You must have heard of the goodness of cocoa butter for skin, but it is an integral part of food as well – especially chocolates!
As cocoa butter does not melt at room temperature, it gives that silky yet crunchy bite to chocolates and that perfect melt-in-the-mouth feel.
What is Cocoa Butter?
Merriam-Webster defines cocoa butter as “a pale vegetable fat with a low melting point obtained from cacao beans.”
Cocoa butter is a pure fat widely used in sweet and savoury recipes. It is a triglyceride naturally found in cocoa beans and other sources. Cocoa butter makes up 40% to 50% of the cocoa bean.
Cocoa butter comprises almost 37% stearic acid, 34% oleic acid, 25% palmitic acid, 3% linoleic acid, and 1% various other fatty acids. They all melt at body temperature and exhibit neutral or good activity on heart (except palmitic acid).
How is Cocoa Butter Produced?
Cocoa butter is extracted from cacao beans. The Theobroma cacao plant, also called the “Food of the Gods” by the Mayans, is the main source of cacao beans for cocoa butter.
- Firstly, the beans are cleaned
- Then, they are roasted and shelled to uncover cocoa nibs
- The nibs are then ground into a paste called cocoa liquor
- The cocoa liquor is pressed to extract theobroma oil (cocoa butter)
- Cocoa powder and cocoa cake are obtained as other products
Sometimes, cacao beans may be fermented to enhance the cocoa butter’s stability and develop the aroma.
How does Cocoa Butter Taste?
Coming from the same bean as cocoa powder, cocoa butter shares a similar but mild taste. It has a slightly sweet, chocolaty flavour with a strong aroma. The butter is not eaten on its own because of the lack of a strong flavour profile. Instead, it is commonly utilised in the production of edibles like chocolates.
How to Use Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is a suitable substitute for dairy butter. It is typically solid at room temperature, so you must melt it before using it. Add a small amount of cocoa butter to the recipe to see if the taste suits you.
You can also use it for skincare by taking a tablespoon of the butter on your hand and rubbing it on your skin; let the butter melt and massage it onto your skin thoroughly.
Cocoa Vs. Cacao Butter
While we usually use cocoa powder and cocoa butter, some food connoisseurs prefer cacao butter for a more natural taste. The temperature in cacao manufacturing does not exceed 115°F. So, cacao butter is usually less processed than cocoa butter.
How to Store Cocoa Butter?
Though cocoa butter does not melt at room temperature, people living in hot areas must keep it in a cool place. It should be stored away from light and heat in a dry spot to ensure longevity.
Fun Facts about Cocoa Butter
- Despite the word “butter,” cocoa butter is a completely vegan product with no dairy.
- In the United States, chocolate is made with only cocoa butter, but European chocolate manufacturers also use other fats.
- You can use cocoa butter on the skin to moisturize and lighten scars.
- Cocoa butter can help with male pattern baldness by boosting hair follicle health.