Cocoa Powder - Best one

JenRLo
JenRLo Posts: 95 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I love chocolate, with a passion, but only "good" (ie, high quality) chocolate. I especially enjoy Lindt 60% dark chocolate bars or Lindt anything. Sadly, I don't eat much chocolate anymore because the calories aren't worth it to me. I just finished reading an article about cocoa helping with hypertension (bit.ly/NrNPZz). One of the doctors recommends cocoa powder because "it delivers the most flavonols with the least amount of calories."

I don't have hypertension but it made me realize that I can probably enjoy my chocolate again! So, any recommendations on brands of cocoa powder that deliver a rich dark chocolate taste? No Hershey's please!

Thanks!
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Replies

  • JenRLo
    JenRLo Posts: 95 Member
    I can't be the only one that enjoys chocolate.......
  • Jugie12
    Jugie12 Posts: 282 Member
    Well, you said no Hershey's...their unsweetened powder is my go-to.
  • CrisAlex
    CrisAlex Posts: 236 Member
    If you have a Costco's nearby, I highly recommend the Rodelle cocoa. Rich tasting, great value, and 15 calories per tablespoon.
  • LoyalAngel16
    LoyalAngel16 Posts: 186 Member
    I personally like the Hershey's Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • Lina4Lina
    Lina4Lina Posts: 712 Member
    I love the Trader Joe's one but it is seasonal so only available in fall/winter.
  • JenRLo
    JenRLo Posts: 95 Member
    Wow, guess I'll have to give Hershey's another try! I didn't know they made a special dark one.....
  • Sailorwind
    Sailorwind Posts: 158 Member
    I'd be interested to hear more views on this. I just bought this weekend a fairly expensive pack of Mayan Cacao powder that has nothing in the ingredients except pressed and milled cocoa beans. I was so excited looking at the nutritional information. Then I got home and pulled out my almost forgotten tin of Hershey's Special Dark and compared the nutritional information - the Hershey's won out on everything but the protein! That shocked me. The difference seems to be that the Hershey's Special Dark is dutch pressed and the Mayan Cacao is not. The dutch pressing apparently involves adding an alkalai soak to remove more astringent flavors and such. I'm now not sure which one is actually better for me. I know the nutritional info says it's they Hershey's, but my gut says to go with the less processed product for longer term health effects. Help? Advice? Anyone done any research on this topic?
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    I personally like the Hershey's Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

    This is my favorite as well!
  • emily356
    emily356 Posts: 318 Member
    Sailorwind, I've bought Hershey's for years. Then, I saw the dark and thought it must me better for me. Read the side label. It actually says because it is Dutch processed, it had less antioxidants than their reg cocoa powder!! So I say for health reasons, go with your more expensive, less processed cocoa!!:)
  • Sailorwind
    Sailorwind Posts: 158 Member
    I think you're right. I read a few articles about it and health-wise natural wins out, though all the ones focusing on baking said use the dutch pressed because it has a milder more of what recognize as "chocolate" flavor.
  • darkchocolate68
    darkchocolate68 Posts: 104
    Ghiradelli is double the price of Hershey's but I don't know if that makes it any better. I didn't buy it. I have bought cocoa from Penzey Spices and I like it, but I don't really know if it is any better.it is just more expensive. Penzey spices are great though.

    http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeyscocoapowder.html
  • Sailorwind
    Sailorwind Posts: 158 Member
    Ghiradelli is double the price of Hershey's but I don't know if that makes it any better. I didn't buy it. I have bought cocoa from Penzey Spices and I like it, but I don't really know if it is any better.it is just more expensive. Penzey spices are great though.

    http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeyscocoapowder.html
    Apparently the real difference is between natural and dutch pressed. Which Penzey's one did you buy?
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    I use Penzey's cocoa...delicious! And I LOVE shopping at Penzey's, so any excuse to go there works for me!
  • marycmeadows
    marycmeadows Posts: 1,691 Member
    hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder is what I use - almost daily.
  • FrugalMomsRock75
    FrugalMomsRock75 Posts: 698 Member
    I personally like the Hershey's Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

