Chocolate is a delicious treat that most people enjoy on a regular basis. Imagine if the raw cacao beans that go into your favourite chocolate bar were actually good for you?

Well, it’s true! The raw cacao bean has some surprising and unique health benefits. Often referred to as a bean, cacao ‘beans’ are actually seeds! They get this name because of their bean-like shape.

The Bean’s Benefits:

The raw cacao bean has some surprising and unique health benefits. Cacao beans contain high levels of antioxidants which can help reduce inflammation in the body and lower blood pressure. If you are looking to improve your diet or just want to feel better, then try adding raw cacao beans to your diet today.

Many studies have focused on raw cacao benefits in relation to cardiovascular health due to the high levels of antioxidants and flavonoids. Cacao also contains neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is important for a healthy mood.

Cacao contains more antioxidants than any other food including blueberries, acai berries, and goji berries. It’s also a great source of magnesium and iron; we need these to support energy production. Cacao is a known mood enhancer, a helpful tool in combatting the blues that anxiety and depression may give you. It can lower blood pressure and has anti inflammatory properties. With all these benefits it is easy to see why it’s called the “Food of the Gods”.

FUN FACT: Many raw cacao beans are grown in the Peruvian Amazon and in Indonesia, where they grow at an altitude of 1200 – 1800 meters above sea level!

Cacao Bean’s: How They Can Be Used

Cacao beans are raw, unprocessed seeds that come from the fruit of an Amazonian tree. They have a rich history in South America and are well known for their beneficial properties.

Cacao beans are not just for making chocolate. These raw cacao “beans” can be eaten as well, and they have a ton of health benefits. Cacao is also known as cocoa or raw chocolate, depending on how it’s processed. When the plant that produces these seeds is harvested, you get raw unprocessed cacao beans.

Cacao powder is raw cacao that has been ground into a fine consistency. Beans are typically roasted before they’re made into cocoa powder to bring out the flavour and create chocolate bars.

This is where Mr Popple’s Chocolate is different to the rest! Our beans are unroasted so all the healthy properties of the raw cacao are preserved. If the beans are roasted, they lose many of their antioxidants and beneficial health properties. Therefore, we believe that chocolate is at its best when it’s raw and unroasted. Bringing all the benefits and packed full of flavour!

Cocoa butter on the other hand is created by pressing the raw cacao beans. The raw cacao seeds are separated from the cocoa butter, which is then used to create chocolate bars and other products.

The raw form of these amazing little guys can be consumed or made into raw chocolate bars, which is a great alternative to traditional processed chocolate.

Cacao powders or nibs are typically mixed with other ingredients to create raw chocolate bars, which can be even more powerful than raw cacao beans and powder. Not only do they taste great but raw chocolate bars usually contain other ingredients to enhance the flavour and bring out a creamy consistency.

These small seeds really pack a punch when it comes to health benefits! So give our unroasted raw chocolate a try today!