Cacao Research Paper

Cacao, not cocoa.
Cocoa, not cacao.
What ??!!
Yes, it may sound similar, but both of them are unique when it comes to taste, nutrition, and cost. If you’re unsure if you should buy cacao or cocoa, check out these differences below so you can make a well-informed, choco-licious decision!
First, What It Is The Cacao Powder?
It is the dried partly fermented fatty seeds of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Sterculiaceae) that are used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter — called also cacao bean, cocoa bean.
Theobroma cacao also called the cacao tree and the cocoa tree is a small (4–8 m (13–26 ft) tall) evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae, native to the deep tropical regions of Central and South America.

This stuff is white, with a rich, fatty texture. It actually looks and tastes a bit like white chocolate, and you can use it during baking or even as a moisturizer.
Manufacturers remove the fatty, buttery parts from the rest of the beans during processing. Then they take what’s left and mill it into a fine dark powder: cacao powder. Cacao powder is popular in baking sweet treats – everything from brownies and cookies to fudge and cake. You can even use it in smoothies or coffees.
Cocoa powder is extremely popular in dessert recipes. There are actually two types available:
1. Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder:
This variety, also known as dark cocoa, undergoes additional processing with an alkalized chemical solution. This is done to make the taste of the product richer and less acidic. Unfortunately, further processing increases only degradation off all those awesome antioxidants and nutrients.
2. Natural Cocoa Powder:
This variety is a bit more acidic and bitter than Dutch-processed powder. You’ll find it often in recipes that call for baking soda because the soda alkalizes the natural cocoa

• Cocoa powder is produced similarly to cacao except cocoa undergoes a higher temperature of heat during processing. Surprisingly, it still retains a lot of antioxidants in the process and is still excellent for your heart, skin, blood pressure, and even your stress levels.
• If you buy cocoa powder, be sure you buy plain cocoa powder, not cocoa mixes, which often contain sugar. Look for either regular cocoa powder or Dutch-processed (a.k.a. dark) cocoa powder.
• Dutch-processed cocoa powder (dark cocoa) is a cocoa powder that has been processed with an alkalized solution, making it less acidic and much richer in taste. Regular cocoa powder retains a more acidic nature and bitter taste and is used in baking recipes with baking soda where the Dutch-processed cocoa powder is not since it has already been alkalized.
• Cocoa powder is a rich source of fiber, has little fat, and has a bit of protein in it as well.
I bet now you know lots of things about Cacao powder that you’ve never known before. Except for how delicious it can be!
Share this choco-licious information with all your family and