Cocoa Nibs
Cocoa Nibs are made from the cocoa bean - typically after having been dried, fermented, roasted and broken into edible morsels. They can then be added to protein shakes, smoothies, baking or just snacked on!
The flavour of cocoa nibs can be strong, and is not like any kind of chocolate you've tried before. For that reason, we recommend people start with a small sample size to gauge how they like it and go from there. What we have found however, is that people who pick up cocoa nibs for health reasons also develop a liking to it over time, becoming adjusted to the taste. Based on their preferences, they may enjoy eating it straight, or prefer combining it with another product such as a protein powder or fruits.
We're happy to offer cocoa nibs to our customers who want something healthy to snack on! Just like coffee, cocoa nibs are loaded with anti-oxidants and nutrients that will help fill you up and add delicious flavour to your meal.
The nibs do have some calories - but it's well below what you will find in actual chocolate. As a snack or food product, it's nutrient-dense compared to the calories and is one of a number of "super-foods" that can be consumed on a regular basis, as part of a healthy diet.
Unlike coffee, cocoa beans main active ingredient is Theobromine, a stimulant similar to caffeine but with a few differences. Theobromine provides more of a sustained energy, building in 10-20 minutes and lasting 4-5hours versus 5 minutes that lasts 2 hours for coffee. Because of this, it may be a good way to ween yourself off coffee without suffering from withdrawals.
Cacao
Cocoa (ko-ko) and Cacao (ka-kau) actually refer to the same plant, and can be used interchangeably. More information can be found on Wikipedia.