Latest news with #cacao
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Surprising uses of cacao that go beyond chocolate
The by-products from cocoa production has many surprising uses. (Envato Elements pic) PARIS : Cacao beans have uses that go beyond being the base ingredient of our favourite chocolate treats or beverages. Today, cacao beans are processed in all sorts of ways to make the most of every part of the bean. Here are a few examples of how the waste created from their processing can be utilised. Cacao water Mucilage is the white, fleshy pulp that surrounds fresh beans – and the South American workers who harvest the pods have long been used to sucking this white material like candy. There are now several ways to make use of this raw material, such as by producing cacao water. A simple cold extraction process produces a juice with a tangy taste that is rich in antioxidants and theobromine, an energiser similar to caffeine. According to the US-based Blue Stripes brand, a 300ml carton of cacao water has twice the antioxidant power of a handful of blueberries. This new drink is really only at the beginning of its story, but it already seems to be on the road to success. At the end of 2021, chocolate giant Barry Callebaut announced that it had spotted a new opportunity by launching its very first functional beverage, made from cacao fruit. Fine-dining dessert creations In the world of pastry, mucilage is a novel ingredient some top chefs are experimenting with. Its fruity flavour has serious potential for creating a new kind of chocolate dessert. At the Four Seasons George V hotel in Paris, the young prodigy Michaël Bartocetti sources it from Vietnam to create some fascinating and flavoursome fine-dining afters. Mucilage – the white, fleshy pulp that surrounds cacao beans inside the pod – is now being used in products such as cacao water, fine desserts, and even fragrances. (TechnicoFlor pic Building material In Ecuador, an architectural project aims to build an eco-village made up of sustainable buildings constructed from recycled cacao-bean waste. This raw material gets fed into 3D printers to produce fibres capable of constructing buildings in an area traditionally used for cacao cultivation. Ecuadorian brand Muze Cacao is a partner for this vast project. Cosmetics In Ivory Coast, the leading cacao-producing country, the founder of luxury chocolate brand Le Chocolatier Ivoirien recently initiated a project to recycle cacao beans into powder for use in makeup foundation. The entrepreneur is turning the technique of using cocoa powder as a foundation for black skin into a commercial venture. This trick was reportedly used by famed makeup artist Pat McGrath when discussing the beauty industry's long journey to producing for diverse skin tones. Fragrance It's only a short step from cosmetics to perfumery: the TechnicoFlor group, which develops aromatic compositions for perfume houses, has unveiled some surprising fragrances all based on the reuse of waste products, including cacao and mucilage extracted from pods. Indeed, it's clear the versatile cacao bean has more surprising uses than merely for candy or hot cocoa!
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The $3 water so hydrating and refreshing you won't believe it's made with cacao fruit: 'Seriously the best drink EVER!'
Staying hydrated shouldn't be a chore. But given that a massive percentage of the population is dehydrated, it appears that it really is an issue. If drinking plain water is a challenge, there's a new way to hydrate that may intrigue you and your taste buds. And it happens to be light, tropical, and naturally sweet. Blue Stripes Cacao Water is sourced from the pulp of the cacao fruit (the very same fruit that eventually gives us chocolate). Blue Stripes Cacao Water Blue Stripes Cacao Water is refreshing, hydrating, and packed with electrolytes, antioxidants, and essential nutrients. It's naturally sweet and has no added sugar too! Try it out now for yourself. $3.19 Shop Now you may not think of chocolate as 'refreshing,' but that's because we've all been distracted by the candy bar version. Cacao fruit is actually a superfruit that is packed with antioxidants, electrolytes, and essential nutrients, and Blue Stripes is one of the few brands that uses the entire cacao pod to make its products — not just the beans. That amounts to big benefits for both you and the planet. Expect more flavor, more nutritional value, and less waste. Eco-conscious people, take note: As much as we love the chocolate industry, it wastes a whopping 70 percent of the cacao pod during actual chocolate production. Only the beans are used in that process. By comparison, Blue Stripes upcycles the whole thing, including the beans, the shell, and the fruit. Honestly, this is great for everyone and everything involved — you, the farmers, and the planet as a whole. From a nutritional perspective, the difference is like night and day. Consuming the entire cacao fruit means you'll get vital fiber, minerals, and vitamins that support your overall health. (Not that you need an excuse to treat yourself to Blue Stripes' delicious beverages and snacks!) So, what does the water taste like? Imagine something crisp and clean with