Beyond any doubt, people have sought out the best cocoa powder for drinking available. Cocoa plays an important role in the manufacture of chocolate. Moreover, research has shown that cocoa contains substantial compounds that can benefit your health.
Many dishes can benefit from the inclusion of cocoa powder, which provides a wide range of great health benefits to the brain, body, and skin. It can also replace cocoa butter in recipes. I provide plenty of useful information about the best cocoa powder in this article.
See which cocoa powder fits your needs by reading our reviews!
Editor’s Pick: Cocoa Powder For Drinking
10 Best Cocoa Powder For Drinking Reviews:
1. HERSHEY’S Natural Unsweetened Cocoa
With a natural flavor that can be added to any recipe and is fortified with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, HERSHEY’S Cocoa is a perfectly natural choice.
From candy bars and cookies to cakes, brownies and more, you can make your next dessert a sweet, indulgent treat to have on hand all year long.
This special container of optional unsweetened cocoa powder is just what you need to keep in your cupboard when baking birthday cakes, anniversary desserts, or even a treat that has no reason other than pure satisfaction.
2. Cacao Barry Cocoa Powder 100% Cocoa Extra Brute
This extra-brute cocoa powder is made by the most renowned chocolatiers in Europe. This large family-size bag contains 100% cacao, zero sugar, fat, or preservatives.
It is made from roasted cacao beans and can be used for mousses, creams, ice-creams, sorbets, confectionery coverings, decoration. Use it to make decadent chocolate fondue with orange zest and chocolate drizzle.
3. HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Cocoa
When it comes to chocolate for baking, we’ve got you covered. HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK cocoa powder won’t let you down. Unlike most cocoa powders on the market, our variety is made from real chocolate and not de-fatted cocoa solids.
Use this mild-flavored powder to give everything from hot chocolate to brownies a delicious chocolate boost. The neutral flavor makes it easy to pair with a wide range of ingredients — including gluten-free flour blends and vegan chocolate chips. Add these tasty touches to your favorite recipes:
4. Navitas Organics Cacao Powder
Pure, sustainably sourced ingredients are grown or responsibly sourced to create Navitas Organics Cacao Powder. Our naturally nutrient-rich cacao powder is made from single origin, Fairtrade certified, organic cacao beans that are grown and processed to benefit cocoa farming communities and our planet.
With 15% protein and 10 grams of fiber per serving, it’s the perfect addition to smoothies, for baking and preparing delicious raw treats.
5. Viva Naturals Certified Organic Cacao Powder (2lb) For Smoothie
Viva Naturals Certified Organic Coconut Water Powder contains only organic coconut water and nothing else. Made from young organic coconuts, Viva Naturals organic coconut water contains 18 amino acids, 4 types of carbohydrates (including 10 grams of sugar), and is rich in electrolytes – just like your mother’s milk.
It makes a great alternative to smoothies if you’re trying to lose weight, seek a natural energy drink alternative or have a healthy hydration source while at work or on the go. You can benefit from the power of coconut water any time of the day.
6. Anthony’s Organic Raw Cocoa Powder
Anthony’s Organic Raw Cocoa Powder is dark and delicious; perfect for any baking or cooking application! It’s organic, gluten-free, and imported from South America (home of cocoa!). It’s delicious in baking, chocolate-making, no-bake recipes, and even in spice rubs for meat! Plus it’s packed with vitamins and minerals.
7. Earth Echo: Cacao Bliss
EarthEcho International reintroduces 19th-century cacao bliss for today’s global consumers. Endorsed by the World Health Organization, Cacao Bliss is made from premium raw cacao beans. Like chocolate, it is naturally creamy, sweet, and exquisite. Yet unlike chocolate syrup, it contains no refined sugars, preservatives, or additives
The natural ingredients are organic coconut water (with its electrolyte minerals), organic agave, and organic raw cacao. These superfoods are blended with 10 superfoods: Maca; baobab; maqui berries; noni berries; goji berries; Camu Camu berries; mangosteen powder; yacon powder and reishi mushroom powder.
This unique combination of cold-pressed, juiced, and dehydrated foods were chosen to promote cell health as well as organ regeneration. Cacao Bliss can also be used to lower cholesterol and decrease blood pressure.