    THIS! Why no Hershey's? They're awesome. I like my dark chocolate truffles, too... but nothing wrong with Hershey's. :)
  • lenoresaari
    lenoresaari Posts: 500 Member
    What do you do with cocoa powder ?
  • Athena98501
    Athena98501 Posts: 716 Member
    I personally like the Hershey's Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

    I was going to post this, and I wasn't a Hershey's fan either. This one is the richest I've found, but it's getting hard to find in stores for some reason. If you can't find it, look online, it's worth it.
  • Athena98501
    Athena98501 Posts: 716 Member
    What do you do with cocoa powder ?

    I make hot cocoa with it, but most people bake with it.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    Hershey's also makes a "natural" cocoa that is not dutch processed. I have tried that, Ghirardelli's and Chatfield's, and honestly couldn't tell you the difference between them. As far as how many antioxidants you're getting, I have tried to look that up by brand but haven't been able to find anything.

    Also, in most of the studies where they saw health benefits, the subjects were eating lots of chocolate -- from what I read, you need to take about 4 TBSP of cocoa powder a day to see the health benefit.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    Yum cocoa powder. I can't use it often but what a treat and definitely not too late in the day. You can look it up on the web there are lots of good brands. :) YUM
  • Fat2Fit4Life
    Fat2Fit4Life Posts: 599 Member
    bumper
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    Nestle also makes cocoa powder. King Arthur Flour has a few, including a "black cocoa" that is fabulous for faux Oreo's.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    TerrAmazon Organic Cacao Powder has the best stats from what I've seen: 1 oz is 110 calories, 16g carbs, 8g protein and sugar/fat-free. It's so rich, though, that I only use 1 tablespoon (which is about 1/4 an ounce) for smoothies.
  • Sailorwind
    Sailorwind Posts: 158 Member
    I put the Hershey's Special Dark (dutch pressed) in my protein shake today along with some chocolate PB2 and vanilla almond milk. It was really yummy! I've used it for baking before, mainly because I have always preferred dark chocolate to milk chocolate. But tomorrow I think I'm going to try the Mayan natural cacao in my protein drink. I may also try putting it in with my coffee grounds. One of the sites I came across today recommended that and it sounds great! I had already started putting some ground cinnamon and cloves in my coffee grounds, so this will be a great addition I think!
  • JenRLo
    JenRLo Posts: 95 Member
    What do you do with cocoa powder ?

    I intend to mix it with my plain no-fat greek yogurt as a chocolate treat when I need it! You can also mix it with Ricotta cheese for a mousse like treat. I like the idea of putting it in the coffee grounds, but I'm curious if there would be enough of a "chocolate" taste when done? I'll have to try this weekend.

    I absolutely love chocolate but cannot control myself well around it. I also like Lindt chili pepper chocolate. I get my chocolate but can't go overboard because of the hotness. They also make bacon chocolate but I can't go there....I would eat it all at once.
  • darkchocolate68
    darkchocolate68 Posts: 104
    Ghiradelli is double the price of Hershey's but I don't know if that makes it any better. I didn't buy it. I have bought cocoa from Penzey Spices and I like it, but I don't really know if it is any better.it is just more expensive. Penzey spices are great though.

    http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeyscocoapowder.html
    Apparently the real difference is between natural and dutch pressed. Which Penzey's one did you buy?

    I bought both since some recipes call for both kinds.
  • blackgold86
    blackgold86 Posts: 171 Member
    How is everyone using their cocoa powder?
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    bump
  • wftiger
    wftiger Posts: 1,283 Member
    I buy Ghiradelli. Very tasty stuff.
  • goldfinger88
    goldfinger88 Posts: 686 Member
    Get Hershey's dark chocolate (not the mix and with no sugar added) in the baking section of the store. Mix it in a blender or blender jar along with some splenda or whatever you prefer but no sugar hopefully. Add milk or almond milk or whatever. The mixes are not good. The real stuff is loaded with antioxidants and good stuff. Plus, it lowers blood pressure.

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