Halloween is officially chocolate season. But here’s a question worth asking before you reach for another chocolate treat: Is cacao the same thing as cocoa?
Cacao vs. cocoa: what is the difference?
They both begin with the cacao bean, but processing matters. Cocoa can be treated with alkali, a process commonly called Dutch processing or alkalization, to change its color, flavor and how easily it mixes.
Research has found that alkalization can substantially reduce cacao’s naturally occurring flavanols and polyphenols. In other words, “chocolate” on the front of a package does not tell you much about what happened to the cacao before it got there.
Why does Rockin’ Wellness use real cacao?
Our Chocolate Cacao Nutritional Shake starts with real raw organic cacao, never alkalized cocoa. That distinction has been part of Rockin’ Wellness long before “real food” became a marketing buzzword.
And if coffee and chocolate are your thing, our Mocha Cacao combines cacao with coffee for a different spin on the same daily ritual.
Can I enjoy chocolate and still eat well?
Of course. Halloween does not need a nutrition lecture hiding behind every candy wrapper. Enjoy the treats you love. The useful part is simply knowing that a candy bar, alkalized cocoa and real cacao are not nutritionally identical just because they all taste chocolatey.
So this Halloween, have the candy. Steal a peanut butter cup from the kids if necessary. We won’t tell. Then tomorrow morning, come back to the real stuff. 🎃
Always Real, Raw, Organic Cacao. Never Alkalized.
Rockin’ Wellness products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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