it for everything from rabbits to tamales. The Spanish were quick to appreciate cacao’s value, documenting in their travel journals of the delicious chocolate beverages sold in the night-markets, often flavored with vanilla, honey, flowers and spicy peppers. When the conquistadors brought cacao back to Spain, it became consumed privately by their warriors for nearly a century before the secret of chocolate leaked to the rest of Europe.
Cacao (kə-kau, ka-kow):
the dried seeds of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Sterculiaceae), which are most commonly used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter. Also called cacao bean, and cocoa bean.
Food of the Gods
Cacao has long been enjoyed for its healthful and invigorating properties in Mexican, Central, and South American cultures. In fact, Mayan civilizations associated cacao with the food that their gods chose to consume and thrive upon. So impressed were the Mayans with cacao’s taste (and its ability to promote energy), that cacao paste was frequently used in sacred rituals, with an annual festival held devoted entirely to honoring the “cacao god.” Today, we continue to celebrate the bean of the cacao plant as the nutritional and flavorful source for all chocolate and cocoa products.
The Power of Cacao
Cacao contains a naturally rich supply of antioxidants, and is also an excellent source of dietary fiber. In addition, cacao is known to be one of the highest dietary sources of magnesium, contains an impressively high iron content, and also possesses many other essential minerals in significant quantities.
For the Love of Chocolate
Ask most people to think about chocolate, and watch a smile instantly appear. Being the ingredient that all chocolate is made from, raw cacao can take commercialized “chocolate” to a whole new level through the alchemy of homemade chocolate confections. Great for both the true chocolateer and health seeker alike, try raw cacao paired with sweet foods of any kind (including raw nectars and syrups, dried fruit, or as a special addition to a dessert recipe) and experience cacao’s beloved chocolate intensity instantly come to life.
SUGGESTED USES
- SMOOTHIES
- DESSERTS
- CHOCOLATE DRINKS
- TRAIL MIX
BENEFITS
- IRON
- DIETARY FIBER
- MAGNESIUM
- POLYPHENOLS
- FLAVANOLS
CERTIFICATIONS
