Q: What countries does your company ship to?
CocoaSupply.com ships to all US territory and Canada
CocoaSupply.eu ships to all Europe (EU and surrounding countries)
Q: What cacao beans do you use to make your products?
We use the highest quality, single origin Arriba (also known as Nacional) cacao beans, ethically sourced from small farms in Ecuador.
Q: Are your cacao products Kosher Certified?
Yes, all our cacao products are Kosher certified.
Q: Are your products non-GMO?
Yes, all our products are non-GMO.
Q: Are your cacao beans raw or roasted?
Our cacao beans are raw (unprocessed), just naturally fermented / dried under the sun. They come with their skin on (which needs to be removed in order to use).
Q: How is the fermentation process done on your cacao beans?
Our cacao is naturally fermented by farmers prior to any industrial processing.
When the cacao seeds (beans) are taken out of the cacao fruit, they are surrounded by a white sticky pulp. They are picked up in patios and covered with black bags. The sun will then heat up the beans and the pulp will start fermenting on the outside of the bean. Acetic acid is formed, which will penetrate the cacao beans and let them oxidize (ferment) as well. This takes about 3 to 4 days and helps the development of aroma in the beans. Once they are fermented, they are bagged and brought to the factory where they will be washed and milled.
Q: Does cacao have caffeine?
Technically yes, but very little. What it actually has is Theobromine, which is also a neurostimulant.
Q: What is the difference between “cacao” and “cocoa”?
“Cocoa” is the English term and “cacao” is the Spanish term. Both are easily interchanged and many people use them according to their understanding, as there is no official entity or parameter for differentiating the two. Nowadays, the term “cacao” is commonly used when the origin and farming quality matters, and “cocoa” has historically been used more as a commodity term in the trade.
Q: What does 10/12 or 20/22 mean when describing cacao powder?
They represent the percentage of cacao butter (fat content) in the powder.
Q: What is the difference between Natural Cacao Powder and Alkalized Cacao Powder?
Natural cacao powder is cacao powder in its purest form. It has a richer aroma, is more acidic, and is slightly higher in antioxidants than the alkalized form.
Alkalized (also known as Dutched-processed) cacao powder is more soluble than the natural form because it contains potassium carbonate, an alkali, which breaks it down a little more and lowers the acidity. It is also slightly darker in color.
Our alkalized cacao powders are just slightly alkalized (we use less than 2% potassium carbonate). We don't alkalize too much, to keep the highest nutritional values as well as the great aroma that the Fine Aroma cacao bean has to offer. For that reason, our cacao powders are never too dark (which is caused by the Dutch process).
Q: What is the difference between cacao liquor and 100% chocolate?
Regarding ingredients, they are exactly the same. However, usually when referring to chocolate it means it has been ground finely to develop flavor and smoothness. Some people choose to add a little extra cacao butter to the liquor to make it a bit softer, which is similar to the consistency of a standard chocolate bar.
Q: Can I combine 10/12 cacao powder and cacao butter to create chocolate?
Yes, you can make chocolate out of those two ingredients. However, here is a little background which might come in handy when deciding on your ingredients:
Chocolate is made with 3 main ingredients: Cacao Liquor (mass), Cacao Butter, and Sugar (or other sweetener).
The cacao liquor is the base product to make cacao powder and cacao butter. This means that when you press cacao liquor, you will produce approximately 45% of cacao butter, and 55% of cacao powder. The powder will have an approximate residue of 10 to 12% butter.
If you want to make the cacao liquor back from the powder and butter, they need to be mixed together in those proportions.
Once you have the liquor, most chocolatiers add some extra cacao butter for smoothness (about 5-15% depending on the use). The cacao butter is what gives chocolate that melting sensation when eating, so the more cacao butter it has, the higher the melting sensation.
The amount of sugar and other ingredients (milk, vanilla, etc) varies depending on taste.
Q: What is cacao butter used for?
Cacao butter has many different uses. Not only is it the base for chocolate, but it is commonly used in the cosmetics industry as well. It is great for lip balms and skin products, since it's known for reducing stretch marks and serves as an amazing moisturizer. Cacao butter is also the perfect ingredient for making vegan products such as ice cream, since you can get the creamy texture without the need of heavy cream. People also use it for soaps and candles!
Q: What is the difference between natural cacao butter and deodorized cacao butter?
Natural cacao butter has a very strong, rich chocolate aroma. It’s Pure Prime Pressed quality, just pressed out of the bean. Most chocolatiers love this option, since it makes their chocolate naturally fragrant. Deodorized cacao butter is the same as the natural, except that most of its aroma is stripped off.
Deodorized cacao butter is preferred when the chocolate smell is not wanted. Some chocolatiers choose this option when they want to have more control over their recipes, by having a uniform base and not an overwhelming amount of chocolate aroma. The cosmetic industry normally chooses deodorized because they use it for its moisturizing properties only, and they want to control the fragrance of their product. Vegan manufacturers that choose cacao butter as a dairy alternative strictly due to its texture also prefer the deodorized option.
Q: How is the deodorization process done?
Natural cacao butter, in its liquid form, flows against a counter-current of vapor (water), which takes away most of the aroma, becoming deodorized cacao butter.
We only use steam in the process, therefore it is not completely wiped away from all of its smell. We prefer to keep it natural, avoiding bleaching agents and chemicals. Our deodorized cacao butter is lighter in color than the natural butter, but it is still yellow.
Q: What product is recommended best to use for making:
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Beer - Cacao Nibs or 10/12 Cacao Powder
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Ice Cream - Alkalized Cacao Powder, Deodorized Cacao Butter for texture
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Hot Chocolate - Alkalized or Natural 10/12 or 20/22 Cacao Powder
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Cold Beverages - Alkalized 10/12 Cacao Powder
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Nutrition Bars - Alkalized or Natural 10/12 Cacao Powder
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Baking Goods - Alkalized 10/12 or 20/22 Cacao Powder
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Lotions / Soaps - Deodorized Cacao Butter
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Tea - Cacao Nibs, Cacao Powder 10/12 to 20/22
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White Chocolate - Natural Cacao Butter