Cacao vs Cocoa? The Explanation May Surprise You

Let’s start at the root of it all: cacao trees. These small tropical trees are to thank for growing cacao beans, which are essentially the seeds found inside cacao fruit, aka the cacao pod. And just so we’re clear, cacao is pronounced “kuh kau.”

Whole cacao beans can be eaten raw, but you’ll also find them roasted or in powdered form. This is where the explanation of “cacao vs. cocoa” gets a little wishy-washy, because there isn’t a clear cut difference between the two.

Some people might use the two terms interchangeably, while others might refer to raw beans as “cacao” and roasted beans as “cocoa.” Even more confusing, some consider raw and roasted whole beans to be “cacao” and any type of powder to be “cocoa,” though less processed powders are often called “cacao” powder and more highly processed powders called “cocoa.”

TLDR: In general anything labeled “cacao” is often less processed than anything labeled “cocoa,” but there’s not a hard and fast difference between the two terms.

Sigh. So what’s a chocolate lover to do?

While the answer to the question “What’s the difference between cacao and cocoa?” may not be clear cut, there’s still hope for all the chocolate fanatics out there. When choosing a cacao, or, ahem, cocoa—whether it’s raw or roasted, or in powder, nib, or bar form—choose a certified organic option.

Consider how you’ll use the cacao. Whole cacao beans are best enjoyed roasted and you can snack on them as-is or use them as a crunchy topping (think oatmeal or smoothie bowls). Cacao nibs are basically crushed beans—use ‘em like you’d use a chocolate chip (think: Daily Harvest Cacao Nib + Vanilla Bites). Cacao powder is, you guessed it, powdered cacao, and is great for making hot chocolate or to add some chocolatey goodness to oatmeal or smoothies. You’ll find cacao powder in Daily Harvest’s Chocolate + Blueberry Smoothie and Chocolate + Almond Chia Bowl.

The taste benefits are clear, but did you know cacao packs health benefits too? An ounce of cacao nibs gives you four grams of protein and eight grams of fiber (yup, nearly 30% of the daily value).

Cacao nibs are also rich in magnesium, an essential mineral involved in hundreds of chemical reactions (think: metabolic energy, cell signaling, DNA synthesis, and ion transport). Magnesium is also vital for bone and cell membrane structure. It’s a pretty big-deal mineral.

On top of that, cacao is brimming with polyphenol compounds—those are special plant compounds that can act as antioxidants in the body (they’re more broadly known as phytochemicals). Cacao is especially rich in catechins and anthocyanins. There’s even research that shows eating cacao can increase antioxidant capacity and help lower inflammation. Chocolate with health benefits? We’ll take that any day.

We take care of food so food can take care of you. Stock up on our deliciously nourishing best sellers with cacao at daily-harvest.com.

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Important notes: Unless otherwise noted, nutrition information is sourced from USDA FoodData Central and reflects the reference amount customarily consumed. These are standardized servings and not necessarily the amount present in the highlighted Daily Harvest recipes. Nutrition information for Daily Harvest products can be found on packages and under "Nutrition Facts" for each product at "dailyharvest.com". Vitamin and mineral functions are sourced from Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center.