just a bit of a tropical tang, kind of like a cooler sibling of coconut water. It's never syrupy and there is absolutely no added sugar. Only two ingredients make up Blue Stripes Cacao Water — triple-filtered water and organic cacao fruit puree. It packs a punch, delivering a naturally energizing vibe that feels great whether you're cooling down post-workout, guzzling during the work day, or sipping with a meal. And it's super affordable and comes in a variety of fruit-forward flavors, like mango, vanilla, passion fruit, and plain cacao, all of which are naturally delicious and capture cacao's lovely flavor profile. Some people even blend it into their smoothies for an added nutrient boost, which we highly recommend for the extra hydration and antioxidants! Blue Stripes was co-founded by Oded Brenner (yes, of Max Brenner chocolate fame) and Aviv Schwietzer with a goal of turning the chocolate industry on its head. By using the whole cacao fruit instead of tossing 70 percent of it away, the impact is huge and supports global sustainability efforts in an impressive way. If you're looking for a tasty new beverage that hydrates and nourishes, Blue Stripes Cacao Water could be exactly the wellness upgrade you need. Blue Stripes Vanilla Cacao Water Smooth and mellow, vanilla is the perfect just-sweet-enough yet still subtle flavor. The vanilla extract blends beautifully with the natural tang of the cacao fruit, yielding a crisp and refreshing treat that even feels a little bit indulgent (without the added sugar). All Cacao Waters contain nutrients, electrolytes, and antioxidants for the ultimate refresh. $3.19 Shop
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The $3 water so hydrating and refreshing you won't believe it's made with cacao pods: 'Seriously the best drink EVER!'
Staying hydrated shouldn't be a chore. But given that a massive percentage of the population is dehydrated, it appears that it really is an issue. If drinking plain water is a challenge, there's a new way to hydrate that may intrigue you and your taste buds. And it happens to be light, tropical, naturally sweet — and, yes, made from chocolate. Well, kind of. Blue Stripes Whole Cacao Water is sourced from the pulp of the cacao fruit (the very same fruit that eventually gives us chocolate). Blue Stripes Vanilla Cacao Water Smooth and mellow, vanilla is the perfect just-sweet-enough yet still subtle flavor. The vanilla extract blends beautifully with the natural tang of the cacao fruit, yielding a crisp and refreshing treat that even feels a little bit indulgent (without the added sugar). All Cacao Waters contain nutrients, electrolytes, and antioxidants for the ultimate refresh. $2.99 Shop Now you may not think of chocolate as 'refreshing,' but that's because we've all been distracted by the candy bar version. Cacao fruit is actually a superfruit that is packed with antioxidants, electrolytes, and essential nutrients, and Blue Stripes is one of the few brands that uses the entire cacao pod to make its products — not just the beans. That amounts to big benefits for both you and the planet. Expect more flavor, more nutritional value, and less waste. Eco-conscious people, take note: As much as we love the chocolate industry, it wastes a whopping 70 percent of the cacao pod during actual chocolate production. Only the beans are used in that process. By comparison, Blue Stripes upcycles the whole thing, including the beans, the shell, and the fruit. Honestly, this is great for everyone and everything involved — you, the farmers, and the planet as a whole. From a nutritional perspective, the difference is like night and day. Consuming the entire cacao fruit means you'll get vital fiber, minerals, and vitamins that support your overall health. (Not that you need an excuse to treat yourself to Blue Stripes' delicious beverages and snacks!) So, what does the water taste like? Imagine something crisp and clean with just a bit of a tropical tang, kind of like a cooler sibling of coconut water. It's never syrupy and there is absolutely no added sugar. Only two ingredients make up Blue Stripes Whole Cacao Water — triple-filtered water and organic cacao fruit puree. It packs a punch, delivering a naturally energizing vibe that feels great whether you're cooling down post-workout, guzzling during the work day, or sipping with a meal. And it's super affordable and comes in a variety of fruit-forward flavors, like mango, vanilla, passion fruit, and plain cacao, all of which are naturally delicious and capture cacao's lovely flavor profile. It's shelf-stable, too, so you can stock up and sip away whenever your heart desires. Some people even blend it into their smoothies for an added nutrient boost, which we highly recommend for the extra hydration and antioxidants! Blue Stripes was co-founded by Oded Brenner (yes, of Max Brenner chocolate fame) and Aviv Schwietzer with a goal of turning the chocolate industry on its head. By using the whole cacao fruit instead of tossing 70 percent of it away, the impact is huge and supports global sustainability efforts in an impressive way. If you're looking for a tasty new beverage that hydrates and nourishes, Blue Stripes Whole Cacao Water could be exactly the wellness upgrade you need.
