Cocoa (Cocoa Powder); Used As Key Ingredient in Chocolate and Chocolate Confections
Cocoa is the dried and fully fermented seed of Theobroma cacao, from which cocoa solids and cocoa butter can be extracted. Cocoa beans are widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industry. Consumption of cocoa-rich products provide various health benefits such as lower risk of chronic fatigue syndrome and cardiovascular disease, and reduce hypertension. Cocoa powder is rich in theobromine, which helps to reduce inflammation and can protect from diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Moreover, it may cause allergic skin reactions, constipation, and trigger migraine headaches. Cocoa powder can be used in a variety of ways including chocolate liquor, smoothies, candy, cocoa bars, cocoa ice cream, and espresso. Chocolates contain wide range of cocoa ingredients depending on the type of chocolate, processing methods, and other environmental factors. For instance, dark chocolate has a significantly higher cocoa content compared to milk chocolate. Even when the cocoa content is the same, chocolate with a lower cocoa content tends to have a more intense chocolate flavor.
Cocoa powder is made by mixing the cocoa solids with sweeteners and sugar. Cocoa powder is also sometimes added to other ingredients to create different mixtures such as pudding mixes or cream sauces. Although chocolate can have a bitter taste, mixing it with sugar reduces this bitterness and produces a soft, smooth, and creamy chocolate liquor. Dark chocolate is made by combining fat and sugar with cocoa. Sugar is typically added to dark chocolate to some extent to counterbalance the bitterness of the cocoa. Cocoa is the key ingredient in chocolate and chocolate confections.
Unlike cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy or Molly), and phencyclidine (PCP or angel dust), cacao is not considered a controlled substance by the U.S. government. In other words, sniffing cacao is not illegal in this region. Furthermore, cocoa powder is a member of the Sweets USDA (the United States Department of Agriculture) nutritional food group. However, cocoa contains caffeine and related chemicals; large amounts may cause caffeine-related side effects such as a fast heartbeat, sleeplessness, nervousness, and increased urination.

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