What are Cacao Nibs and Why Are Becoming Popular?

What are cacao nibs?

Cacao nibs can be a little intimidating. Many of our customers have never seen or heard of a cacao nib and furthermore, do not understand its health benefits. Have you seen raw cacao pods on grocery store shelves? Probably not. They are quite rare outside specialty/tropical grocers. That's why we wanted to write an article explaining how not only are cacao nibs some of the healthiest foods to put in your body, but how versatile they are as well. 

What are cacao nibs? Cacao nibs, or cocoa nibs, are coarsely ground cacao beans that come from the cacao tree, the source of chocolate. They are an increasingly popular ingredient in desserts, snacks, and even savory dishes. Cacao nibs have a strong chocolate flavor and a crunchy texture that can add depth to a variety of dishes.

See below how we like to add cacao nibs to our peanut butter and banana toast for a quick energy boosting snack. The chocolate flavor perfectly complements the nutty peanut butter, and the crunchy texture of the nibs contrasts amazingly with the bananas, making this a very satisfyingly healthy snack.

Cacao nibs are often used in baking as a substitute for chocolate chips or other chocolate products. They can also be used in smoothies, granolas, and trail mixes. Cacao nibs are a great source of antioxidants and fiber, and they are also low in sugar. Sometimes, we like to add them to ice cream instead of chocolate chips to give our cheat day a bit of a health boost.

Before we started selling our pre-ground organic cacao brew, we used to teach customers how to make brewed cacao with our nibs. Yes, you can absolutely make your own brewed cacao with just using our cacao nibs. The method is simple: grind the cacao nibs using a burr grinder as you could a coffee bean and steep as you normally would. We've had a few customers prefer this method as they can control the grind-size of the nibs if you are into that. Most of our customers just like the packaged cacao brew since we grind it for your convenience. Check out our older video on just how to make your own brewed cacao using our organic cacao nibs below.

What makes our cacao nibs so special is we have full control of the supply chain. That means we harvest, ferment, dry, and winnow the nibs ourselves. We also don't use any heavy machinery so there's little to no exposure to heavy metals. Our cacao has been third party tested for lead and cadmium and contain NO lead and only trace amounts of cadmium (compared to the overwhelmingly high amounts in some commercial brands). 

To use cacao nibs in recipes, simply add them to your meal or during the prep stage as you would any other ingredient. Cacao nibs can also be ground into a fine powder and used as a natural flavoring in sauces, dressings, and other dishes. There's no right or wrong way to use cacao nibs and that's what makes them so amazing.

In summary, cacao nibs are a versatile ingredient that can add a rich, chocolate flavor and a satisfying crunch to a variety of dishes. They are a healthy and low-sugar alternative to chocolate chips, and they are easy to incorporate into your favorite recipes.

Why not see why our cacao nibs are so highly rated and give them a try? We promise you'll be enamored.