Liz Bygrave
Chocolate & Dessert Workshops
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articlesThis section is updated regularly. The best way to keep in touch with updates is to sign up to my newsletter. raw chocolate: a beginner's guide
Chocolate is often touted as being good for you, high in magnesium, antioxidants etc. However, raw chocolate, also known as 'cacao', is way off the scale in comparison: one of the most antioxidant rich foods on the planet, providing almost four times as many antioxidants as normal chocolate. And it tastes just as good! So, what is raw chocolate? Well, as its name suggests, it is chocolate that has been minimally processed before consumption, whereas most chocolate, including the organic kind, goes through lengthy cooking and processing, killing off many of the nutrients, before it reaches the shops. This means that whilst raw chocolate tastes very similar to ordinary chocolate, it is a very different food, with very different qualities. For instance, most people find it less addictive. If you are familiar with that ‘can’t stop now I’ve started’ syndrome that hits as soon as you’ve taken the fatal first bite, then you may be pleasantly surprised by raw chocolate. Of course, part of the addictive nature of processed chocolate is the sugar it’s mixed with, so it helps if you combine it with another kind of sweetener such as zylitol (see the article on this site about this revolutionary natural sweetener) or agave syrup. But there is something about cacao that means it is as satisfying as its cooked counterpart but not nearly as habit-forming.
Raw cacao also contains serotonin, tryptophan and dopamine, neurotransmitters which are regarded as natural anti-depressants. It is also an aphrodisiac, much more so than normal chocolate, so be warned! However, for all its fantastic attributes, it is important to bear in mind that raw chocolate is a potent food and should be treated with respect. The main reason for this is that it contains caffeine and theobromine, both of which are stimulants. Whilst one study found that these substances were much less stimulating in raw chocolate than in the processed variety, or in coffee, the personal experience of myself and people I know is that cacao is a pretty stimulating food. The trick is not to eat it too late in the day (if you want a good night's sleep) or to eat too much at any one time. Each person’s tolerance to raw chocolate is different so you will have to work out the amount that suits you. You could also try chewing on some cardamom pods. This is apparently an old Ayurvedic (India’s ancient system of medicine) remedy to counteract the caffeine in coffee. I find it's very effective if I chew three or four seeds at a time, three or four times throughout the day.
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Two
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Deluxe Desserts
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Then there are its
mood-altering qualities. Of course, cooked chocolate has these too, but in a
different, less pronounced way. Raw chocolate is more likely to wake you up and
make you feel energised so it can be helpful for busy periods in your life (and
parties!). It also gives you a much more heightened feeling of well-being and
even happiness. One of the reasons for this is anandamide, also known as the
'bliss chemical'. Raw chocolate contains both anandamide itself and also the
enzyme inhibitors which slow its breakdown in our bodies, thereby heightening
our mood and sense of well-being.
The other thing you can do
is eat recipes made with raw cocoa butter. This is raw chocolate minus the
protein and fibre. Along the way most of the stimulants have also been removed,
so it's a much gentler way to get your chocolate fix. Cacao butter, as
it's known, can be used to make great white chocolate and fudge recipes, both of
which I teach in my workshops. And if you would like to get started, here is a
very simple recipe for when you get that irresistible chocolate urge: take some
chocolate powder or ground up cacao nibs, mix it with some ground up nuts
(cashews, hazelnuts or brazils are all good) and some agave syrup and, hey
presto, you have an instant chocolate fix! Agave syrup is available in most
health food shops. Cacao nibs can be found in some health food shops. I have
seen raw chocolate powder in my local Fresh and Wild store but it's not widely
available in the shops as yet. Try these internet sites for this and cacao
butter and other chocolate delights: 
