Bob Koure
Aug 4, 2021

I've been putting a bit of cocoa powder (not cacao) in my black coffee for a few years now - but now you've gotten me interested in cacao. Ended up doing a bit of a dive, here's what I found:

Cacao clearly better than 'dutch process' cocoa, as the roasting produces the carcinogen acrylamide - which is also in chocolate (who knew?)

Cacao comes either fermented or unfermented. Fermenting removes some anti-nutrients plus some polyphenols but boosts phenylethylamine (PEA), which is mood/focus enhancing - but roasting also boosts PEA.

Just reporting what I found, FWIW.

Also, if it's a reasonable taste combination, Lion's Mane is a brilliant idea. I've tried moringa powder for the isothiacyanates, but it tasted pretty terrible.

Bob Koure
Bob Koure

Written by Bob Koure

Retired software architect, statistical analyst, hotel mgr, bike racer, distance swimmer. Photographer. Amateur historian. Avid reader. Home cook. Never-FBer

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