Cacao seeds, also known as cocoa beans, are the original material for making chocolate. These small, oval seeds grow on the Theobroma cacao tree, native to the Central and South American tropics. Along with being the base of everyone’s favourite sweet treat, these seeds have some health benefits and versatile uses.

What are cacao seeds?

These seeds or beans originate from the cacao tree, which resides in the tropics of Central and South America. The seeds are contained inside large seed pods that grow directly on the trunk and main branches of the tree. Each pod holds 20-50 cacao seeds, which are covered in a sweet, sticky pulp.

The Journey of the Seeds of Cacao

The journey of cacao seeds starts from the cacao tree itself, which bears big pod-like fruits. Inside these pods are the cacao seeds, harvested, fermented, dried, roasted, and processed for different products in cacao. These produce cacao nibs, cacao powder, cacao butter, and chocolate.

Here are some of the Health Benefits of Cacao Seeds

Cacao seeds seem to have great potential in terms of nutritional and health benefits, thus proving very useful when added to any kind of diet.

1. Rich in Antioxidants: Cacao seeds are considered one of the highest sources of antioxidants. Basically, they help in fighting free radicals within the human body. It is said that these antioxidants can help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.

2. Mood Enhancement and Brain Boosting: Cacao beans are rich in theobromine and phenylethylamine, which seem to increase mood and cognitive function. As such, these compounds raise levels of happy feelings and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

3. Supports Heart Health: Cacao seeds’ flavonoids can indeed make a big difference in heart health by reducing blood pressure, improving blood circulation, and having all the associated effects of decreasing the risk of heart disease. 

4. Rich in Essential Minerals: These seeds of the cacao are very rich in important minerals such as magnesium, iron, potassium, and zinc. Magnesium is needed for proper muscle and nerve functioning, while iron is involved in oxygen transport in blood.

 Popular Uses of Cacao Seeds

Cacao seeds can be used in various forms to add taste and nutrition to your diet. Some of the popular ways are:

1. Coco Drink: This coco drink may be created simply by mixing cacao powder with hot water or milk, then sweetened with some natural sweetener like honey. This makes a delicious and healthy alternative to hot chocolate .

2. Cacao Supplement: Cacao supplements in capsules or powder form can be taken to ingest a concentrated dosage of the compounds of the cocoa seed for good health.

3. Cacao Tea: Another form which one could consume for the benefit of cacao is in the form of cacao tea. The tea is prepared by soaking the ground cacao nibs or cacao shells in hot water. Cacao tea benefits include elevating the state of the mind, energising the body, and improving concentration.

4. Adding Cacao Powder to Smoothies: This is an easy and efficient way to boost the nutritional density of your smoothies. Cacao powder whole foods are available in most health food stores and can be blended with fruits, vegetables, and other superfoods for a delicious, nutritious drink.

5. Baking and Cooking: This Cacao powder is good for everything from baking to savory dishes. It enhances the rich chocolate flavor of cookies and cakes to chili dishes but adds a nutritional boost to them.

How to Choose and Store Cacao Products?

When possible, choose quality cacao products. A lot more of the nutrients and antioxidants found naturally in cacao, compared with processed chocolate, are retained in its raw products. Opt for organic and non-GMO cacao products as much as possible.

Attention needs to be paid to the correct storage of these cacao products to remain fresh and retain their nutrients. Store cacao seeds, nibs, and powder in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. This prevents rancidity and will allow it to maintain its rich flavour.

Conclusion

Cacao seeds are, in fact, a powerbomb of nutrition and flavour, with many diverse health benefits and uses. From a heated cacao drink to cacao supplementation, or even using the powder in your favourite recipes, these little seeds can bring about big changes in health and wellness. The next time you think about something tasty and nutritious to add to your diet, consider all the cacao tea  benefits and uses of cacao seeds.