What Is The Difference Between Natural Cocoa Powder And Alkalized Cocoa Powder?
Mar 20, 2025
What is Cocoa powder?
Brown cocoa powder is a powder extracted from cocoa beans and is the core raw material for making chocolate. Its production process includes:
1. Fermentation and drying:
Cocoa beans are fermented for 5-7 days, and then sun-dried or dried to a moisture content of less than 7%.
2. Baking and crushing:
Baking at 120-140℃ for 30-50 minutes, crushing to separate cocoa shells and cocoa kernels.
3. Grinding and pressing:
Cocoa kernels are ground into cocoa liquor, and high-pressure pressing is used to separate cocoa butter and cocoa cakes.
4. Crushing and sieving:
Cocoa cakes are crushed into 80-200 mesh powder, which is natural cocoa powder.
black cocoa powder benefits:
1. Food processing
- Baking base:
Make chocolate cakes and brownies with rich flavor and dark brown color.
- Drink preparation:
The core ingredient of hot cocoa and mocha coffee, not too sweet or bitter, and more delicious.
- Candy and sauces:
Used in chocolate sauce and ice cream to enhance the consistency and flavor level.
2. Health value
- Cardiovascular protection:
Contains flavanols, which can dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
- Antioxidant:
Polyphenols can remove free radicals, and their anti-aging ability is 3 times that of green tea.
- Emotional regulation:
High quality cocoa powder contains phenylethylamine (PEA) and tryptophan, which promotes serotonin secretion and relieves anxiety.
3. Beauty application
- Mask ingredients:
Cocoa polyphenols inhibit melanin production and improve skin dullness.
- Hair conditioner additives:
Cocoa butter repairs hair scales and enhances hair gloss.
Natural Cocoa Powder vs. Alkalized Cocoa Powder:
| Compare items | Natural cocoa powder | Alkalized cocoa powder |
| Processing technology | Directly crushed cocoa cake, without chemical treatment | Soak in potassium/sodium carbonate solution to neutralize the acidity |
| Color and Flavor | Light brown, with a distinct sour taste (pH 5.2-5.8) | Dark brown to dark red, with lower acidity and a softer flavor |
| Solubility | Easy to clump, need to be mixed with sugar and fat | Excellent dispersibility, can be directly dissolved in cold water/milk |
| Nutritional information | Retain all flavanols and proanthocyanidins | Flavanol loss 50%-90% |
| Application | Baking Recipes That Call for Baking Soda | Ready-to-drink beverages, ice cream, desserts that do not require leavening agents |
Purchase and use suggestions:
1. Choose natural for health:
When high antioxidant effect is needed, choose best non alkalized cocoa powder, that is, natural cocoa powder.
2. Baking adaptation principles:
- Natural cocoa powder + baking soda: acid-base reaction produces gas, making the cake fluffy.
- Alkalized cocoa powder + baking powder: avoid excessive neutralization of acidity and affect expansion.
Contact Us:
Fruiterco is an export company that mainly produces plant extracts, health product raw materials, and cosmetic raw materials. The company has a 20+ professional service after-sales team.
Our products are sold to North America, Europe, Australia, South America and Asia. Our products have passed quality inspection and also support customer re-inspection. If you want to buy cocoa powder online, you can contact us: Email: info@fruiterco.com.
References:
1. https://www.nespresso.com/au/en/news/the-only-mocha-guide-you-will-ever-need
2. https://www.healthifyme.com/blog/cocoa-powder/#:~:text
3. https://cococochocolatiers.com/blogs/chocolate-blog/best-ways-to-add-cocoa-to-your-everyday-diet
4. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-812/cocoa
5. https://www.solaicoffee.com/blog/solai-blog-2/cocoa-powder-in-coffee-37
6. https://foodcom.pl/en/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-cocoa-discover-10-surprising-facts/
7. https://www.allrecipes.com/article/difference-between-cocoa-and-cacao/#:~:text
8. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cocoa-powder
9. https://www.forestwholefoods.co.uk/product/organic-cacao-powder/#:~:text
10. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cocoa-powder