8. DaVinci Gourmet Frappe Freeze Frappe Coffee Mix
Make delicious, rich chocolatey Mocha Frappe Freeze coffee right in your own home. This DaVinci Gourmet mix is ready to use in minutes and can be used to make one creamy, smooth and delicious frappe, just add 8 oz of milk. Enjoy immediately or store the mix in the freezer for an on-demand, chilled drink any time.
The mocha ice taste is perfect for any frappe lover; enjoy a smooth creamy frappe experience without the need for a blender. Versatile and super easy to use, this mix works well with both light and dark roast coffees you want to treat someone special, give this for any occasion as a gift!
9. Callebaut Cocoa Powder
Callebaut Cocoa Powder is made from 100% pure cocoa, pressed from the same blend that is used to craft their finest Belgian chocolate. Contains no sugar or emulsifiers. At its base is the West African bean, which gives it a lovely, red-brown color and a solid chocolatey taste.
Beans from African regions, Latin America and Asia provide spiced notes. Very fine in texture, it can be easily mixed into doughs, batters and liquids. It is a great base for flavoring, coloring and texturing.
10. Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate And Cocoa
Baking easily from scratch is as simple as whipping up brownies on a cool summer day. The unique chocolate blended in our Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa creates perfect pastry cream for a Paris Brest, keeps brownies extra fudgy, and gives our Mocha Dessert Topping rich flavor without the coffee flavor.
Differences Between Cocoa Powder, Chocolate Powder And Chocolate Drink
Converting cocoa powder requires a long process. First, the pulp of the fruit is removed, leaving only the seeds, which undergo the drying, fermentation, and roasting process. After roasting, they are broken up and shavings removed, crushed, and turned into a paste.
The fat is removed from this paste, leaving the “cocoa cake”, a dry paste that is freeze-dried and turns into a powder. It is cocoa powder, a product widely used especially in confectionery. You do not have to add anything, no sugar or additives. Also, it does not dissolve easily, as it is pure.
The chocolate powder typically has 50% cocoa and 50% sugar. It can also be used in preparations. Chocolate powder, on the other hand, usually has 10% cocoa and 90% sugar, aromas, and soluble agents, so it dissolves easily. It is generally made to mix in milk, not for recipes.
How To Choose The Best Cocoa Powder For Drinking
Alkaline, natural, black, or lecithin cocoa? Ugh, there are so many types of cocoa, right? Therefore, below we will show you how to choose the best cocoa powder for drinking, for you.
. We also share tips on how to buy a healthy product.
Choose Between Natural or Alkaline Cocoa Powder
PH is a scale of measurement that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of foods. On this scale, which goes from 0 to 14, acidic foods have a pH lower than 7, while alkaline foods have a pH higher than 7. As for the best cocoa powder for drinking, you can find two types of cocoa powder. We will explain it to you better below!
Natural Cocoa Powder: For a More Pronounced And Intense Flavor
Natural cocoa is the one that has just been freeze-dried and turned into a powder. Due to its acidic pH, something like 5 or 6, its coloration is lighter. In addition, this type of cocoa powder has a more intense and bitter taste, making it ideal for dishes with a marked flavor.
It is interesting to use natural cocoa powder in recipes that contain baking soda, which is an alkaline ingredient. The reaction of the mixture of these two ingredients of different pH will cause the neutralization of the acidity of the cocoa and the fermentation necessary for the dish to grow properly.
Therefore, if you use natural cocoa in your cake or cupcake recipe, it is recommended to use baking soda. This type of cocoa can also be used in other filling or sweet recipes, without using bicarbonate of soda. However, as it has a more bitter taste, it is important to follow the amount indicated in the recipe.
Alkaline Cocoa Powder: Has a Milder Taste
With a mild flavor and darker color, sometimes even a little reddish, alkaline cocoa is one of the most common types of cocoa that can be found. This product is nothing more than natural cocoa that has been subjected to an alkalization process to neutralize its acidity, so its pH is 7 or 8.
As it has already gone through the alkalization process, obviously, it does not need to be alkalized with the use of bicarbonate, as in the natural version. Not to mention that the combination of baking soda and alkaline cocoa can leave a metallic aftertaste.
Therefore, in cake recipes, it is recommended to use alkaline cocoa powder with baking powder or another acidic substance, such as orange juice. As it has a milder flavor than natural cocoa, this type of cocoa is used mainly in recipes with condensed milk or heavy cream.
If You Are Looking For a More Soluble Option, Opt For Lecithinated Cocoa Powder
The lecithinated cocoa, in addition to undergoing alkalization, is enriched with soy lecithin. This additional ingredient, in addition to promoting health benefits, acts as an emulsifier, preventing water and fat from separating in recipes. It is an excellent option, for example, to make ice cream.
