Guilt-Free Chocolate
Chocolate Cheesecake with Strawberry Sauce & Blackberries
Cacao Power
Raw Chocolate Nibs – a Review
When I was a kid, I remember trying powered chocolate from the tin my mom used to make chocolate cake. After all, it smelled so good. But after just one bitter taste, I was cured of that false impression.
So, when I heard about raw chocolate nibs being healthy, I was pretty skeptical. But, being pretty open to trying new things, I finally relented and purchased a pound of Cacao Power. Frankly, my first impression upon taking a bite wasn’t favorable. The taste wasn’t really bitter, just kind of bland. But before sending it back for a refund, I decided to experiment… my favorite thing to do in the kitchen.
I tried these nut-like raw chocolate nibs in
- Homemade muffins – didn’t seem to add much flavor inside, but were great as a topping.
- On a salad – OK, but boring
- With butter and honey on bread – a great after dinner snack
- On a peanut butter sandwich – terrific when I don’t have time to make a lunch
- And in some plain yogurt – surprisingly good even with no honey. A quick delicious & nutritious breakfast I can eat at my desk.
- In pancake batter – yummy
Why all the fuss about raw chocolate?
Turns out chocolate has many healthy benefits:
- More anti-oxidant power than blueberries, red wine, or
green tea
- Helps lower blood pressure
- Reduces the risk of strokes and heart disease because of natural phytochemicals called flavanoids
- A natural depression fighter because its high in tryptophan, the precursor for serotonin
- Raw chocolate nibs are full of vitamins, minerals, beta-carotene, zinc, chromium and magnesium
- Recent studies say it’s better than Viagra!
So, if you’d like to enjoy your chocolate without the guilt, you’ll find a certified organic source at Navitas Naturals or you can save some money at Vitacost.
They also offer this natural chocolate in a powder, but that kind of takes all the fun out of it. Of course, if you want to make some healthy brownies by adding chia seeds, you’ll want the powdered chocolate nibs.
Now I figure 99% of you would never spend a dollar for a piece of chocolate even if it was healthy, but one thing I’ve come to know – never underestimate what appeals to people, especially if it’s better than Viagra – Chi Chocolate.
Photo credit: makelessnoise
Stumbled onto this page after reading about dark chocolate over at Mark’s Daily Apple. That story is hilarious because I did the same thing as a kid — tried to mix raw cocoa powder with milk and was given quite a surprise.
When working with dark chocolate, I recommend that people start at 70% cacao and work their way up to 90%. I hear that Lindt makes a great 99% bar, 1 square a day will get you everything you need.