Cacao and Cocoa: What is the Difference?

If you’ve ever made hot chocolate, you know that cocoa powder is an essential ingredient in making sure that mug of decadence hits the sweet spot. Recently, however, cacao powder has made its mark as a healthy alternative to the chocolaty, childhood delicacy that we all enjoy, but may not want on a daily basis. So what exactly is the difference between cocoa powder and cacao powder? The answer lies in the beans – the cocoa and cacao beans, that is. 

What is cacao? 

First off, the cocoa and cacao beans are actually the same bean but processed differently! So who came first? Cocoa or cacao?

 It all begins with the Theobroma cacao, or cacao trees, that are native to Central and South American regions. These trees produce fruit that resemble large pods containing cacao beans that are the foundation for our beloved chocolate. When opened, you are welcomed with a glob of white, fleshy pulp that doesn’t look too appetizing, but don’t fret! The cacao beans are nestled inside the pulp, just waiting to be harvested. Once collected, they are ready to be processed into cacao powder and cocoa powder. 

The process 

The cacao beans are covered for a few days to ferment, which is what creates the familiar flavor and aroma that we all know. Once they are fermented, the cacao beans are then dried and cold-pressed into a powder, which further enhances that dark chocolate flavor. 

Making cocoa powder is a similar process with just a few tweaks. After fermentation, the cacao beans are dried and roasted to develop the sweet, chocolate flavor. Since it is roasted at a high temperature, the increased heat decreases the unique antioxidants that are found in its raw state. These roasted beans are then crushed and ground  into cocoa powder. 

Long story short: cacao powder is made of cacao beans that are fermented and cold-pressed while cocoa powder is made of cacao beans that are fermented and roasted at a high temperature. 

 Both cocoa powder and cacao powder are used in baked goods, drinks and other fun treats, but we use cacao powder because of its unprocessed nature and the nutritional benefits that it provides. It nourishes our body while still providing that chocolate-y flavor that we all love! 

Here are 5 reasons why we love cacao powder:  

How can you enjoy cacao powder?

If we look back to the Pre-Columbian civilizations, like the Maya, we’ll find that the first use of cacao powder for human consumption was by drinking it. In fact, Theobroma cacao in ancient Greek translates to “food of the gods”, emphasizing its importance to the Maya as a religious drink that was used for spiritual ceremonies. Today, the many nutritional benefits of cacao have made it a popular, healthier alternative to the sugar-packed foods that we see in the market.