Best cocoa powder to buy?

swansea

Looking for some that's a high-flavanol cocoa powder. Don't mind buying online if needs be but no idea what's good out there. Recommendations?

swansea

Had a look around the shops and most had more ingredients than I was expecting (Green and Blacks for example). Online my best option?

tunguska

swansea wrote: »

Looking for some that's a high-flavanol cocoa powder. Don't mind buying online if needs be but no idea what's good out there. Recommendations?

You're better off using cacao powder. This is a good Irish site:

http://www.irelandsrawkitchen.ie/cacao-powder-organic-p-83.html

swansea

Wasn't aware of that site, thanks. Have you tried that cacoa powder (what actually is the difference between cocoa and cacoa)?

tunguska

swansea wrote: »

Wasn't aware of that site, thanks. Have you tried that cacoa powder (what actually is the difference between cocoa and cacoa)?

Basically cacao is raw and unsweetened, not as much caffeine and is loaded with anti-oxidants. Heres a link that goes through it a bit more:

http://kibbysblendedlife.com/the-difference-between-cacao-and-cocoa-powder/

At the risk of confusing things, some people will use Carob powder even over cacao powder because carob contains no caffeine at all. Whereas the taste of cocoa and cacao is fairly similiar, carob tastes completely different. Thats not to say that carob doesnt taste nice, it really does, just different to what you'd associate with a chocolatey taste.

swansea

Thanks, I'll check out that link over my cup of coffee this morning. Have you tried the cacao powder you linked? What's the difference between that and something like chio bru (sp)? And can I just use it like regular drinking chocolate I.e. just pour in hot water and stir? Or does it need to go through a different process?

tunguska

swansea wrote: »

Thanks, I'll check out that link over my cup of coffee this morning. Have you tried the cacao powder you linked? What's the difference between that and something like chio bru (sp)? And can I just use it like regular drinking chocolate I.e. just pour in hot water and stir? Or does it need to go through a different process?

Yeah I've used the cacao powder on that site and its great. I use it to make recovery bars for after training but I don't know what its like for drinking chocolate so cant help you there. I normally order 1kg at a time but I suppose you could order a 250g pack to see if its any use for drinking chocolate.

swansea

Looking at picking up this - http://www.iherb.com/Crio-Bru-Brewed-Cocoa-Cavalla-French-Roast-12-oz-340-g/49289

and this - http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Healthy-Foods-Certified-Organic-Cocoa-Powder-12-oz-340-g/5023

Has anybody tried the second one? I'm guessing it's a healthier option than what Green & Blacks has to offer.

Mickery

This stuff is absolute luxury:

Equal Exchange Organic Hispaniola Cocoa Powder
Price per 250g: €6.39

Sold in my local health food shop. You might be able to find it online.

100% cocoa, the nicest I've tasted.

hcass

Isn't cocoa and cacao the same thing? As far as I knew cacao is just a different way of spelling it. It is now being used by companies to make their cocoa seem to be an superior product when really it's the same thing...

Or am I completely wrong..?

Sulla Felix

hcass wrote: »

Isn't cocoa and cacao the same thing? As far as I knew cacao is just a different way of spelling it. It is now being used by companies to make their cocoa seem to be an superior product when really it's the same thing...

Or am I completely wrong..?

Cocoa has been dried and roasted before milling, cacao has just been dried then milled. It's argued that the roasting process destroys a lot of the nutritional value so the unroasted form is better.

siochain

cacao FTW