Our Raw Chocolate Base
Criollo Cacao
The Criollo variety is the original and by far the highest quality of the three strains of cacao that exist today. The Criollo variety represents only 1% of world cacao production, and is mainly still produced in the Americas. Its cacao is fine and sweet, with complex flavor notes. We use Criollo cacao in three forms: cacao paste, cacao butter and cacao powder.
Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar is a low-GI (Glucose Index) sweetener that does not give you the highs and lows of cane sugar. It is a great alternative sweetener for persons sensitive to fructose since it is mostly composed of sucrose and it is rich in vitamins and minerals. Coconut sugar is obtained from the nectar of the coconut palm blossom. Producers climb each individual tree and ‘tap’ the flowers to collect their nectar twice a day.
Coconut palm trees benefit the ecosystem by restoring damaged soil and requiring very little water. Coconut tree farming produces up to 75% more sugar per hectare than sugar cane while using less than 20 per cent of the soil nutrients and water for that high level of production.
Vanilla Bean
Vanilla is indigenous to the rainforests of Mexico and Central America and was used by the Mayans and other ancient people of the region in combination with cacao. Its extract contains small amounts of B-complex groups of vitamins such as niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B-6. These vitamins help in enzyme synthesis, nervous system function and regulating body metabolism. This condiment spice also contains small traces of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron and zinc. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure.
Our Superfood Ingredients
Amaranth
Amaranth was a key part of the Aztec diet, and it was used not just for food but also used as part of ceremonies. Amaranth is used like a grain, but it is actually the seed of the amaranth plant, and is gluten-free. It contains lysine, which is missing in most grains, making amaranth a complete protein, because it contains all the essential amino acids. Amaranth is a great source of key vitamins and minerals; it contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. One cup of amaranth has 31% of the daily allowance for calcium, 14% for vitamin C and an impressive 82% for iron.
Maya nut
The nut from a tall tree in the central American rainforest, the Maya Nut is a life sustaining super food that the Mayan’s gathered them as a very important food source.
Maya Nuts contain a complete protein that’s similar to animal protein because it contains lots of absorbable iron, giving ideal nutrients for infants, older people, women who are pregnant and vegetarians. Maya Nuts contain protein, fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, iron, selenium for relaxation, vitamins A, B, C, and E… and lots of powerful antioxidants that prevent cardiovascular disease, strokes, and cancer. On top of this Maya Nuts stabilize blood sugar and lower cholesterol too, and fiber helps with constipation and gives you that full feeling… thus you eat less. Unlike other nuts, Maya nuts do not create allergic reactions in the same way that walnuts, peanuts, almonds and other nuts do.
Maya Nuts contain tryptophan; a relaxing agent that helps with insomnia, and Maya nuts increase serotonin levels, thus they can elevate mood and help with depression.
The Maya nuts in our chocolate are part of a program that is helping indigenous people plant Maya nut trees, thus sustaining their cultures and bringing back a great food source.
Purple Corn
Corn, or maize, has always been one of the most sacred plants for all the Americas. The organic non-GMO variety of purple corn we use is botanically very similar to common yellow table corn but with a higher content of minerals and vitamins. It is rich in cell-protecting antioxidants, as well as containing anti-inflammatory properties, promoting tissue regeneration.
Studies indicate purple corn may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, inhibit abnormal cell growth, promote collagen formation and improve circulation.
Harvesting consists of the purple corn cobs being picked when they are entirely ripe. The grains are then separated from the cob, dried at a low temperature and milled into a fine powder.
Acai
Acai berries are wild-harvested sustainably from the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. They are jam-packed with nutritional and health benefits. They are an extremely rich source of a group of antioxidants called anthocyanins, which is backed up by vitamin E – an important antioxidant in its own right – and the minerals iron, calcium, and magnesium.
The acai that is in one of our chocolate bars is the equivalent of eating 60 blueberries, and that’s not counting the high antioxidant levels of the other ingredients.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is native to Africa but has been grown throughout Asia and the Americas, and is synonymous with Mexican cuisine, served as a cold drink ‘Agua de Jamaica’. We also know that the Aztecs used flowers in their chocolate blends for their herbal medicinal qualities.
The hibiscus flower is well-known for reducing high blood pressure, lowering body temperature, helping with weight management, enhancing liver health, encouraging regularity, preventing insomnia, soothing skin irritations, for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and as a diuretic.
Current scientific research about the health benefits of hibiscus has focused primarily its ability to manage high blood pressure and provide support for those with type two diabetes.
Prickly Pear Fruit
Prickly pears, or xoconostle pears, are the red fruit of the nopal cactus. They are high in vitamin C, calcium, iron and fiber. Xoconostle pears have recently attracted the attention of researchers around the world due to their particularly strong anticancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant characteristics. Xoconostle pears are also rich source of soluble phenolics, ascorbic acid, and betalains compared to most common fruits and vegetables.
The xoconostle was harvested in the wild by the pre-Hispanic nomadic tribes the Otomíes and the Chichimecas as a main ingredient of their diet, and as a major source of water for their desert trips.
After the Spanish conquest, locals began cultivating xoconostle as a food and medicine. It also continued to be harvested in the wild arid areas surrounding the villages.
Xoconostle pears have been immortalized by the famous Aztec prophecy in which the capital, Tenochictlan, was founded when the wandering desert tribe who would become the Aztecs found the sign they had been searching for for generations: an eagle sitting on top of a nopal cactus, with a snake in its beak.
Lime Essential Oil
The organic food-grade lime oil that we use is the highest quality product available on the market. Lime oil is soothing and uplifting to the nervous system. It naturally encourages the appetite and helps you to absorb nutrients, vitamins and minerals, supporting the digestive system. It prevents and fights against viral infections and helps restore energy levels.
Mezquite
Mezquite can be found in the high desert plains of Peru and Mexico where the still winds and dry weather establish a stable atmosphere for this tree to thrive. The ancient superfood’s history dates back to Mexico in 6500 BC, when it was first harvested as an essential food and used as a currency to trade within indigenous cultures.
Mezquite is a superfood high in protein, amino acids, fiber, inositol, and minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. It contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, and E, as well as folic acid.
The tree has adapted to its environment and developed a special mechanism to gather water and nutrients from deep within the earth. Mezquite powder is low in sugar but has a natural sweet exotic flavour, and is low GI, not giving you the highs and lows of a cane sugar hit.
Harvesting consists of the pods being picked when they are entirely ripe. They are then dried at a low temperature and milled into a fine powder.
Freeze-dried Mango
Mango is quintessential to Mexican cuisine, and gives an unmistakable sweet, full exotic flavor that is loved throughout the world. A tropical plant, our mango is sourced from Queensland and is freeze-dried locally in Melbourne to preserve its optimum nutrients and fresh flavour.
Mangoes contains many nutrients and other bioactive compounds that can provide various health benefits; they are high in fiber, vitamins A and C, as well as other minerals and phytochemicals. In addition to this, recent studies have shown that incorporating mango into the diet could aid in reducing body fat and controlling blood sugar.
