Raw Chocolate Making
A Warm, Sweet Welcome to my Chocolate Page!
Because chocolate making is such a passion of mine, I decided to dedicate an entire section to it. I run a Chocolate Making Workshop for all those interested!
Thankfully, it’s no longer a challenge to find health-enhancing,
high quality, chemical free food. However, if you are a chocolate lover, the
challenge is to find chocolate that combines and compares well with the rest of
your nutrition.
Apart from the pleasure of satisfying our taste
buds, we are tempted by the “feel-good-factor” chocolates gives. However, we all know how double-edged the lure of chocolate can be.
There’s nothing like chocolate to act as a distraction from how we are feeling.
While eating it, life may indeed feel ok again; but the experiencan can have a downside. Instead of continuing to feel better, we can end up
feeling imbalanced.
So why are we told that chocolate is
nutritious?
Chocolate has a somewhat confusing reputation. On one hand, it contains
iron, potassium, calcium (if made with milk), and is fairly high in magnesium,
antioxidants etc. However, depending on its quality and purity, it will
probably contain sugar, and any number of unwholesome additives that are
commonly used in chocolate production, which sadly means that its naked potential is lost.
What
is Raw Chocolate, and how is it different?
It's chocolate that's been
minimally processed before consumption, whereas most chocolate, including the
organic kind, goes through lengthy cooking and processing, killing off many nutrients.
Raw Chocolate, known as “Cacao”, in terms of nutrition, is potent. It is one of the most antioxidant rich foods on
the planet, providing almost four times as many antioxidants as normal
chocolate. It is considered a Superfood,
and together with other natural chocolate-making ingredients, begs that we re-write
the definition of Chocolate!
Whilst raw chocolate may taste similar to ordinary chocolate, (depending on
how you make it), it is actually a very different food, with very different
qualities. For instance, people find it to be non habit forming. Also, if
you're familiar with that “can’t stop now I’ve started” effect, then you will
be pleasantly surprised by how ultimately satisfying raw chocolate. Part of the "moreish" aspect that processed chocolate has is due to the high sugar content. Fortunately, there is
a wide range of alternative sweeteners that are now available, such as
Agave, Manuka Honey, or Maple Syrup. All my chocolate is sugar free.
But
does Raw Chocolate make you feel good?
Yes, there are mood-altering qualities associated with Raw
Chocolate. Raw chocolate is more likely to wake you up and make you feel
energised, making it helpful for times when physical and mental exertion seem
necessary. It also gives you a heightened sense of well-being and happiness.
One of the reasons for this is anandamide, affectionately termed “The Bliss
Chemical”. Raw chocolate contains both anandamide, along with the enzyme
inhibitors which slow its breakdown in our bodies, thereby prolonging our sense
of well-being.
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 get ready!
Do
you have to be a 30-60 something health freak to enjoy it?
Absolutely not! I’m utterly delighted that my chocolate has such
a wide appeal. As much as I love the taste of this chocolate, I love sharing it
just as much! Our clients, friends, family members, and neighbours adore it.
Even the man visiting from the water company recently said that it was the best
choc he had ever eaten.
My son Kai (aged 10) loves it. Because of how incredibly nutritious
it is, I do not recommend any limit regarding the amount he chooses to have.
And, because of how satisfying and rich it is, he generally has no more than a
couple of pieces at a time.
Until I began making our own chocolate, Kai had been brought up
on highest quality, organic chocolate. However, every Easter, somebody
invariably gave him a non-organic, bog-standard chocolate egg, which he
jokingly referred to as “cheap children’s chocolate”. Kai, being his grateful self
would manage to eat it nevertheless. These days, whenever Kai eats
chocolate that is not home-made, he is either underwhelmed or disappointed, or
else becomes imbalanced for the time it takes him to deal with the effects.
Are
there any side-effects to all this good stuff?
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. One study found that these
substances were much less stimulating in raw chocolate than in the processed
variety, or in coffee. My experience (as someone who spent years not being able
to sleep) is that cacao is a stimulating food. Therefore, my advice is not to eat
it too late in the day. Each person’s sensitivity to raw chocolate is different, so simply
allow your body to be your guide.
I
also like White Chocolate. Is it possible to make Raw, White Chocolate?
Yes, indeed it is. An advantage to white chocolate (simply made
with Cacao Butter, without the Cacao Nibs, or Liqueur) is that most of the
stimulants have also been removed, making it a gentler way to enjoy your
chocolate.
What
else goes into your Raw Chocolate recipes?
The list of Raw Chocolate ingredients continues to grow. The
chocolate I make with the widest appeal, contains plenty of the Superfoods below. I’m always
experimenting with introducing different ingredients, and am always open to any
suggestions you might have. As you can see, it also makes a great facial treatment!
Cacao Liqueur, Sunflower Seeds, Vanilla Pods, Cacao Butter Pumpkin Seeds, Dates, Hemp Seeds, Raisins, Walnuts, Cranberries Cashew Nuts, Agave Syrup, Hazelnuts, Manuka Honey, Lecuma, Maple Syrup, Macca, Pine Nuts, Bee-Pollen.
