Cacao Bean

What Is Cocoa Bean?

Cocoa bean is the whole grain obtained by fermenting and sun-drying the seeds inside the fruit of the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao). This process allows the bean to develop its characteristic chocolate aroma.

Dried beans are roasted, their shells separated (giving cocoa nibs), and ground into a cocoa mass; this mass is then separated into cocoa butter and cocoa powder, or processed directly into chocolate.

Nutritional Values of Cocoa Bean

100 grams of roasted cocoa bean contains about 450 kcal of energy; it carries high fat (cocoa butter) and fiber, and is also rich in antioxidant compounds called flavanols. Values are approximate.

How Should Cocoa Bean Be Consumed?

With its antioxidant compounds and fiber content, cocoa bean can be considered part of a balanced diet; since its raw or roasted form is bitter, it's usually consumed in processed forms (nibs, powder, chocolate).

This information is general; cocoa bean is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Cocoa Bean?

A good cocoa bean has a whole shell, a lightly chocolatey-tangy smell, and is free of mold spots. Overly dry-dusty or musty-smelling beans should not be preferred.

• Shell should be whole and intact
• Smell should be lightly chocolatey-tangy
• Should have no mold spots or musty smell

How to Store Cocoa Bean?

Cocoa bean is stored dry, in a sealed container in a cool, dark place; absorbing moisture both accelerates spoilage and ruins the aroma.

Using Cocoa Bean in the Kitchen

Cocoa bean is mostly used roasted and cracked as cocoa nibs in granola and dessert decoration, or ground for homemade chocolate and beverage experiments; it's also the starting material for industrial chocolate.

Are Cocoa Bean and Cocoa Nibs the Same?

No; cocoa bean is the whole grain with its shell, while cocoa nibs are that grain roasted, shelled, and cracked. Nibs are the bean's directly ready-to-snack form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is raw cocoa bean eaten?

It can be eaten, but its taste is very bitter-astringent; it's usually consumed roasted, cracked (nibs), or processed.

How is chocolate made from cocoa bean?

Fermented-dried beans are roasted, the shell is separated, and it's ground to obtain a cocoa mass; ingredients like sugar and milk powder are added to this mass and refined (conching) to get chocolate.

Does cocoa bean contain caffeine?

It contains a small amount of caffeine and a higher ratio of theobromine (a similar but milder stimulant).