Cacao Butter

What is Cacao Butter?

Our Cacao Butter (pronounced Ca-Cow) comes from the cacao bean which grows on the Theobroma cacao tree’s in Peru. The bean is carefully and ethically harvested and processed to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients and benefits the cacao bean has to offer in powder form ready to use in loads of different ways. Cacao Butter can be used to make raw chocolate, and desserts that are healthy and suitable for vegans. Cacao butter remains solid at room temperature but melts at body temperature, making it an excellent oil for the skin. Cacao butter is a really popular ingredient in skincare products you might buy in the shops but it’s easy to include in homemade moisturisers. It’s super absorbing so you can apply it straight from the packet onto your skin.  Alternatively, you can add a spoonful of it into a hot bath to soak your skin in its goodness.

The antioxidants and flavanols found in cacao are responsible for some of the amazing benefits of the powder. In fact, it contains the highest concentration of antioxidants of any known food by far (yes, we’re talking way more than blueberries, goji berries, red wine, or green tea!). The antioxidants have been linked to loads of health benefits including lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow. Flavanols are a plant-based antioxidant that can reduce tiredness and fatigue, improve heart health, and cognitive function. Flavanols have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can potentially reduce the risk of dementia and slow down aging. It has also shown potential anti-cancerous properties can help combat symptoms of asthma, diabetes, and depression.

Our Cacao Butter is made from 100% organic Theobroma Cacao, sourced with respect for nature from Peru. It has been certified organic by both the Irish Organic Association and the European Commission (you can identify whether or not products are certified organic by finding the logos on the packaging!). This product is also suitable for our vegetarian and vegan customers to consume.

Where does Cacao Butter come from?

Our Cacao Butter (pronounced CA-COW) is sourced ethically and organically from the beautiful country of Peru in South America. Cacao butter comes from the cacao bean which grows on the Theobroma cacao tree (also called the cacao tree or cocoa tree), an evergreen tree that is native to the tropical regions of Mesoamerica. Once the bean is harvested, we allow it to ferment for a few days so that it can develop that lovely chocolate flavour and a nice texture. Then the beans are dried out and carefully cold pressed so that we can preserve the nutrients and extract the butter (the fatty part of the bean). The result is a beautiful (stable) pale yellow butter with a mild chocolate taste and aroma. Cacao Butter is also known as theobroma oil.

It’s important to not confuse cacao with cocoa. Although they are harvested from the same bean on the same tree, the way in which they’re processed makes a massive difference to their nutritional properties.  Cacao is processed at really low temperatures because we find heat destroys the antioxidants and flavanols that are found naturally in the bean. This is the good stuff but it can often give cacao a bitter taste. On the other hand, cocoa is made from cacao beans that are roasted and processed at a higher temperature (this is known as ‘Dutch processing’). This way, the product is less bitter but has lost a lot of its nutritional value. Many cocoa products can also be found to include extra sugar and flavourings. Our Cacao Butter is naturally sugar free, sodium free, and an excellent source of iron. It’s not hard to see why we at Nua Naturals all agree cacao is the better and healthier option!

Since our product is certified organic by both the Irish Organic Association and the European Commission, you know our Cacao Butter has been processed without any nasty pesticides, fumigation or any GMOs, sourced with respect for nature and packed to the brim with goodness!