Super-Cacao Frequently Asked Questions

The word cacao comes from the Latin name for the cacao tree, or cocoa tree as it is sometimes known, which is Theobroma Cacao. Cacao is commonly used to describe the cacao tree, its fruits, beans or a nutrient-rich superfood powder which is made from processed cacao beans. Cacao powder is essentially the purest form of chocolate you can eat. Cacao trees grow in the hottest and most humid climates around the equator in South America, Asia and Africa. Our cacao comes from West Africa, which is home to 70% of the world’s cocoa supply.

Cacao trees bear large melon-sized fruits called cacao pods. When the pods are ripe, they are opened to reveal rows of cacao beans covered in a white pulp. The pulp is removed and the beans are fermented, dried and cleaned before processing. The processing of cacao beans into powder involves gently roasting the beans to remove bacteria and bring out the flavour while keeping as many of the nutrients as possible. The high flavanol beans in Aduna Super-Cacao are roasted at very low temperatures using an innovative process to retain maximum flavanol content. Once roasted, the beans are then ground and milled leaving a pure cacao powder which can be added to breakfasts, smoothies, baking and more! Check out our cacaolicious recipes here. 

Cocoa usually refers to a powder that has been processed differently to cacao powder - it is often heated to higher temperatures and alkalised to give it a more mass-market flavour. Typically, cocoa powder will contain added sugars and sometimes milk powders whereas cacao powder is 100% natural with minimal processing - the purest and most natural form of chocolate you can eat. Read more in our article cacao vs cocoa. The word cacao is also used when referring to the tree or the beans.

Aduna Super-Cacao is a premium, nutrient-rich cacao powder with a deliciously rich chocolatey flavour. It is a unique blend of two cacao powders - a high flavanol cacao made from specially-selected high flavanol beans and a single origin cacao sourced from small-scale producers in Ghana. Flavanols are a type of plant-based antioxidant that support healthy blood flow in the body.  Aduna Super-Cacao Powder is also rich in plant protein and fibre and a source of electrolytes magnesium and potassium, so it is highly nutritious! Try it mixed in smoothies or shakes, sprinkled on your breakfast or use it to make a healthy hot chocolate.

Technically speaking, there is no such thing as 'raw' cacao powder as all cacao beans need to be roasted at a sufficient temperature to remove any bacteria and bring out the chocolate flavour. Without any form of heat treatment, pathogens and bacteria will not be killed and may remain active in the cacao. As Aduna Super-Cacao is roasted very lightly and over a long period of time, it is as natural and ‘raw’ as can be. Find out more in our article what is Super-Cacao?

Aduna Super-Cacao has a delicious luxuriously rich, chocolatey flavour. Perfect for mixing into smoothies, shakes, desserts or breakfasts or using in your favourite baking recipes. To make a healthy hot chocolate, mix 2-4 heaped teaspoons with hot milk and sweeten to taste. We like to add a couple of drops of vanilla essence or a shake of cinnamon to ours. Check out our article on 4 easy ways to use Super-Cacao for more #cacaolicious ideas.

Aduna Super-Cacao is the first cacao powder scientifically proven and verified by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to support heart health. The heart health benefits of Super-Cacao are thanks to its exceptionally high flavanol content. Flavanols are a type of plant-based antioxidant that support normal blood flow, cardiovascular health and circulation. Aduna Super-Cacao is also a rich source of plant protein and fibre and a source of potassium and magnesium. It also supports the creation of sustainable livelihoods for small-scale producers in Ghana. For more information, read our article on the top 10 health benefits of Super-Cacao.

Flavanols are a type of polyphenol (plant-based antioxidants) that are present in cacao beans. When these natural, bioactive components are consumed at sufficient quantities daily, they can have a beneficial effect on the elasticity of the blood vessels, supporting: heart health, blood flow and circulation (great for those who suffer from cold hands and feet!)

To reap the heart health benefits, take 4 heaped teaspoons (20g, 200mg flavanols) a day. Try it mixed into hot or cold milk and sweetened to taste for a delicious drink or get creative in the kitchen and add to breakfasts, snacks and baking.

Thanks to its high flavanol content, Aduna Super-Cacao is scientifically proven to support heart health. It is one of only a handful of foods in the world approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to carry a health claim on the packaging. Taking 20g Super-Cacao daily is proven to support healthy blood flow, overall cardiovascular health and circulation. Healthy blood flow is crucial to our overall health, ensuring a healthy supply of nutrients, oxygen and water to all our vital organs. Super-Cacao is also rich in plant protein - perfect for those looking to up their protein intake and for vegans and vegetarians who may not be getting enough in their diet. Super-Cacao contains over 30% fibre, which can help improve digestive function and keep you fuller for longer. It is also a source of magnesium and potassium and is exceptionally high in antioxidants. Read our article on the top health benefits of Super-Cacao to find out more.

