Cacao .... Food of the Gods

 Okay - so those that know me well realize I am addicted to chocolate. Real chocolate. Natural 100% raw chocolate. Not that crap on the supermarket shelves they claim is chocolate. No - I search hills and valleys, all through the forests of Portland Jamaica to find cacao. I want to plant it, grow it, harvest it, and make my own chocolate one day. So far I'm at the growing it stage. My seeds come from cacao pods I find growing wild in the rainforests of Portland. Years ago when I learned that Cacao translates to 'Food of the Gods' I wanted to know more about this food I love so much. Thank you to Six for coming on my cacao journey, climbing the trees and helping to find the best chocolate in the world, the Criollo cacao pods. 

Here is some great info courtesy of onegreenplanet.org
CACAO

• Cacao is the purest form of chocolate you can consume, which means it is raw and much less processed than cocoa powder or chocolate bars. Cacao is thought to be the highest source of antioxidants of all foods and the highest source of magnesium of all foods. It has been used throughout many cultures for years for health purposes and even used as a high trade commodity.
• The cacao fruit tree, also known as Theobroma Cacao, produces cacao pods which are cracked open to release cacao beans. From there, cacao beans can be processed a few different ways.
• Cacao butter is the fattiest part of the fruit and makes up the outer lining of the inside of a single cacao bean. It is white in color and has a rich, buttery texture that resembles white chocolate in taste and appearance.
• Cacao butter is removed from the bean during production and the remaining part of the fruit is used to produce raw cacao powder.
• Cacao nibs are simply cacao beans that have been chopped up into edible pieces, much like chocolate chips without the added sugars and fats. Cacao nibs contain all of the fiber, fat, and nutrients that the cacao bean does.
• Cacao paste comes from cacao nibs that have been slowly heated to preserve the nutrients and are melted into a bark that is a less-processed form of dark chocolate bars. Cacao paste can be used to make raw vegan desserts or you can just eat it as an indulgent snack by itself!
• Cacao powder contains more fiber and calories than cocoa powder since more of the nutrients from the whole bean are still intact. Cacao is an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, cholesterol-free saturated fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber, natural carbohydrates, and protein that make it an excellent source of nutrients.

COCOA

• Cocoa is the term used to refer to the heated form of cacao that you probably grew up buying at the store in the form of cocoa powder.
• Though cocoa may seem inferior to raw cacao, it’s actually very good for you (and less expensive) if you choose a variety without added sugars and milk fats or oils.
• Cocoa powder is produced similarly to cacao except cocoa undergoes a higher temperature of heat during processing. Surprisingly, it still retains a large amount of antioxidants in the process and is still excellent for your heart, skin, blood pressure, and even your stress levels.
• If you buy cocoa powder, be sure you buy plain cocoa powder, not cocoa mixes which often contain sugar. Look for either regular cocoa powder or Dutch-processed (a.k.a. dark) cocoa powder.
• Dutch-processed cocoa powder (dark cocoa) is cocoa powder that has been processed with an alkalized solution, making it less acidic and much richer in taste. Regular cocoa powder retains a more acidic nature and bitter taste, and is used in baking recipes with baking soda where Dutch-processed cocoa powder is not since it has already been alkalized.
• Cocoa powder is a rich source of fiber, has little fat, and has a bit of protein in it as well.

Of all foods known, cocoa has the highest antioxidant polyphenol content. It takes only small amounts of cocoa to reduce cholesterol in the blood. It can also lower blood pressure. 

Did you know that Cocoa is a Medicinal Plant, a Sacred plant, a Hot Plant, and a Psychoactive Plant?
Did you know Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) means "Food of the Gods"?
Did you know that the Aztecs regarded cocoa as a sacred plant, and they valued cocoa beans as currency?
Did you know that Cacao trees bear cocoa pods that jut out directly from the trunk?  
Did you know that chocolates can vary as widely in flavor and aroma as do wines?
Did you know, that of all foods known, cocoa has the highest antioxidant polyphenol content, and provides the greatest cardio-protection?
Did you know that even small amounts of cocoa can reduce cholesterol in the blood, and can lower blood pressure?

great educational clip planting and growing cacao www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWI3Ykl7cPw
making chocolate from scratch www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUJ0heMcE-g
making chocolate balls in Jamaica https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oparBcQyzs

Chocolate Tea is the Jamaican version of what is known in other parts of the world as hot chocolate. This recipe uses all-natural ingredients and there’s nothing like the authentic taste of real chocolate. In Jamaica chocolate  tea is usually enjoyed at breakfast time. The Kuna people of Panama drink 4-5 cups of a similar chocolate tea every day. The Kuna are among the healthiest people in the world.

Ingredients
2 cups Water
2 cups Coconut milk
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 Pimento Leaf (or 5 Pimento Berries)
1 pinch Ground Nutmeg
3/4 cup Raw Chocolate, grated
2 pinches Salt
Sugar or Honey to sweeten
Method
1. Combine water and coconut milk in a medium-size saucepan
2. Add  cinnamon stick, pimento, nutmeg and chocolate and bring to a boil, stirring for 5 minutes
3. Stir in salt and lower heat to a simmer. 
4. Remove cinnamon stick and pimento
5. Add sugar or honey to sweeten
6. Pour chocolate tea into mugs using a small strainer 
Enjoy! Serves 4