Raw cacao, also known as raw chocolate or cocoa, is an increasingly popular and healthy alternative to regular chocolate. It is an appetite suppressant so it can help when it comes to losing weight. It makes you feel good too since it’s a natural anti-depressant! Raw chocolate is also great in raw puddings (see recipe below) or makes for a satisfying snack.

Cacao beans contain over 300 chemically identifiable compounds making it one of the most complex food substances on Earth! Here are some of its most important and powerful components:

• Magnesium: Helps to promote the health of the heart muscle and also reduces blood coagulation, therefore lowering blood pressure. Cacao is loaded with Magnesium.
• Antioxidants: Cacao beans are rich in antioxidant flavonols. Cacao nibs contain a staggering 10% antioxidant concentration level! Cacao is one of the richest sources of antioxidants of any food.
• Phenylethylamine (PEA): PEA is a chemical in cacao that helps us stay alert. Higher PEA levels occur when we are fascinated or captivated by something and interestingly enough are abundant in the brains of happy people. Cacao has been found to contain up to 2.2% phenylethylamine (PEA).
• Anandamide (The Bliss Chemical): Cacao has been found to contain a significant amount of a neurotransmitter called anandamide. Anandamide is known as "the bliss chemical" because when it is released it makes us feel great.
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAO Inhibitors): When consumed, MAO inhibitors allow more serotonin and other neurotransmitters such as anandamide and dopamine to be released. MAO inhibitors, according to Dr. Gabriel Cousens, facilitate rejuvenation and promote youthfulness.

Produced under ecological standards and free from agrochemicals, Raw Gaia’s Cacao Nibs can be eaten in a variety of ways:

On their own as they are delicious like crunchy dark chocolate.

Cacao nibs can be sweetened by eating them with berries such as gojis or raisins, like a trail mix you can make yourself.

Cacao nibs are give you a great start to the morning when added to your breakfast cereal.

Cacao nibs can be blended into smoothies with ingredients like banana, cashews, dates and water.

Or you can make your own raw chocolate bars or brownies, following the recipe below!

This is our own raw chocolate recipe and we highly recommend it!

Grind cashews into powder form and add raw carob powder, raw cacao powder and melted cacao butter. Maple syrup or agave can be added for extra sweetness. The mix is about a fifth of each ingredient, but you can add more cacao if you want it stronger. Mix the combination well and place the mixture into a mould (a tupperware or ice cube tray will do). Put it in the fridge to set for about 20 minutes. You can play with this recipe and even add a little bit of water to make it fudgier. The result will always be yummy!

Warning! Don’t give cacao to dogs as it is very poisonous to them and could lead to renal failure.

Note – need to revise the use of the phrase ‘cacao beans’ or include an explanation of how cacao nibs are derived from cacao beans to show that this is an explanation of the same product.