I was making my favorite smoothie with cacao powder + almond butter this morning when I thought: What is the difference between cacao powder and cocoa powder?
They are both:
- Powdered
- Brown in color
- Chocolate-y
- Derived from cacao beans
Besides those vague characteristics, I honestly had no idea what the difference was. Join me in this learning journey!
Cacao Powder:
- Derived from cacao beans that have been fermented at low temperatures, not roasted
- Higher in nutritional content (iron, fiber, antioxidants, and magnesium)
- Bitter
- Vegan because it’s processed with no additives
- More expensive than cocoa powder because removing the fats from the cocoa beans through fermentation is harder than when the beans are roasted
Cocoa Powder:
- Often combined with powdered milk and sugar or
- In the case of Dutch processed, processed with an alkalizing chemical solution
- Processed under high heat
If you’re interested in incorporating more magnesium and antioxidants into your diet, try adding cacao powder to your morning smoothie. You can use it in baked goods too, but, the moment you bake it, cacao powder loses much of its nutritional edge. In this case, a dairy-free cocoa powder might be more cost effective and just as chocolatey.
Sources:
All Recipes
Navitas
Healthline
Spoon University