The Health Benefits of Cacao Nibs as a Snack and Drink

Cacao Nibs are brokend own bits of cacao beans, which have been fermented and roasted to bring out the full flavour of one of nature's superfoods. They're typically added to protein shakes or smoothies, adding tons of antioxidants, but they can also be consumed as a snack food on their own or in trail mix.

The immediate pay-off from processed chocolate you buy in stores comes from it's high sugar content however - which provides an immediate mood boost until some of the more nutritious minerals and chemicals kick in. Real, unrefined cacao has a flavour of it's own - somewhat reminiscent of chocolate but more bitter than most expect on their first taste. Richer cacao beans such as the "Fine and Flavour" cacao at BuyCoffeeCanada.com will have a smoother taste than commodity-grade cacao typically found in a grocery store.

It's no secret that chocolate - dark chocolate - has health benefits, and these healthy attributes come from the Cacao bean itself.  Cacao is loaded with minerals like Magensium and Iron, is high in fiber and contains a number of different chemicals like Theobromine that have a positive effect on your health. Theobromine, like caffeine, has a mild stimulant effect, but tends to be absorbed by the body over 15-20 minutes as opposed to caffeine, which is closer than 5 minutes. Combined with the fact that it lasts 3-4 hours as opposed to 1-2 for caffeine, you get a steadier stream of energy and avoid that "afternoon crash" most of us are so familiar with.

Raw Cacao vs. Roasted Cacao
All the cacao beans are imported as "raw" beans, meaning they've gone through the picking and fermenting process - which gives the cacao it's chocolate flavour. While most beans are shipped overseas slowly in bulk containers, specialty importers like BuyCoffeeCanada have it air freighted so that the beans are as fresh as possible once they're received.

The roasting process is the optional next step - hardcore nutritionists insist on raw cacao beans, whereas most people are likely to enjoy roasted cacao beans because the roasting process brings out more flavour. Very little of the nutritional value is lost in the roasting process, and some insist on it in order to help kill off any bacteria that may still be present in the raw beans.

Most of the cacao nibs sold at BuyCoffeeCanada are roasted due to a more palatable taste.

Brewed Cacao
More recently, cacao powder has also become popular as a drink that is similar to coffee. It contains all the nutritients that regular cacao nibs or beans do, but in a beverage format. We're not talking about sugar-infused hot chocolate you find from a grocery store mind you - we're talking about the 100% cacao ground down to a fine powder that's brewed typically in a french press or espresso maker. You also get that little kick to jump start your day in the form of Theobromine, instead of caffeine. Anecdotally, we've been told it's a great way to get off the caffeine for a while and give your body a break from it, and could make you more sensitive to caffeine's stimulating effects after just two weeks.

We usually recommend people start by infusing their coffee with the cacao powder to become accustomed to the taste, which is entirely unique in itself. A straight cacao beverage doesn't taste like espresso or hot chocolate, and some people may be thrown off by it. Nevertheless, we've found most people develop a taste for it over time and take advantage of the numerous health benefits. For the true health-nuts, our cacao is organically grown according to organic practices, but does not yet have the certification to be officially labeled "Organic" by an agency - it's something being worked on at the moment.

$25 for 2lbs Fair Trade Organic Coffee

Fair Trade Coffee is coffee that is bought from growing-cooperatives in coffee-growing countries. These cooperatives are groups of farmers who grow and sell coffee beans, and are given a higher price for their product than the absolute minimal. These funds are then used to quality-of-life improvements for the farmers in the growing co-op. In short, It's a way of ensuring coffee farmers get a fair price for their product.

The coffees that are a part of the deal at BuyCoffeeCanada.com are also certified Organic by OCIA, ensuring that your coffee is as healthy as possible for you - as well as being delicious of course.

Flavoured Coffee Syrup

There's many drinks out there, and coffee is probably the most popular drink of all. Even amongst coffee fans, there's a multitude of coffee types that people like to drink. Getting flavoured coffee is a good way to diversify, and get something that tastes better than your normal, traditional black coffee. Instead of the same taste you usually get, instead you get a different taste, based on the syrup you use. Flavoured coffee syrup is a great product to have in your kitchen, for that time you want to spice things up a bit.

Flavoured Coffee Syrup is typically made from corn and sugar cane. It also has fruits, which gives it the unique taste that it has. This can produce a very sweet taste, and goes at the opposite of what most coffees taste like, which can give a very interesting taste. Thanks to the syrup, you can get flavours of many different types, over a dozen in fact that are made to create just the flavour you want. Usually, you buy the flavour in a separate bottle, and add it yourself to the coffee. It doesn't matter what type of coffee you drink, you can add any flavour you want, simply by pouring it into the mug. The best way to do this is by preparing your coffee, using a coffee maker or another mean, as you normally would. Then, add the syrup by dropping it directly in the mug as it's still hot. The quantity is entirely up to you. There is no too little or too much, it depends how much of a flavour you want. It's simply up to the amount of flavour put in that will determine what the coffee tastes like.

There's flavours that are created all around the world. Some regions are known for their great flavours, because of access to fresh fruits that taste particularly strongly. This can help a region get up to speed economically by providing flavoured coffee syrup to the world. Because there's so many coffee drinkers out there, they quickly make a profit, and people flock from all around to taste their new flavours. It's an industry that's filled with many flavours, dozens of variants, and with many good and not so much brands. Like any extra ingredient, the whole drink will taste good or bad based on the quality you use. Some of the more exotic flavours provide an exceptional coffee, but it's hard to know that beforehand. Your best bet is to try it out, and see if you like it.

Overall, flavoured coffee syrup is something that isn't expensive to add to your normal coffee, and can make a huge difference based on taste. It's an acquired taste, something you may not want to miss once you've become accustomed to it, and can be a great way to spice up your day.

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Sometimes a little inspiration is required to get the creative juices flowing. A lot of us don't quite feel right until we've had that morning coffee to jolt us into the working day and be more productive. If you're stuck on a design problem, I'd recommend heading over to our friends at Coffee Canada for a pick me up!