cocoa powder vs carob

[dbennett]

I have a silly question. Is cocoa powder raw? I know I can get raw carob powder but am wondering about cocoa.

[SamuelWilson]

Some cocoa powder is raw, just inquire with the supplier to make sure it has not been heated during processing. I buy cocoa nibs myself, which are cocoa pieces that are already shelled. However, since cocoa has large amounts of caffeine, I no longer eat it. I now use carob exclusively.

Raw cocoa also stimulates the mind and creates a feeling of happiness, which is great, but a border line drug in my opinion. I just stay away from it.

[exurb]

My preference is to grind the raw cacao nibs in a coffe grinder into "raw cocoa". It's way better than carob IMO if you don't mind the drugs :cool: . Theobromine is high, cacao sounds fairly good for you overall, I love it in recipes.


Some cocoa powder is raw

My understanding is that all "normal" cocoa has been heated, the raw stuff would be rare and only obtained through raw sources. The heat used is normally approximately 250F/122C. It is heated to bring out the flavor.

Some "normal" cocoa is also treated with an alkali, potassium carbonate, that type of cocoa is called Dutch Process cocoa.

Cocoa as normally obtainable is not raw in my understanding, some raw books such as Raw Food Real World use it and stuff like maple syrup under the radar of the "raw police."

Cocoa as normally obtainable has also had much of the cocoa butter removed, by hydraulic press after the heating process.

BTW, raw nibs are normally dried in the sun on mats. There are some skeptics as to how raw they are, with concerns as to what temperature the mixture naturally rises to during fermentation... not high enough to kill fermentation, so I'm not gonna worry about a little raw cacao here and there.

I stay away from the roasted stuff though, cocoa is still about 20% fat, I especially avoid heated fats/oils. I also wouldn't buy raw cocoa powder, as it will go stale and oxidize faster than if you grind the nibs yourself.