Theobroma Cacáo

[attempt4]

Anybody else enjoy the the food of the Gods (as Theobroma literally translates to), the nectar of the Heavens, the pure delight that is Raw Cacao?

Years ago I used to buy Theobroma Cacao extract as it was extremely pleasant, delicious and relaxing. These days i'm just buying Organic Raw Cacao nibs, and if you love your chocolate, you should take a ride on the Cacao train!
There is a very noticeable intoxication upon ingesting the Cacao (especially with it's extracts), affording the lucky consumer a marked relaxation, a soothing and carefree warmth with a sense of indulgent opulence. Interestingly, it effectively harmonises with the Kratom high (alongside many others, but not quite to the same distinction) and compliments it beautifully.

What The Hell Do You Expect Me To Do With These Things?
With the nibs, you can add a hand-full to smoothies to give a nice texture and slight chocolatey taste which adds a whole new depth, really. Delicious and really takes it up a notch.
Crush them up into a powder (I just shove them in a bag of some sort and smash them with a hammer) and make your own hot chocolate!:

2 (or more) Tablespoons of Cacao nibs
A tablespoon of Honey (Manuka, Alfalfa, Ulmo....whatever you wish. Regular honey works best, I find due to its viscosity and sweetness but Ulmo or Manuka are without a doubt the best option with regards to health-giving)
A Teaspoon or two of cocoa powder for slightly more defined taste.
Dash of milk

You get a really nice, relaxed yet intimately stimulated effect from this. It's lovely at night time, but there is Caffeine in it. Though the amount is pretty negligible, there are other alkaloids at play in Cacao such as PEA, tryptophan, theobromine and interestingly, anandamide.

There's also a pretty interesting history lurking behind Cacao and it's prominence in the Aztec era, being reserved for those in higher authority such was priests, being used in religious ceremonies along with it's use as currency for purchasing slaves.

There are of course many health benefits to the ingestion of Cacao. Studies have shown it to cut the risk of heart disease and of course it contains Epicatechin (a powerful antioxidant found in Green Tea and Kratom), flavan-3-ols, catechin and their oligomers. and it has been shown to potentially inhibit the onset of Alzheimers. It contains magnesium, sulfur and various vitamins as well.
Anyone else love their cacao?

Disclaimer:
Theobroma Cacao can be addictive. Use responsibly at your own leisure.

 

[Mehm]

win thread is pure win

Mix it with something really spicy in a beverage for the traditional ingestion.

Today's smoothie was fresh squeezed OJ, cacao, macca, goji, walnut. I eat really big scoops of cacao as often as possible.

 

[attempt4]

Aye scoops of the Cacao is great

I totally forgot to add that traditional recipe! Cayenne pepper goes amazingly well with it, and definitely increases the intoxicant effect.

We can be smoothie brothers! Did you squeeze the juice from oranges yourself? How many oranges did it take you to get xml of Juice? Sounds bloody delicious mate!

 

[phenmetrazine]

What of the health hazard of ingesting cocoa products that has been contaminated with lead? I haven't kept up with the research but a quick google search showed that this is still a problem. I would be wary of your source of cocoa and it seems hard to get low lead chocolate. Stay safe.

 

[euphoria]

Oooh nice! This is very interesting. Now, do you recommend only 100% pure cacao, or could the same effects be achieved by eating a dark chocolate bar with some high percentage of cacao that you see at like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, etc?

 

[Mehm]

Aye scoops of the Cacao is great

I totally forgot to add that traditional recipe! Cayenne pepper goes amazingly well with it, and definitely increases the intoxicant effect.

We can be smoothie brothers! Did you squeeze the juice from oranges yourself? How many oranges did it take you to get xml of Juice? Sounds bloody delicious mate!

Fuck yeah man, I'm in Yes, I squeeze the oranges myself. I would guess it takes about 8 kilos of oranges to make 4 liters of juice It really depends on the type and quality of orange though. Right now I can get organic Valencias for $2.20 per kilo though I'm sure the price will rise and quality will drop in the winter. What do oranges go for in Scotland? Have you ever heard of people growing rosehip there?

Oooh nice! This is very interesting. Now, do you recommend only 100% pure cacao, or could the same effects be achieved by eating a dark chocolate bar with some high percentage of cacao that you see at like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, etc?

IMO raw cacao is the best because you can use a lot without getting a sugar overload. From what I understand, raw is best for health and mental effects. The Whole Foods by my house sells raw cacao powder in their "super food" section. If you pick some up I would highly recommend macca and goji berries. The three synergize very well.

 

[Mehm]

What of the health hazard of ingesting cocoa products that has been contaminated with lead? I haven't kept up with the research but a quick google search showed that this is still a problem. I would be wary of your source of cocoa and it seems hard to get low lead chocolate. Stay safe.

