Blue Stripes Urban Cacao

It’s an all-natural drink with no artificial sugars or sweeteners, and that alone makes it a healthier alternative to sports drinks that are sweetened with refined sugar or other artificial sweeteners.

Yes! Cacao water is incredibly healthy because it comes from whole cacao, one of nature’s biggest superfoods. Cacao water is rich in antioxidants, electrolytes, and soluble dietary fiber for microbiome health. The antioxidants in cacao water help keep your cells healthy, and the electrolytes potassium and magnesium help you remain hydrated, while also keeping your muscles and circulatory and nervous systems in balance.

Antioxidants are one of the most powerful resources we have in the fight against inflammation and disease caused by free radicals. Free radicals are the result of a modern lifestyle that has included exposure to pollution and processed foods; they can cause serious harm to our cells and are believed to be the root cause of many diseases, including cancer and heart disease. However, antioxidants have been proven to repair the damage caused by free radicals and to prevent any further damage from occurring.

Not at all! While cacao water does indeed come from the cacao plant, it comes from the cacao fruit – that’s the fleshy part that surrounds the beans, which are used to make chocolate. Cacao water has a really unique flavor. People describe it as tropical or exotic; when you drink cacao water plain, the flavor is reminiscent of lemonade and passion fruit, but with the slightest hint of the vanilla orchid. It also adapts well to other flavor combinations, like chili, lime, and cardamom, or even cascara coffee and cinnamon.

Pure cocoa powder is exactly what it sounds like. It is the end result of the powdering process, with no added sugar or flavors added. Pure cocoa powder is usually not used to make hot chocolate, simply because it is not already sweetened and would taste much more bitter than most people would expect from hot chocolate. However, more and more people today are trending towards using the “real” thing both due to its authentic cocoa flavor as well as its abundance of health benefits.

Incorporating whole cacao into your regular diet is easy! There is so much more to whole cacao than just chocolate, and cacao products are a great addition to any number of recipes. You can make baked goods or breads from cacao shell flour, which is naturally gluten-free. You can blend cacao nibs into your morning smoothie or stir into a bowl of yogurt for a satisfying breakfast. Similarly, dried cacao fruit pulp can be sprinkled into granola or simply mixed into a dried fruit and nut mixture for an easy snack and fresh cacao fruit pulp is perfect to create energy frozen granola bowls. Some chefs even top grilled meats with a little pinch of cacao nibs – go ahead and try it for yourself!