Cocoa has been used and revered as the "food of the gods" by humans for centuries. The Maya Indians believed that ka'kau' was discovered by the gods in a mountain, and according to Maya mythology, Hunahpú gave cocoa to the Maya Indians after humans were created.
Cocoa has been considered a very important and powerful food for thousands of years. From the Mesoamerican and South American cultures, such as the Maya Indians and the Aztecs, to the Spanish conquistadors who discovered cocoa and brought it to Europe.
Cocoa is a wonder for all the senses
What makes cocoa so special?
Cocoa provides a very unique taste sensation that cannot be replicated chemically. The cocoa bean contains loads of nutrients and phytochemicals that together create its taste and effect.
Cocoa touches all our senses and affects us emotionally. According to many, cocoa provides a special sense of security and also great pleasure when eaten or drunk.
Nutrients in the Cocoa Bean
Cocoa is rich in antioxidants and also rich in magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron. Here, quality and how it is processed naturally plays a crucial role in its antioxidant activity.
Theobromine and tryptophan
There is a connection between eating chocolate and being happy. Cocoa/dark chocolate appears to have natural mood-enhancing effects.
This is believed to be because it contains theobromine, which is a stimulating substance, and tryptophan, which helps increase levels of serotonin, one of the most important feel-good neurotransmitters.
Anandamide
Cocoa is also said to release anandamide, which is a neurotransmitter produced in the brain and is believed to regulate the feeling of happiness. Anandamide is produced in the body, for example, during exercise.
Phenylethylamine (PEA)
Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a chemical that increases feelings of love and focus. PEA is abundant in the brains of happy people and when we are in love, our PEA levels increase.
Cocoa contains PEA and this is probably the reason why chocolate and falling in love are often linked together. Note, however, that PEA is sensitive to heat and is destroyed during intense roasting. Therefore, it is debated how much PEA there really is in cocoa.
4 delicious chocolate recipes that are vegan & gluten-free
Cocoa can be used in food, desserts, drinks and as luxurious body care. Here are some of our favorite recipes and tips!
1. Raw vegan chocolate
Ingredients
2.5 dl cocoa butter and 2.5 dl cocoa mass
OR
2.5 dl cocoa mass and 2.5 dl cocoa powder.
Optional sweetener such as 2-3 tbsp honey, coconut sugar, yacon syrup, date sugar, xylitol or other sweetener you prefer.
Cocoa mass
Cocoa mass gives a darker, more robust chocolate. Cocoa mass is whole cocoa beans that have been ground down to a homogeneous mass. Therefore it is brown and has a very intense cocoa flavor.
Cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is only the fat from the cocoa bean, it has a white color and a mild taste that resembles that of white chocolate and works best mixed with cocoa powder.
How to do it
Place cocoa butter in a stainless steel bowl over a pot of simmering water. Let the butter slowly melt while stirring.
Also place cocoa mass in a stainless steel bowl over a pot of simmering water. Let the mass slowly melt while stirring.
Cocoa butter and cocoa mass need to be melted separately.
Then mix them in a bowl and add the sweetener and cocoa powder if you use it instead of cocoa mass.
Stir thoroughly.
You can now add other ingredients such as blueberry powder, raspberries, chopped nuts, a pinch of sea salt, puffed quinoa, goji berries, spirulina, licorice powder, chaga, lucuma, maca, mesquite, baobab, vanilla powder, cardamom, cinnamon, mint flavor, pink peppercorns, etc.
Place a chocolate mold (preferably silicone) on a tray, pour the chocolate mixture into the mold - this can get messy and needs to be done with patience =).
Carefully place the mold in the freezer and let it set for 15-30 minutes or until completely solid.
If you want to fill pralines, put a little chocolate mixture in the bottom of the mold cavity, pour in the filling you want and cover with chocolate mixture.
Silicone molds make it very easy to release the chocolate when it's ready.
Then it's just time to enjoy.
2. Vegan hot chocolate
Chocolate is wonderful as a drink, it creates a feeling of warmth and security.
Ingredients
170 g chopped 70% dark chocolate
4 dl oat milk
1 (400 ml) can coconut milk (can be substituted with 4 dl oat milk instead)
1/4 dl maple syrup
¼ tsp fine sea salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 dl cocoa powder
How to do it
Add oat milk and coconut milk to a larger pot.
Pour in chopped chocolate, maple syrup, salt and vanilla.
Let simmer on medium-high heat and whisk often to properly blend the cocoa powder into the milk.
Whisk often until the hot chocolate has thickened somewhat.
When the chocolate simmers it will expand in volume and rise upward, so lower the heat as needed to prevent it from bubbling over the edge.
Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
Whisk again and taste.
Add optional toppings like whipped vegan cream.
Now it's just time to enjoy.
3. Cocoa smoothie
Ingredients
4 dl coconut water
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tbsp chia seeds
1 frozen ripe banana (that you peeled, sliced and froze)
2 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp hemp seeds
How to do it
Add coconut water and chia seeds to a blender.
Let rest for 10 minutes so the chia seeds can swell.
Blend.
Add remaining ingredients and blend again.
For a thicker shake, add some ice or more frozen banana.
Divide into two glasses and serve immediately.
4. Hot chocolate with Chaga
Ingredients
2 dl boiled water
1/2 tsp chaga powder
1/2 dl warmed coconut milk or oat milk
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp Manuka honey
How to do it
Let the chaga powder steep in boiling water for a few minutes.
Then blend all ingredients in a blender.
Pour into a nice cup and enjoy.
BONUS
Give your skin love with the cocoa bean
Cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is rich in vitamin E as well as A, B and C so it is excellent nutrition for the skin and is often recommended for treating skin conditions such as eczema and works well as massage oil.
Warm a piece of cocoa butter against the skin or in your hand so it melts and you can rub it into the skin.
Take a piece and put it in the bath, wonderful for the skin!
Feel free to mix with our shea butter. If you are pregnant and want to avoid stretch marks, this blend is super. If you want a ready-made product, we have this lovely one from Fushi.
You can also mix cocoa butter with an organic base oil, such as avocado oil, apricot kernel oil or jojoba oil and then add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance. For adults, most essential oils work well, for children you should choose mild essential oils such as Lavender, Rose and Chamomile.
DIY body scrub with cocoa for the skin
Ingredients
A tightly sealed glass jar
2 dl raw cane sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 dl coconut oil
3 tbsp almond oil
We wish you days filled with cocoa and warmth! Fill your pantry with wonderful organic cocoa products! You can find cocoa in our selection.
