As a kid, one of the things I looked forward to most about winter – in addition to snow days – was hot chocolate! There was something incredibly magical about spending the better part of the day sledding, coming inside only to thaw out our red cheeks and frozen fingers and drink cocoa, and then heading back out to brave the cold again.

Cocoa vs Cacao

How is Cocoa Different From Cacao?

Cacao refers to the food items derived from the cacao bean that have remained raw. These products include cacao nibs, cacao butter, cacao mass or paste, and most frequently, cacao powder. Raw cacao powder is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans, which retains the living enzymes and removes the cacao butter. Cocoa powder looks the same as cacao powder; however, cocoa powder is the raw cacao that has been roasted at high temperatures. (Read more about the difference between cocoa and cacao on HealthLine and One Green Planet.)

Are Cocoa Powder and Cacao Powder Interchangeable?

In many recipes, cocoa powder and cacao powder are interchangeable, although there might be a slight difference in flavor, texture, and/or appearance. In this 5 Minute Low Carb Hot Chocolate Recipe, you can use either cocoa powder or cacao powder without any major differences in the end result.

Is Cacao Better Than Cocoa?

As a result of roasting, the molecular structure of the cocoa bean changes, lowering the overall nutritional value of cocoa powder compared with cacao powder.