Cacao bits must become "cacao powder"

[carolg]

I have staring me in the face Raw Chocolate, Raw Cacao Nibs, 8 ounces I bought long time ago. I was hoping I could use this for Alissa's chocolate slice cake all bragging about. Can I grind it into powder using coffee grinder? I need cacao powder. I can just grind up what I need and store the rest!

Thanks for quick reply. Kidding, but patiently waiting as I won't be able to do anything before weekend or next week.

Costco has been great for nuts, but not organic; however price is very affordable here.

carolg

[queenfluff]

Yes, you are correct. You can turn the nibs into powder if you need to.

I am not sure if they use the nibs to creat the powder or they just take a whole bean but they are al the same thing so it doesnt matter.

Grind away! :)

[raweater]

It's actually not the same thing, cacao powder is made after removing the fat/oil/butter from the cacao nibs and then grinding what's left to a powder.

Cacao nibs get transformed into cacao oil and cacao powder, the powder is not simply ground nibs or beans.

[carolg]

So I need to find source for powder? I suppose I have to ask friends who sell some products local if they have any powder then. I can't find it at WF or even another vitamin store here. Thanks for the heads up. Always learning and appreciated by you both.

carolg

[raweater]

I actually often use regular cooked cacao powder since the raw powder is very expensive. I only find raw powder online but rarely use it due to the cost.

[Rrose]

I use the cooked cocoa powder like Dagoba or Green and Black. You can even use conventional like Toll House or Ghirridellie (sp?)

The powder is good, whether cooked or raw. I agree that the raw powder is very very expensive...

[Ilse W.]

I use the Ghirardelli Natural Unsweetened Cocoa. It's expensive enough for my taste. It says Ingredients: Natural cocoa. All the other ones in my specialty store say "roasted cocoa". It may not be raw, but I'm pretending it is.:D

[ViolinCyndee]

I ordered mine from Alissa.

[rawstrength]

There is an obvious taste difference between natural unsweetened cocoa powder from the supermarket and truly raw cacao powder. The raw cacao powder is also lighter in color. I'm sure there is a significant nutritional difference, too.
I find that raw cacao powder tastes much better.

[Eva]

Alissa's cacao powder is REALLY tasty. I have ground cacao nibs as well -- and it works fine even if it's not exactly the same.

[carolg]

A local here sells powder and has it on order. Expecting it hopefully this week=raw cacao powder==expensive for sure...believe $16ish. I can probably take it with me to Arlington, TX when I visit daughter Thanksgiving time and make perhaps the chocolate cake from Alissa. I will be about 18 miles from Raine here so maybe we can meet after these online chats.

carolg

[bellamausi]

So, can anybody tell me, how big of a taste difference carob powder and cacao powder have? Just curious, since I have only tried carob powder so far, and it was tasty to me (in a pie crust). I have held off from buying cacao powder, since it is expensive.

[Eva]

So, can anybody tell me, how big of a taste difference carob powder and cacao powder have? Just curious, since I have only tried carob powder so far, and it was tasty to me (in a pie crust). I have held off from buying cacao powder, since it is expensive.

If you like the carob -- run with it!! Carob (to me) tastes more like a mild or milk and powdery chocolate in baked goods. Cacao (to me) is more like a dark, bitter chocolate flavor. I have found it to cause major problems in my life, and I am able to get nutrients from plenty of natural foods that do not give me headaches, mood swings, addiction and sleep loss. So... in short, cacao works for some people. But if carob works for you, it's cheaper and certainly just fine.

[bellamausi]

Hmm, I have never been a big fan of dark chocolate, so maybe I'll stick with the carob powder for now! I might want to try cacao down the line, but those Nestle crunch bars are going to go carob! :D

Thanks for your help, Eva! :)

[Eva]

Sure thing! If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right!? :)

[raweater]

There is an obvious taste difference between natural unsweetened cocoa powder from the supermarket and truly raw cacao powder. The raw cacao powder is also lighter in color. I'm sure there is a significant nutritional difference, too.
I find that raw cacao powder tastes much better.

Yes, the raw powder has something like 250 times more antioxidants or something like that.