As it has lecithin, it is also easily diluted in milk and can be used not only in preparations that contain this ingredient but also to replace chocolate milk in hot chocolate. You can also add this lecithinated cocoa to other drinks, such as vitamins and smoothies.
Preservatives Can Harm Your Health, Opt For Cocoa Powder Without Them
Many studies show that the use of preservatives is associated with the appearance of allergies, gastric problems, and even more serious diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, to lead a healthier life, one of the first steps is to stop consuming, in excess, products that have this substance.
Several brands produce cocoa powder without this additive, so you prefer this option. But always keep in mind that, by not having the preservative that prolongs the life of food, its duration will be less. If there is a delay in consumption, the growth of fungi and bacteria can occur.
Allergy Sufferers Should Avoid Cocoa Powder With Soy or Gluten Residues
Many brands that produce cocoa powder also develop other products, many of which are made with flour, milk, soy, or nuts. Since, most of the time, cocoa and all these products end up going through the same devices, it is common for residues of these ingredients to remain on it.
This is not a problem for most people, however, there is a part of the population that is allergic and intolerant to gluten in the flour, lactose in milk, and other ingredients. If this is your case, always check the product label and opt for a cocoa-free of these residues.
Organic or Vegan Cocoa Powders Are Healthier
Organic cocoa powder has earned the preference of many consumers as a healthier option. The cocoa used in these types of products has been planted without using pesticides and other pesticides, which can be bad for our health. In addition, it better concentrates the natural properties of the fruit.
Some brands also produce vegan cocoa powder, that is, without ingredients of animal origin, such as milk and its derivatives. It is a great option for vegans, vegetarians, and even omnivores. To find out if cocoa is vegan or organic, just look at the label or product description.
Check If The Volume of The Product Is Adequate For Your Recipes
Cocoa powder is an essential ingredient in making many types of recipes. This product is sold in packs of 100 g or even more than 500 g. If you intend to use cocoa to make a simple cake for a snack, for example, packages with 100 or 250 g are enough.
On the other hand, packages of 500g or more are ideal for pastry chefs, or those who frequently prepare various sweets. This volume is enough to make several recipes and is usually very cost-effective.
FAQ’s
1. Can You Use Cocoa Powder In Drinking?
In the morning, you can add a small amount of cocoa powder to milk or oats. Your breakfast smoothie may taste better and be more nutritious if you add cocoa powder to it.
2. What Kind of Cocoa Powder Is Healthiest?
Generally, raw cacao products are healthier and less processed than processed cacao products, which are made from dried, fermented, roasted cacao beans. Despite this, standard dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa remains a good source of antioxidants and minerals.
3. Which Cocoa Powder Is Unsweetened?
Cocoa powder that hasn’t been sweetened is available as either natural cocoa or Dutch-processed cocoa (also known as Dutch cocoa). Natural cocoa differs greatly from Dutch-process cocoa in its level of acidity.
4. What Is The Difference Between Dutch Cocoa And Regular Cocoa?
In spite of the fact that cocoa powder can vary in color from light reddish brown to a deep dark brown, Dutch-process cocoa powder has a noticeably darker hue. There are often earthy, woodsy notes associated with Dutch-process cocoa, which is smoother, mellower, and has a mellower taste than other types.
5. Is Bournville Cocoa Dutch-Processed?
Bournville Cocoa from Cadbury is processed in the Netherlands to deliver an exceptionally rich chocolate taste that is perfect for baking. If using dry ingredients, sift them first. Cadbury Bournville Cocoa should always be stored in an airtight container to preserve freshness.
6. Is Drinking Chocolate The Same As Cocoa Powder?
Even though the terms “hot chocolate” and “cocoa powder” are often interchanged, drinking chocolate and cocoa powder are not the same.
However, most “drinking chocolates” include other ingredients in order to make them taste rich and enticing.
Conclusion
You need to determine the purpose of The best cocoa powder for drinking, whether you like a particular flavor and whether you are looking for healthier options.
Cancer-fighting properties are among the benefits of cocoa powder. Feel free to enjoy some hot chocolate, cocoa, or baked goods.
Besides being great at baking cocoa, you can also use it in a wide range of beverage recipes. cocoa powder is fat-free and sugar-free, making it a healthy choice.