Cacao Nibs: Nutritious and tasty chocolate bits

It’s not just about dark chocolate anymore. There’s a new thing among chocolate lovers…cacao nibs. I’ve heard it called the new red wine. What, might you ask, is a cacao nib? Well, if you take a cocoa bean, ferment it, dry it, separate it from its husk, and break it into small pieces, you have raw cacao nibs. Basically, they’re the closest thing to pure chocolate that’s available. No sugar, no dairy…just pure chocolate.

Being a chocolate lover myself (because it is good for you, you know), I realized I needed to find out more about these cacao nibs. I made a bee line for my nearest Whole Foods. It was immediately apparent, in talking with a true chocolate connoisseur, that those who are really into chocolate sound like they have discovered the holy grail of this favorite food. They rave about eating them plain, and tasting the many different flavors, leaping into exquisite detail about the complex aroma and taste of these tiny morsels of pure chocolate. I learned that cacao nibs, coming from different parts of the world, have their own unique essence.

I bought some. I brought it home for the taste test. I sampled a small spoonful. Crunchy. Definitely crunchy. They have a nutty quality to them, although you may initially find this au natural chocolate a bit bitter…more bitter than store-bought dark chocolate since even that has some sugar in it. Okay, I didn’t love them, but I definitely liked them.  I’m thinking it’s an acquired taste.

But here is what I do love about cacao nibs.

Dark chocolate has been found to be beneficial to our health. Because raw cacao nibs are pure chocolate, they bring with them more of the nutrient value long recognized with this food. They are loaded with minerals, especially high in magnesium. Other essential minerals present in cacao are calcium, zinc, iron, copper and potassium. Cacao also contains more flavonoids than red wine or green tea. The chocolate in dark chocolate bars found on the shelves in most stores have been processed to the point that up to one-half of the flavonoids have been lost. As far as milk chocolate bars go, not only is there less cacao in them, it appears that milk actually interferes with the absorption of the antioxidants found in chocolate.

And of course, let’s not forget, chocolate is a feel good food. It contains enzyme inhibitors (like monoamine oxidase inhibitors) that keep serotonin, anandamide (the “bliss chemical”), and other neurotransmitters circulating in the brain longer. Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a chemical in our brains that triggers a release of endorphins, giving us a feeling of well-being and contentment. It’s also the chemical we release when we are in love. Cacao contains PEA…you connect the dots.

Cacao nibs are truly one of nature’s super foods. I love this so much about cacao nibs that I have left the container on the kitchen countertop so that I can continue to “sample” them when I pass through. They are definitely growing on me.

Try it, you might like it. And it’s good for you.

Navitas Naturals Organic Raw Cacao Nibs, 16-Ounce Pouch

To your good health-
Jess