Cacao vs cocoa

[andyswarbs]

As I understand it cacao are cocoa beans with the natural oils removed. They are considered a healthier yet more expensive option on a plant based diet, despite being refined in that way. Does anyone have any other thoughts..

[Agoodenough]

This is what I found on line....

Cacao differs from cocoa butter and cocoa powder because it is extracted from the raw, unroasted bean, which means that the oil contains all the nutrients the bean has to offer, unadulterated by heat or other treatment methods.

So does this not mean that the natural oils are not removed?

[Cooper27 Administrator in reply to Agoodenough]

This is pretty much my understanding too - cocoa is dry roasted and ground, and has next to no nutritional value, while cacao is raw, and therefore contains a heck load more nutrients.

[TheAwfulToad]

Cacao is the name of the plant. The seeds - typically called cocoa beans - are fairly tasteless until they've been fermented and roasted. At that point you've got something that looks like large coffee seeds and they can be processed further in various ways to get cocoa powder, chocolate, cocoa butter, etc etc.

[HAP83]

Hi andyswarbs,

Cacao is the fruit itself, cocoa, as we know it in powder form, is the leftover practically from the process of making chocolate.

When making chocolate (in a simplified manner) first the beans are roasted, then it is pressed like making coffee or wine and you get what is called cacao liqueur (just a name no alcohol in it).

From that cacao liqueur, it is further processed and cacao fat is separated to use afterward to make chocolate.

But the other subproduct is Cocoa.

To your Health, hope it helps