Dani Spies

It took me a few tastes to appreciate cacaos subtle, rich, buttery, bitter self. Even though I knew these nibs were unsweetened and I knew that they were raw cacao beans, the first time I tried them my brain was still expecting them to taste sweet (like little rich, chocolate chips or something). So needless to say, it was this sweet expectation of mine that really threw me off.

It's like when you think you are biting into a dill pickle and it turns out to be a sweet pickle. It's not that the sweet pickle is bad, it's just tastes bad in that moment because it's not what you were expecting. It catches you off guard... that was my first experience with Cacao Nibs.

But I will say, these little crunchy, rich, buttery nibs have a way of growing on you. And eating them by the handful with some Goji berries or raisins makes for an addictive combination.

Cacao has been growing in popularity due to its nutritive and health-enhancing properties. It is rich in magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper and potassium. But one of its most popular benefits is the high antioxidant content. According to the back of the bag, "Cacao beans have more antioxidant flavinoids than red wine, green tea, and blueberries".

Like I've mentioned before, I don't believe any one food is going to make or break a healthy diet but the way I look at it is the more "power foods" you can get in, the better. Although an 8 oz bag of these babies will cost you about ten bucks, they last for a pretty long time. I find I use them mostly either on top of snacks like my "banana boat", stirred into a smoothie, or plain with a handful of dried fruit.

I know you can bake with them as well but I haven't tried that yet. I do want to try something in the baking arena with these little guys so if you guys have any ideas, tips, or recipes I'd love to hear them!