Navitas Naturals Raw Chocolate Powder, Organic Cacao Power,16-Ounce Pouch (Pack of 2)   [Grocery 2009]

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Rave Reviews (5)*

• 1) The Truth About Vitamin C In Raw Cacao

  by J. Z. Adelman on October 02 2009
    40+ helpful votes

  Hello Raw Cacao Lovers!
  
  Here is the real truth about vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content in Raw Cacao:
  
  Despite the trafficked reports circulating the internet, the honest truth remains: even when processed at low temperatures (i.e. "raw"), there is no vitamin C (ascorbic acid) present in cacao.
  
  Recently, highly trafficked websites such as[...] have highlighted the misinformation of cacao's supposed vitamin C content. Included in these reports are claims that raw cacao is "extraordinarily high in vitamin C."
  
  Back in 2004, our Navitas Naturals lab tests directly looked for vitamin C content in raw cacao, but came up negative. Despite these results, the current media blitz brought us back again for another round of lab testing of our best-selling raw cacao products (beans, nibs and powder) for vitamin C. This time, we used two different laboratories instead of one, and utilized three different analytical methods: High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Capilary Electrophoresis (CE) with UV detection, and Titration.
  
  Though all three methods have their place in the scientific community, Titration is the most commonly used method in the food industry when determining vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content. However, there is a critical detail within the Titration method many companies miss when testing raw cacao. The method of Titration is unable to differentiate the vitamin C (ascorbic acid) from the vitamin's analogs. The result is what is known as a "false positive."
  
  This is why, at Navitas Naturals, we use HPLC when testing raw cacao's vitamin C content. The HPLC method looks directly for vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and not just the analogs. Additionally, after sending samples of our products to another lab to test using the CE method, the reports returned consistent the HPLC results.
  
  We have now also tested one of the largest raw cacao brands in the United States using the Titration and HPLC methods. And yet again the results confirm our previous conclusion that raw cacao has no vitamin C (ascorbic acid) present.
  
  Cacao is a tremendously beneficial superfood, containing a wide spectrum of minerals and phytonutrients. It is important to be clear however, Vitamin C is not amongst these nutrients.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  Zach Adelman, President
  Navitas Naturals

• 2) expensive, yes. but SO worth it!

  by Sarah Taylor on October 20 2008
    20+ helpful votes

  Okay, so I'm a vegan, and I'm a baker and now that its cold, I become obsessed with this stuff. It has 5g of protein in a serving, is unprocessed so you actually get the cacao benefit instead of Hershey crap, and honestly, its the best cocoa I've ever used. Seriously. The quality is unsurpassed and I cannot even begin to tell you how much you'll use it once you try it. I make my hot chocolate with it! Once you go natural cacao, you just don't go back.

• 3) Expensive, but absolutely worth the money...

  by K. Shanks on March 03 2009
    20+ helpful votes

  I love this chocolate powder. My family and I recently became aware that MSG and its hidden forms (autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed protein, yeast extract, calcium caseinate, natural flavors, etc.) are the source of our health problems. This discovery led to searching for less processed (especially by high heat) food products. This is a great find! Do beware, if you try this stuff you will not be able to go back to Hershey's....it is that good. Hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream, chocolate nut butters are all fabulous made with chocolate powder rather than highly processed cocoa powder.

• 4) Wonderful to blend into power shakes or hot drinks

  by EQReader on November 10 2008
    10+ helpful votes

  I love this product. I add it to protein/whey/yogurt shakes, and to give a more chocolatey kick to hot chocolate. I take only half of the cheap hot chocolate mix and add a spoonful of this chocolate. The resulting hot chocolate is much richer and not nearly so sweet. I also use it with Acai powder (Sambazon or Amazon Thunder) and add one or two drops of stevia. Acai/Chocolate blend is really the best for mental energy, not just physical energy; It helps me focus for studying, writing, or problem-solving. This powder is a bit coarse, so it works better in cold drinks if shaken or blended, and in hot drinks you need to stir a few more times than usual. This a good price in a two-pack.

• 5) Excellent product at a fair price

  by A. Black on June 24 2009
    10+ helpful votes

  I have a subscription to this product because it's so good, and you can't beat the price. The powder easily mixes into anything. It has a full, rich flavor with no additives or fillers and it's raw. My favorite way to use it is to mix it into coconut oil and agave, with a little extract like peppermint, orange, or lemon. It makes a lovely chocolate sauce that hardens on contact when it touches something frozen. I add the sauce to banana icecream, which is made from frozen bananas which I run through my juicer machine with the blank plate to make raw soft serve. It's a wonderful, raw healthy treat that I sometimes have in place of a meal. Go ahead and subscribe and get Amazon prime. It's totally worth it for this cacao powder.