Cacao (Chocolate) Powder ~ 16 oz. Arrriba heirloom, organic

Our Cacao is the native-born heirloom Ecuadorian species named Arriba Nacional-Fino de Aroma. This variety of Cacao is considered worldwide to have the finest floral aroma and flavor profile, as well as, the highest amount of bioavailable nutrients and minerals. One of Ultimate Superfoods key concerns in preserving this species is promoting the cultivation of this incredibly fragrant heirloom cacao variety that is unaltered from its natural integrity. Like so many other natural foods, this heirloom species has been hybridized by many growers to increase yield and particular characteristics. However, Ultimate Superfoods believes that hybridization greatly compromises quality, so we use the Arriba Nacional-Fino de Aroma heirloom variety.

We have developed deep-seated relationships with highly regarded farmers and continue to scour the planet to bring our customers the highest quality exotic superfood products. Our farmers and Co-ops in Ecuador employ meticulous organic farming methods, advanced sustainable technology, and the practical knowledge of Old and New World chocolatiers to present you with the finest cacao products. Organic chocolate quality starts with healthy soil and exclusive use of the Arriba Nacional variety, never the hybridized CCN51, which many other companies are selling as the "Arriba Nacional" variety. The CCN51 hybrid may be a pretty bean, but beauty is only skin deep as it lacks the flavor and unique properties of the Arriba Nacional because of its deep hybridization. We support our farmers' work of producing healthy, high quality cacao with support from organic agronomists. Our farmers nurture the trees, hand pick the cacao pods, and separate the beans for fermenting. After a carefully controlled fermentation process, the cacao beans are sun dried. Unfortunately, many companies have been known to dry their beans in ovens in order to reduce their costs. After this detrimental process, you end up with beans that incur a disappointing "acid flavor" that most consumers confuse with a "fermented" type flavor.

• Our raw Cacao beans are hand peeled, never machine processed.
• Ultimate Superfoods Raw Cacao retains its natural qualities through a sun drying process, opposed to heating or roasting.
• Cacao Powder: the fat content/cacao butter in our powder is from 22-26% and due to the extra fat carries fuller flavor, less oxidation and more nutritional benefit.
• Other cacao powders on the market are superheated to extract the most fat out of the liqueur for cacao butter, so you're left with cacao powder that has about 7-10% fat.
• Other cacao powders are heated to a minimum of 280 degrees plus tons of oxidizing pressure.
• Cacao contains Theobromine a weak but effective stimulant andincludes substances that are chemically and pharmacologically related to the brain lipids anandamide. The word anandamide is derived from ananda, Sanskrit for 'bliss'. These N-acylethanolamines in cacao target the endogenous cannabinoid system of the brain, slightly mimicking the psychotropic effects caused by plant-derived cannabinoid drugs either directly (by activating cannabinoid receptors) or indirectly (by increasing anandamide levels in the brain).

• Our Cacao is the heirloom Ecuadorian variety named Arriba Nacional-Fino de Aroma. This variety of Cacao is considered worldwide to have the finest floral aroma and flavor profile, as well as, the highest amount of bioavailable nutrients and minerals.
• Our raw Cacao Beans are hand peeled, never machine processed.
• Cacao retains its natural qualities through a sun drying process, opposed to heating or roasting.
• Cacao contains: Antioxidants, because of its high polyphenol content. Theobromine, a weak but effective stimulant; Anandamide, inducing a pleasant state of mind; Phenylethylamine (PEA) is the chemical found know to inspire happiness, clear mindedness, focus, and wakefulness.
• Cacao Powder: Fuller-flavor, higher fat content cacao powder that is 22-26% compared to 7-10%.
• Uses: Cacao butter and cacao powder: add to smoothies and baking recipes to enhance flavor and nutritional benefits; Cacao Beans and Nibs: grind up and add to raw milk and smoothies; eat by the handful with agave nectar.