From what I know, consuming lead is definitely bad..... I trust the people I get my cacao from because they are very passionate about the product and seem quite intense about pure sourcing and fair trade labor. Apparently slave labor is common in the chocolate fields.

 

[attempt4]

What of the health hazard of ingesting cocoa products that has been contaminated with lead? I haven't kept up with the research but a quick google search showed that this is still a problem. I would be wary of your source of cocoa and it seems hard to get low lead chocolate. Stay safe.

Good question, though i'm not worried about it for 2 reasons:

1) The mild concern about lead poisoning primarily relates to manufactured Chocolate and not Cacao beans, which is what this thread is about
2) The numerous benefits of consuming the Cacao far outweigh the potential con of only negligible amounts of lead being absorbed by the cacao anyway.

I get mine from a reputable source, they are organic and raw as raw can be!

Oooh nice! This is very interesting. Now, do you recommend only 100% pure cacao, or could the same effects be achieved by eating a dark chocolate bar with some high percentage of cacao that you see at like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, etc?

The benefits of Cacao stem from pure, raw, unadulterated Cacao nibs. However, any dark chocolate product of a high-standard over 80% cacao solids do carry health benefits also. If you can find a decent product of at least 85% cacao, then yes there will be associated health benefits.
This said and done however, the manufacturing process and subsequent heat applied destroys many of the flavanoids and health-giving properties. Dark chocolate itself has been proven to inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (which sticks to artery walls as it oxidises, greatly increasing the risk of coronary heart disease) and if it's all you can get, then it's better than nothing. But ideally, you want raw organic cacao nibs from a reputable source.
There are more health benefits I could go on with, such as it's greater phenolic phytochemical content and higher antioxidant value than red wine and even green tea, in fact, it has one of the highest antioxidant capacities on the planet (that we are aware of). Cacao also reduces blood pressure effectively, has been shown to stop cataract in diabetic lab rats as well as lowering oxidative stress (which is good news for the gymfreaks ).
This means that if you include Cacao in your workout formula, it will massively increase your recovery time.
I already add 2 tablespoons to my Post-Workout smoothie for many reasons, not least for it's impressive vitamin/mineral content! Plus it tastes great!

Fuck yeah man, I'm in Yes, I squeeze the oranges myself. I would guess it takes about 8 kilos of oranges to make 4 liters of juice It really depends on the type and quality of orange though. Right now I can get organic Valencias for $2.20 per kilo though I'm sure the price will rise and quality will drop in the winter. What do oranges go for in Scotland? Have you ever heard of people growing rosehip there?

I have no idea what they go for, but I can tell you, fruit aint fucking cheap that's for sure. Being the lonely island that we are, and being north of England (and thus somehow insignificant and less important than England/Wales) it means that shipped in exotic fruits like oranges can be hellishly expensive.

Nah I haven't seen or hear anybody growing rosehip I think, but when I was a horticulturist/gardener i'm sure my colleague was growing it - she had all sorts of plants in her greenhouse (and i've got a hilarious/horrible/funny/disgusting story about that greenhouse and one hot, sweaty day where the mercury was going through the roof, and she always had the hots for me and ......oh God no.....*cringe*.....yeah so anyway....)

 

[attempt4]

Bump.

Anyone getting into the nibs that wasn't?

I've been loving making this drink at night:

Chilli (whatever form...tabascao even, or chopped chilli)
Cacao nibs
Dash of coffee
Honey

Totally warms the face.

 

[rm-rf]

ok lets get one thing straight - THEOBROMIDE IS A DRUG. Its a powerful psychoactive, its very addictive, and it has an extremely long half life. Its toxic to the body, and isnt really anything more than a strong stimulant.

Raw Cacao is not a health product. It is a product pushed by health food corporations because its addictive, highly marketable, and makes you feel like instant kickass. Sure, it has antioxidants in it. Theres also antioxidants in my feces. There is antioxidants in the patch of oil ridden soil next to the bodega by my house. There are antioxidants in holly berries. On a similar level, coffee has great antioxidants that are practically unique to the coffee bean (and some of which are only active when it is cooked/brewed).

Raw cacao, is, as I said, addictive. Ive been through this. Most people who havent just discovered cacao have as well. Its a powerful stimulant that should not be used disrespectfully - it aint coffee. It can produce very powerful mood swings, hyper aggression, and other telltale signs of stimulant abuse. This is not a healthy chemical mix for the mind's neurotransmission.

Can it be used responsibly and in combination with a healthy lifestyle? Of course! It can be used as a tool, as I often have. My girlfriend used to prepare concoctions of euleuthero root, raw cacao, raw local honey, and raw unrefined coconut oil that id consume in combination with tea for intense martial arts training, or, before a sparring tournament. I love loading up on some cacao before my division is called, as it turns me into a total animal and my human-like ego completely dissipates. Its fucking tiger juice, and converts my mind into a wild thing that only has concern for survival, human like needs and comforts are nonexistent.

