Cocoa instead of coffee? Exactly!

Most of us experience tiredness, excessive sleepiness or a lack of concentration at some point during the day. We usually reach for a strong coffee, but it is not the only drink that can help with an energy slump. Why not try... cocoa? Surprised? Let us take a closer look.

Cocoa — what do we know about it?

Cocoa is simply the powdered seeds of cacao fruit. The cacao tree originates in Central and South America. Historical research shows that cocoa was known in ancient times, when the Aztecs and Maya used it as food. They prepared a drink from the powdered seeds, calling it the “drink of the gods”.

Cocoa reached Europe through Christopher Columbus in the sixteenth century, when he brought it to Spain. There, people tried to acquire a taste for a drink made from powdered cacao beans according to the Aztec recipe, but found it exceptionally bitter. To improve the flavour, they added ingredients such as sugar, vanilla and milk.

Today, cacao plantations can be found in Central and South America, Africa and Asia. Africa remains the largest producer. It is estimated that more than 70% of the world's cacao beans come from Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana.

The flavour and aroma of a cocoa drink depend on the variety of cacao tree that supplied the powdered beans. Three varieties are distinguished: Criollo, Trinitario and Forastero.

Production starts with harvesting ripe fruit, which is then fermented. The pods are cut open and the beans removed. The beans pass through cleaning, sorting, further fermentation, drying, roasting, grinding and fat removal. Grinding produces dark-brown cocoa powder, while the final stage yields cocoa fat, or cocoa butter, a main ingredient in chocolate.

Cocoa — health-related properties

Most of us associate cocoa with a sweet drink containing a fair number of calories. Yet cocoa also contains many valuable nutrients.

These include antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins A and E and B vitamins. Cocoa is also rich in minerals such as magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc and sodium. Research links deficiencies in these nutrients with premenstrual syndrome, or PMS.

• Because of its antioxidant content, cocoa is regarded as a food that can help protect the body against various diseases, especially lifestyle-related conditions. These compounds protect cells against harmful free radicals and help counter ageing processes. Its flavonoids and phenolic acids are associated with beneficial cardiovascular effects.
• Valeric acid is associated with cocoa's calming and soothing effects.
• Interestingly, cocoa is associated with higher serotonin levels, linked to feelings of happiness. This is why it is said to have antidepressant qualities, reduce stress and improve mood.

High-quality cocoa has many other health-related qualities, but the particularly interesting question is whether it can replace classic black coffee. Here is the answer.

Cocoa and caffeine — what is the truth?

Cocoa contains only a small amount of caffeine, around 0.2%, but theobromine, present at around 2–4%, is a worthy counterpart. It is the substance responsible for cocoa's stimulating effects. That makes cocoa worth preparing in the morning or whenever sleepiness or tiredness strikes. Theobromine can help reduce mental and physical fatigue, improve concentration and provide energy for the next few hours.

Which cocoa should you choose?

Sweetened, sugar-free, organic, flavoured, low-fat or granulated: which cocoa is best? It is easy to get lost among all the options. Rather than follow dietary fashions, use common sense.

Read the ingredients. A good-quality cocoa will have no additional ingredients, especially sugar, which only raises the drink's calorie content. Pay attention to the cocoa percentage too: the higher it is, the better the product.

Read also: Blue tea is taking the internet by storm. What is Butterfly Pea Tea?