{"id":721,"date":"2014-04-07T08:38:37","date_gmt":"2014-04-07T15:38:37","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2014-08-16T18:39:06","modified_gmt":"2014-08-17T01:39:06","slug":"using-cacao-part-1-is-cocoa-powder-and-cacao-powder-the-same-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/articles\/using-cacao-part-1-is-cocoa-powder-and-cacao-powder-the-same-thing\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Cacao Part 1: Is Cocoa Powder and Cacao Powder the Same Thing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Using Cacao, Part 1:<\/span><\/h1>\n

Is Cocoa Powder and Cacao Powder the Same Thing?<\/span><\/h2>\n

 
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Ardent students of chocolate that we are, this is not the first time we’ve discussed cocoa.  You can read Wilson’s articles on Pantry Paratus called:  The History of Chocolate (Part 1)<\/a>,  Chocolate Part 2(The art & science of how it is made),<\/a>  and then Chocolate in America (his 3rd<\/sup> part of the series)<\/a>.   But let’s move on to more practical matters:  Is cocoa powder and cacao powder the same thing?  And should I get raw, organic, or fair trade–or the candy bar of my childhood?
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Cocoa vs. Cacao<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At this point, the words are used interchangeably<\/a>.  Cacao sounds fancier, don’t you think? Apparently, the producers do too, since you see that spelling more frequently than ever before.  You will see the term “cacao” in reference to more plant-based products, such as the bean (Theobroma Cacao<\/em> in Latin).  The FDA regulations allow for the words to be used interchangeably.  We’re going to go through every chocolate term more extensively in part 2 of this series.
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What is “Raw” Cacao?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I would first caution you to avoid anything deemed “raw” when it comes to cacao, simply because the benefit\/cost analysis will not be in your favor.  The theory of it is wonderful and all, but the technology has not caught up, making it unbearably expensive and questionable as to the real “raw” status.   At this time, there is not an FDA guideline for the use of the word “raw” (sort of like the word “natural”).
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