With an ORAC value of 97,428 Umol TE per 100g, Aduna Super-Cacao is bursting with skin-loving antioxidants. It has 80x more antioxidants than green tea and 15x more than blueberries. Antioxidants boost the production of collagen, help neutralise the damaging effects of free radicals on the skin and counteract signs of ageing. For more information read our article what are antioxidants and why do we need them?

In an independent study, after 6 weeks of consuming the high flavanol cacao powder in Aduna Super-Cacao, skin hydration was shown to improve by 21%. Skin hydration is an important factor in maintaining the general appearance of smooth, soft skin and a healthy, glowing complexion. Read why International Facialist Abigail James thinks Super-Cacao is a wow ingredient for skin health.

To reap the heart health benefits of Aduna Super-Cacao, we recommend having 4 heaped teaspoons (20g) per day. Thanks to its delicious, chocolatey taste, it is very easy to add into your daily routine. Try it mixed into hot or cold milk and sweeten to taste (make a paste first to avoid lumps before topping up your glass - or use a whisk to make it nice and frothy). Check out some of our favourite ways to use Super-Cacao for more inspiration!

Aduna Super-Cacao has a rich, chocolatey flavour which makes it ideal for mixing into shakes, smoothies, healthy hot chocolates, sprinkling onto cereal, yoghurt or muesli…. wherever your imagination takes you! Think of it as a nutritious alternative to cocoa powder - simply substitute cocoa for Super-Cacao in your baking recipes. Take a look at our recipe page for lots of easy ways to feel the #cacaolove.

Aduna Super-Cacao is a blend of two cacao powders. One is a premium, high flavanol cacao which mostly comes from West Africa. The second is a luxuriously rich cacao sourced and processed by small-scale producers in Ghana, ensuring that the additional income streams remain within the country. It is blended and packed in the UK.

Super-Cacao is Aduna’s own blend - there is no identical product on the market. Aduna Super-Cacao is a 100% natural, unique blend of two premium cacao powders, including an exceptionally high-flavanol cacao and a luxuriously rich cacao sourced from small-scale producers in Ghana. Every purchase contributes to creating sustainable incomes for rural African households. The social impact of our Super-Cacao, combined with its delicious flavour and incredible health benefits, is what gives it its 'super' status.

Aduna Super-Cacao is not certified organic. This is because it is made from high-flavanol cacao beans and unfortunately, the trees that these beans grow on are occasionally in an area that is not certified organic. Despite not being certified organic, our Super-Cacao is 100% natural and free from any pesticides. It is also vegan, contains no additives, preservatives or added sugar and is gluten and dairy free.

It is likely that if the flavanols in Aduna Super-Cacao are exposed to a very high heat, e.g. 200C for a long period of time, the efficacy of the flavanols would be slightly reduced. However, most of the benefits, including the protein and fibre will still be intact. To reap the heart health benefits of the flavanols in full we recommend adding it to hot dishes after cooking where possible - stirring it into sauces or sprinkling onto porridge before serving.

As cacao is a natural food, there should be no problem with taking it in combination with blood pressure-reducing medicines. Flavanol excesses are excreted by the human body in an entirely natural way. However, as with any dietary changes, it is always worth contacting your doctor or dietician for individual recommendations.

A typical serving of Aduna Super-Cacao (20g/4 heaped teaspoons) will provide approx. 80mg of caffeine. For comparison, a cup of coffee contains between 50 and 150mg caffeine.

Aduna is a social business on a mission to create sustainable livelihoods for rural African households. We do this by connecting small-scale producers of African natural products directly to the global market, through our range of delicious and nutritious health foods. Unlike the majority of brands that buy cacao from European manufacturers or distributors, we purchase the single-origin cacao used in Aduna Super-Cacao at source in Ghana. Cacao in West Africa is grown almost entirely on smallholdings where the whole family works together. Cacao farming is a small-scale, unsophisticated business as the current planting pattern of cacao trees makes mechanisation impractical. Although this adds complexity and cost, Aduna chooses to buy from a small, local producer in-country. Whereas most processing of cacao beans into powder or chocolate is carried out in Europe or the US, the Ghanaian cacao in Super-Cacao is processed in Ghana, ensuring the additional income streams from the processing remain in the country.