Then it wears off and I feel like shit and dont use it for a few weeks...

Using cacao daily is flat out dangerous. Its like saying "i love having some coke with my breakfast in the morning!" Sure, I love drugs, and i think everyone should do drugs - responsibly. Dont buy into the marketed idea that raw cacao is a health product. Its an addictive drug like any other. Use it with this awareness. Dont use it often, use it when you have a situation that calls for it (its really fun to fuck your brains out on some raw cacao and honey as well!).

Animals do not consume raw cacao beans. Raw, organic cacao beans will never "go bad" at room temperature - never. Microorganisms will not eat it. What does this lesson from biology suggest to you? Animals, and the ancient peoples of south america, consumed the FRUIT of the cacao plant. They did not and do not consume the beans. Animals know its toxic, and no animal will ever consume cacao unless its laden with milk and / or sugar.

Cacao can also destroy your sleep cycle, interfere with your circadian rhythm, and has that wonderful effect addictive drugs have of convincing you everything is fine and dandy and you can stop anytime you want.

Its not as dangerous as meth or dope or anything, dont misinterpret what im saying. I am just saying be aware its a drug, and it has all the consequences of being ignorant towards using any drug. When im not in tournament season, I dont touch cacao at all. I remain a tea and sometimes coffee user. When my training requires my mind be alert enough to fight someone at odd hours of the day, I keep small nibs of cacao at the ready and only for this purpose. Its a tool, not a health supplement.

Milk chocolate is garbage junk produced by commercialized food industry. Dont put it in your body. Dark chocolate is similar, a bastardization of something produced by nature that exploits your pleasure circuits for the food industry's gain. Cacao is just a drug made by nature that you can choose to responsibly integrate with your lifestyle, or throw caution to the wind and "see what happens." I strongly encourage everyone to research whatever you can as to the negative sides of raw cacao use.

 

[TheAppleCore]

^ I can attest to the fact that cacao is addictive. Today was the first day in a long time I've gone without any cacao or dark chocolate, and it actually took some considerable self-control.

 

[TheAppleCore]

Hey rm-rf, can you elaborate a little on why you believe that dark chocolate a "bastardization" of the cacao bean?

Isn't your honey-cacao-tea fairly similar in constitution? Sugary cacao?

 

[phenmetrazine]

rm-rf, I think your somewhat exaggerating the supposed dangerous of raw cocoa. Sure it contains some caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline but that's roughly comparable to the addictiveness of coffee. I personally have never consumed raw cocoa till I experienced withdrawals upon discontinuation but I can't see how it could be that worse than coffee based on its pharmacological constituents.

 

[RhythmSpring]

I can relate to what rm-rf is saying. I've stayed away from chocolate for several years now, after realizing that it always set off mood swings in me and made me feel shitty. It's fun when I'm eating it, but an hour later I feel depressed, anxious and lonely. I definitely crash. Not unlike the one time I drank coca tea.

 

[attempt4]

rm-rf, I entirely admire what you have to say on many topics and I understand what you are getting at here, and there is far too much there for me to begin contemplating fully discussing right now as I'm about to head out, but very quickly:

1) Comparing Cacao to Cocaine is absolutely insane.
2) I have used it daily on and off for years and not once felt any of these supposed effects you mention. No withdrawals, no hyper-aggression. I have, of course felt a stimulant effect because it contains psychoactive substances. That's not a secret. Seeing as you compare it to Coffee several times, let's quickly discuss your argument, which is inherently flawed because where I say that Coffee is a totally different animal and induces the most intense negative effects of agitation, hyper-stimulation and aggression you say Cacao does the same only moreso. This is a matter of subjective experience.
Personally, I would never compare the psychoactive effects of Coffee to Cacao, simply because Cacao is much more gentle, "healthier" and not even half as addictive.
Subjective experience doesn't actually matter when one considers the true addictive potential of a drug and I've seen far more literature expressing Coffee's addictive potential.
3) It's health-giving properties are far superior to many, many "healthy" products out there (from red wine to camellia sinensis), not least your faeces.
4) Comparing what an entirely different animal species will eat and won't eat means nothing. My dog will eat out-of-date meat and various foods that would make me ill - does that mean I should too?
5) Perhaps I should have been more accommodating to the psychoactive effects of Cacao (though I did allude to it's intoxication several times), but I absolutely will not change my opinion of whether it's a health product or not simply because you have a different perception of it. It's, again, a matter of opinion.

Cacao is, by it's nature, a drug. So is Chamomile. So is Valerian. These things are all health-giving and shouldn't lose their status as such simply because of their ability to be abused by unruly humans. They should be used responsibly, obviously.
I totally understand what you are saying, but really, we could simply advise responsible use without getting into conspiratorial-like condemnation.

I shall add a small disclaimer for now in the OP if it makes you happy