Introduction
Commonly found in the production of chocolate, cocoa butter is a plant-based fat extracted from roasted cocoa beans. Also known as Theobroma oil, it is an edible fat that has a high concentration in polyphenol and flavonoid antioxidants which offer a wide range of health benefits.
Health Benefits of Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is used in a variety of healthcare items, such as face and body lotions, because of its texture and long shelf life. Here are some of the benefits of cocoa butter:
- Keeps skin moisturized
- Aids in reducing hair loss
- Reduces signs of aging (such as wrinkles)
- Helps improve heart health
- Lessens the appearance of scars on skin
Other Uses of Cocoa Butter
Aside from its benefits in healthcare, cocoa butter is an excellent fat for cooking or baking. You can use cocoa butter to:
- Produce various kinds of chocolate e.g. raw chocolate syrup, chocolate mousse, etc.
- Act as gelatin replacement
- Stand as a butter or dairy alternative
Cocoa Butter vs. Cacao Butter
Although cocoa butter and cacao butter are interchangeable, these vegetable fats are created through two different methods.
You can obtain cocoa butter by heating cocoa beans. On the other hand, you can produce cacao butter by fermenting cacao beans before drying them.
Conclusion
Whether it’s baking a batch of chocolates or crafting a new line of health lotions, you can use cocoa butter to fuel your next project.