Comforting Cacao 

Most people are aware that chocolate makes us feel better. But, how many people realise the reason why? Sadly, most think it’s the sugar that gives us the good feeling. But, they are wrong – it’s, of course, the cacao! And the hand-picked, sun-dried heirloom Ecuadorian species, Arriba Nacional, that we use, is some of the best available!

This fabulous cacao is widely considered to have the finest floral aroma and flavour profile, adding even more gorgeousness to our chocolate. And, because there's no heat or roasting involved in the processing of the pods, it retains huge amounts of bio-available nutrients and minerals – making it a ‘super-food’ in the truest sense.

It contains 22-26% fat, which gives it a fuller flavor, inhibits oxidation and improves nutritional benefit.

So, why does cacao make us feel soooo good? Well, it’s the combination of 'bliss' inducing chemicals:

Cacao also contains health-protecting catechin and phenol antioxidants. Which are thought to help prevent heart disease and cancer. And, believe it or not, rather than rotting your teeth, cacao butter has been shown to provide a protective coating to teeth which actually helps to prevent the formation of cavities!

So, despite what your parents may have taught you about the dangers of eating chocolate, it really is good for you. Well, the way make it anyway.

 

 

Magical Medicinal Maca

You may think we are overstating the benefits this magical plant, but you'd be wrong. It has sustained the people and animals of the Andes, as both a food source and a medicine, for thousands of years. Seriously, if it didn’t do what it’s claimed to do, do you think they’d have used it for so long?

So, we thought we’d add it to our lovely chocolate so that you, our fellow chocoholic’s, can benefit from it too. And to start, we’ve sourced the finest quality maca we can get our hands on.

So, why is our maca so fantastic?

Well, it’s a combination of things really – starting with where it’s grown. The plantations are located high in the pristine, rareified air and un-spoilt soil of the Andes. This means the maca is totally free from any chemical pollution. The next part of the process is what keeps the maca super potent – the harvesting method. The farmers only use traditional methods, meaning what you get has no nasty chemicals, no additions or deletions – it’s just pure magical, medicinal maca!

Maca is a powerhouse of elements that are essential for building and maintaining a healthy mind and body. On average, it is made up of:

It contains a number of important minerals, including selenium and magnesium, and is particularly rich in potassium and calcium. It also contains the essential trace elements of:

The fatty acids contained in maca include the highly beneficial oleic, palmitic and linolenic as well as 19 amino acids. And, finally, maca contains anti-inflammatory polysaccharides.

Wow – what a great list of beneficial goodies. We really weren't kidding when we said that it'll do wonders for your body and your mind!

 

 

Gorgeous Giving Gojis

Goji's really are gorgeous and most definitely giving. The organic Goji berries we use at The Chocolate Conspiracy are harvested from the traditional, pollution-free growing areas of the Ningxia Province of China. These super little red berries are highly prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a tonic support for the liver, kidneys and eyes. But, most importantly, they are believed to increase the vital life force or 'chi' – they literal give you life!

Ming Dynasty Physician Ben Cao Gang Mu (1368-1644 A.D.) notes that “taking in Goji berry regularly may regulate the flow of vital energy and strengthen the physique, which can lead to longevity.” How great is that for such a small, unassuming fruit!

In western medicine terms, the polysaccharides in Goji berries create an anti-inflammatory effect and enhance the immune system. And nutritionally they are simply a powerhouse of goodness, including:

And – not only are they a life-giving little berry – they taste great too! A little burst of cherry, cranberry, plummy raspberry-ness!

Thank you Goji berries – we simply love you!

 

 

Clever Coconut Palm Sugar

“How can Coconut Palm Sugar be clever?” we hear you ask. Well, after you’ve read what we’ve got to say, we’re sure you’ll agree that this fabulous product is the Einstein of sugars compared to that nasty, chemically refined white stuff that’s thrown at us on a daily basis.

The coconut palm sugar we use is sustainably harvested from the blossoms of the Cocos Nucifera – the Indonesian coconut palm to you and me. This pure, natural, whole food sweetener is created using traditional drying methods – farmers collect and evaporate the nectar of the flowers, transforming it into brown sugar-like crystals. This process does not chemically alter or degrade the nectar, meaning the resulting sugar contains significant amounts of vital minerals such as:

It also contains a number of essential health-giving vitamins, including vitamins C, B3, B6, B1 and B2. And with a glycemic index of only 35 (compared to 50 for cane sugar) it is ideal for anyone wanting a slow release carbohydrate. So diabetics, those wishing to lose weight or reduce levels of LDL cholesterol as well as anyone who'd like a healthier alternative to refined cane sugar would do well to switch to coconut palm sugar. Clever indeed eh!

Not only that, it has a rich, deep flavour that reminds us of butterscotch or caramel – adding even more delicious flavour to our chocolate bars.


 

Super Salts

Healthy Himalayan Pink Salt

Forget all you know about salt because Himalayan Pink Salt is healthy! Yes, we did say healthy. We know that this may be a difficult concept to take in, after-all salt is regularly demonized as being the cause of many diseases, and that is true of regular table salt. However, Himalayan Pink Salt, that’s been hand-mined and hand-washed, from a pure, 250 million years old sea, is another thing entirely. It is highly regarded in Ayurvedic medicine and widely believed to be the purest and most nutritionally dense form of salt available. It contains the full-spectrum of 84 minerals and trace elements including:

It’s the high mineral and iron content that gives the salt its colour – ranging from bright white to deep red, but more usually shades of pink – hence its name.

Regularly consuming Himalayan Pink Salt helps with many bodily functions including:

 

Beneficial Black Salt

This unique Indian volcanic rock salt is another beneficial, mineral rich delight. Purple-pinkish grey in color it has a very distinctive sulfurous mineral taste – like hard boiled – which adds an interesting dimension to our chocolate. It has to be tasted to be believed! Ayurvedic medicine states that black salt, like its Himalayan pink relative, is full of therapeutic benefits.

Like we said, forget all you know about salt – it really can be healthy!

Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Web design by Web design SEO & Hosting Company - iGenii inc