Cacoa bean which is also called the cacao bean is the dried and fully fermented seed of Theobroma cacao, from which cocoa solids (a mixture of nonfat substances) and cocoa butter (the fat) can be extracted. Raw cocoa has a rich history of use as a superfood and was believed to provide essential nutritional integrity to support the optimal functioning of being. Cocoa beans provide various health benefits such as being high in antioxidants, rich in essential nutrients and high in energy. Explore this category to find out about various suppliers of cocoa beans in Zambia.
There is no shortage of recipes out there incorporating cocoa, a longtime staple of the baker’s store cupboard. And they can also be healthy—particularly if dairy and sugar appear only in moderation. Consider some of these more unusual cocoa recipes:
Chef Dominique Ansel’s chocolate cake. This show-stopping chocolate cake features cocoa in both a dark chocolate mirror glaze and smooth chocolate mousse.
Chocolate mug cake. Mix together a small amount of flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, egg, oil, milk and vanilla extract and microwave in a mug to make a quick cake for one.
Chocolate pancakes. Add cocoa powder to your pancake batter and serve with chocolate sauce and strawberries for an indulgent start to the day.
Chipotle salsa. The flavors of cocoa and smokey chipotle peppers in adobo sauce pair well together. Combine with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and salt to make a salsa.
Oatmeal. Cocoa powder can be healthy too. Just add it to your porridge, with honey or maple syrup to sweeten.
Cocoa beans, are consumed as candy and used to make beverages and to flavour or coat various confections and bakery products. Rich in carbohydrates, it is an excellent source of quick energy, and it also contains minute amounts of the stimulating alkaloids theobromine and caffeine.
Chocolate comes from the tropical cacao tree. The cacao bean, the rawest form of chocolate, can be harvested and consumed directly (cacao), roasted and turned into powder (cocoa) or made into chocolate.
Although we regularly use the terms coffee beans and cocoa beans, neither are actually beans. Coffee beans are the pits/seeds of bright red berries, and cocoa beans are seeds from the cocoa pod.
Cacao (or cocoa) beans are technically not beans or legumes, but rather the seeds of the fruit of the Theobroma cacao tree. The pod-shaped fruit is botanically classified as baccate-like (berry-like) and each pod produces approximately 35-50 seeds surrounded by a sweet pulp.
Numerous popular media sources have developed lists of "Super Foods" and, more recently, "Super Fruits". Such distinctions often are based on the antioxidant capacity and content of naturally occurring compounds such as polyphenols within those whole fruits or juices of the fruit which may be linked to potential health benefits. Cocoa powder and chocolate are made from an extract of the seeds of the fruit of the Theobroma cacao tree.