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

 

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