Cacao is the raw base for chocolate manufacture. However, in its own right it is a truly remarkable superfood. It is packed with antioxidants and other phytonutrients, to make a powerful and delicious contribution to a healthy diet. For too long this amazing nutritional phenomenon has been ignored, hidden behind the fat and sugar of its processed relative, chocolate. However, awareness of its remarkable nutritional profile is growing, and increasing numbers of people are putting this fantastic food at the core of a healthy diet. Rainforest Foods only uses Criollo Cacao, often referred to as the Queen of Cacao for its high quality.

Cacao is extraordinarily rich in antioxidants, even more so than Acai berry. The antioxidant flavanols in Cacao neutralise free radicals at a molecular level, preventing the cell damage they can cause. They also help us produce nitric oxide, essential to proper cardiac function and lowered blood pressure. Antioxidants aid protection against and recovery from heart disease, cancer, arthritis and premature ageing. They inhibit the hardening of our arteries and reduce the tendency for blood platelets to clump together and form stroke-causing clots. They regulate inflammatory responses in blood cell walls, having anti-inflammatory effects on the entire body. Cacao’s antioxidants are believed to help us metabolise sugar, avoiding hypoglycaemia and diabetes.

Science has investigated Cacao extensively. One well-regarded study looked at its effects on a people indigenous to Panama, comparing a group given to drinking large quantities of home-prepared Cacao with another exhibiting more modern dietary habits. The results were startling: the Cacao-consuming group exhibited much lower rates of stroke, cardiovascular disease and cancer than the other.

50% of Cacao’s mass is made up of three fats. However, they are all harmless to us. One is oleic acid, the fat found in olive oil, which is deemed actively helpful. The others – stearic and palmitic acids – are believed not to cause cholesterol buildup. The harmful effects of chocolate are caused by the fat and sugars added during its manufacture. Rainforest Foods Cacao nibs are unprocessed. They are Cacao beans, simply broken into small pieces. Optimum nutrition is retained.

Cacao contains several amino acids. These include tryptophan, believed to enhance relaxation and sleep quality, and argine, associated with muscle recovery and rebuilding after exercise. Cacao is also rich in magnesium, essential for healthy bones and muscle tissue and in fact, required by every cell in the body. It is essential for efficient nerve and muscle function and helps us absorb protein.

Production
Rainforest Foods raw Cacao is produced by organic growers in Peru. It is harvested by hand as pods. These are broken apart and allowed to ferment. The pulp surrounding the beans that ferments and eventually runs away as liquid. This process has a chemical effect on the beans, reducing their bitterness. The beans are then washed and disinfected, before being dried. Dried beans are peeled and their cores extracted, to be broken into pieces or ‘nibs’. The result is then packed ready for distribution.

Organic Certification
Rainforest Foods Cacao is certified by the Soil Association, one of a handful of organic certification bodies in the UK. These are regulated in their turn by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). The role of the Soil Association is to ensure that all foods sold as organic are definably so. It does this by auditing every stage of the supply chain, through growth, export and processing. Soil Association certification – indicated by the Soil Association logo and the EU organic leaf symbol on our packaging – is a guarantee that our customers are purchasing an organic product. All organically-certified products must also carry a certification code on their packaging. For UK companies such as Rainforest Foods this has the format GB-ORG-XX, XX indicating the certifying body. If this is not present, a product is not organic. The Soil Association code on our products is GB-ORG-05.

Ingredients
Organic raw Criollo Cacao nibs (cracked Cacao beans) from Peru.

Suggested Use
Cacao nibs are a versatile ingredient that can be added to many foods or alternatively eaten as a snack. A couple of tablespoons per day are an excellent addition to a balanced diet. Store your Cacao in a cool, dark and dry place.

Nutritional Analysis
For details on nutritional content, please click on the back label image above.  For further information about Cacao, please visit the Cacao overview and read Cacao articles on our blog.

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