Cacao/Cocoa Butter - pure, natural food grade butter with that unmistakeable delicate 'chocolate' aroma. This butter is pre-chopped into small manageable size pieces ready to melted down and used.

No sugar/additives/preservatives/flavourings, just pure 100% cacao butter.

Cacao butter is made from the oil of the cacao bean which comes from the Theobroma Cacao Tree, from which all chocolate is made. In South America cacao is known as the 'Food of the Gods'. Pure cacao is 100% natural and contains no white sugar, milk, saturated fats or hydrogenated oils like most chocolate, or any other added ingredients. Cacao is loaded with active anti-oxidants, live enzymes and a plethora of phytonutirents. Not many people have experienced 100% pure, unprocessed, natural chocolate. Cacao is nutritiously superior and extremely rich in:

• Magnesium
• Sulphur
• Anti-oxidants

Cacao seems to be the number one source of magnesium of any food. Magnesium balances the brain’s chemistry, builds strong bones and promotes happiness. Studies show that 80% of us are chronically deficient in Magnesium and it is the most deficient major mineral in the standard UK diet. As well as Magnesium, most people in the west also have a lack of the mineral sulphur in their diets. Cacao is also high in sulphur which is one of the most important building blocks in our bodies, being present in every single cell. It is known as the 'beauty and healing mineral' as it helps to build strong nails, shiny hair and beautiful skin. It also detoxifies the liver, supports healthy pancreas functioning, promotes circulation and decreases inflammation. A German study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that women given a special portion of cacao beans each day reported skin that was moister, smoother and creamier. The researchers hypothesised that the falvanoids in the cacao, which absorb UV light, help protect the skin to glow, improving appearance (Long-term Ingestion of High Flavanol Cacao: J Nutr. 2006 Jun; 136(6):1565-9). Another study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine also found cacao beneficial for sexual health (Sexual Health: J Sex Med. 2006 May; 3(3):476-82).

Cacao is one of the greatest sources of anti-oxidants to be found in any food. A study published in the Lancet Medical Journal (Antioxidants, Lancet 1996: 348:834) found the cacao bean to be one of the richest sources of anti-oxidants, easily digestible for human metabolism. According to research cited in the New York Times, fresh Cacao beans contain 10% flavonol anti-oxidants. This is twenty times more than is found in normal chocolate bars. Research has shown that the anti-oxidants in Cacao are very stable and highly bio-available (readily absorbed by the human body). A study at Cornell University showed that Cacao powder has nearly twice the anti-oxidants found in red wine and up to three times the amount found in Green Tea. Pure Cacao is truly one of Nature's most remarkable anti-oxidant foods.

Cacao also contains:

• Monoamine Oxidase Enzyme Inhibitors (MAO inhibitors) which allow more serotonin and other neurotransmitters to circulate in the brain. These natural chemical are associated with happiness. MAO inhibitors may also be facilitated with youthening and rejuvenation, according to Dr Gabriel Cousens.
• Phenylethylamine (PEA) – known as the ‘love’ chemical because it is released when we are in love.
• Anandamide - known as the ‘bliss chemical’ because it is released while we are feeling great.

The quantities of these feel good chemicals found in pure cacao far exceed the amounts in conventional processed chocolate. Many studies have concluded that chocolate really is good for us due to the cacao bean, the nut that all chocolate is made from. The cacao bean has always been and will always be nature's number one weight loss and high-energy food. Pure cacao is probably the best kept secret in the entire history of food.

In summary, cacao contains dozens of phytonutrient compounds including: magnesium, anandamide, phenylethylamime, arginine, polyphenols and epicatechins, serotonin, iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and the vitamins A, B, C, D and E.

Cacao butter can be melted down into a wonderfully rich, naturally healthy butter and added to your favourite smoothie, dessert, ice cream, yoghurt etc. Or try making your own chocolates, pure and natural and free from chemicals/flavourings/preservatives/colours etc., but with all the benefits and nutrition of pure cacao. Cacao butter can also be used as a lovely natural skin moisturiser. Experience the taste extravaganza of 100% pure chocolate! Suitable for kids too.

Cacao butter will keep very well if stored correctly in dry, cool conditions and has a long shelf life of at least a year.

Our Cacao products are of the highest quality. You can tell this from their purple/brown hues, rich flavour, fine aroma and crisp exquisite taste. They are grown in the Peruvian Central Amazon Rainforest region and are organically certified by Bio Latina S.A.C. All our cacao products are thoroughly tested and produced according to stringent quality control procedures. They do not have a microbe count, are free from contamination and bacteria and are certified 100% safe for human consumption.