What is Acticoa™ cocoa and chocolate?
Cocoa and chocolate is not only delicious, it offers potential health benefits too. In fact, this was already common knowledge in the ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures from which we inherited cocoa and chocolate. Today, scientific research confirms that a lot of truth lies in these ideas. From the more than 600 different substances in cocoa and chocolate, 230 probably have a positive effect on our health. For some of these components, scientific evidence already proved their beneficial impact on our health.
Barry Callebaut has developed a special ACTICOA™ process to preserve a maximum of the health-giving components in the cocoa bean. More specifically, ACTICOA™ products preserve large amounts of the polyphenols naturally present in cocoa beans. These cocoa polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that help to protect against the negative effect of free radicals. Scientific studies have shown that these components can help you maintaining a healthy mind and body.
The ACTICOA™ process starts at the cocoa plantations. Together with the cocoa farmers, Barry Callebaut has investigated ways of growing, harvesting and treating the beans in such a way that a maximum amount of polyphenols in the beans is preserved, together with the taste and aromas. These are also maintained in every step throughout the entire process from cocoa to chocolate: in roasting, mixing and conching. The end result is a particularly functional product: ACTICOA™ cocoa and chocolate. This combines excellent taste with a very high content of natural antioxidants. As a result, it offers great health benefits.
Fresh cocoa beans contain very high amounts of polyphenols that have powerful antioxidant effects. After processing, a part has been captured in chocolate; another part is lost.
ACTICOA™ makes the difference: this process preserves up to 70% of the naturally present polyphenols in the finished product. ACTICOA™ cocoa and chocolate therefore offers uniquely high amounts of the natural antioxidants from the cocoa bean.