The perfect ceremonial cacao chocolate - help me

[Alchemica]

Today I let cacao's spirit guide me at my first attempt at a basic ceremony bar, this is very early R&D - got busy in the kitchen instead of dreaming.
 

15g coconut oil was warmed on a hot water bath and 200mg cacao alkaloids (finely powdered) added. This was vigorously stirred to form a milky somewhat dissolved suspension of alkaloids in the oil. With vigorous stirring, 10g agave syrup was added followed by slow addition of 20g organic cacao powder, forming a firm, consolidated mass. This was formed into an individual serve of ceremonial grade cacao chocolate and allowed to cool to afford one bar.
 

Verdict. It's palatable. Lacks good mouth feel though and mp isn't the best. It's pretty powdery and crumbly. Probably needs some cocoa butter or something? Improvements for adding some mouth feel and bettering this welcome!

Do you have suggestions on how to form a cacao product high in flavonols, Mg, Fe from the cacao with a good sweetener and a beneficial oil? Aiming for either chocolate to distribute to disadvantaged that will be healthy (I generally won't top that up with alkaloids), or if I move into healthier oil sources a spread where it can be put in jars. Aiming for it to be a solid healthy functional food and good slow release energy source. Might fortify with vitamins. I wouldn't mind something to act as a creamer if it can be a protein source, can you think of anything like that?

[Anodyne]

Getting good texture with chocolate is tricky. For small-scale stuff, unless you are prepared to waste a bunch of ingredients mastering this craft, it might be simplest to just start with a decent dark chocolate & then melt it to add whatever you need to add. If adding powders add a spoonful of coconut oil or cacao butter to balance the dryness.

 

If you've really got your heart set on making it from scratch, here's a few ideas. You probably need to up fat content of that recipe - pref with cacao butter for good mouthfeel/mp, but coconut oil is workable & cheaper. Try spreading it out thin (chocolate "bark" style) - this can help with the texture and gives you maximum surface area for adding toppings as a bonus. For non-dairy creaminess, use very finely-ground nuts (eg. "smooth" nut butters) &/or replace some of the cacao butter/coconut oil with coconut butter (which contains coconut solids) - this will make the chocolate somewhat grainy, but you can try to use that to advantage by making more of a nut fudge - plus if it's grainy anyway you can use dates as the sweetener for extra minerals. You can always coat/top the fudge layer with some smooth dark chocolate (snickers-style) for presentation/mouthfeel.

 

"Slow-release"...er no, probably not.

[Alchemica]

Thanks for that input - I'll have a play with that. I got given a solid recipe I've used many times I might go back to that uses a blend of a small amount of coconut oil and decent amounts of cacao butter at quite high quantities and gives a good tasting chocolate just not a healing chocolate to a great degree. I was just trying to strip it back to basics, cram in as much of the good stuff and as little of the excess and get rid of the cocoa butter but maybe that's not worth it. But I'd prefer this to be a true health food over a 'tastes good' one.

I enjoyed it still but anyone who has pure hedonistic association with chocolate probably wouldn't

I'd like a blend of coconut oil and PUFAs if I can, even if that means I make a 'spread' that you eat by the teaspoon. Any suggestions on a stable good way to do that?

While there's some indication coconut oil containing MCTs may be detrimental in excess, it seems balancing it with PUFAs is really helpful. Results suggest that the addition of MCT to PUFAs formulations may decrease the host response to inflammatory challenge. Treatment with coconut oil, as well as octanoic, decanoic and lauric acids, resulted in a modest increase in ketone bodies compared to controls which is beneficial. Coconut oil protects cortical neurons from amyloid beta toxicity by enhancing signaling of cell survival pathways. It may aid weight loss. That's why I'm trying to use it as the base for my chocolate.

[ThunderIdeal]

mmmm ^ gonna be a difficult undertaking i think.

 

similar sorts of products on the market now are so expensive.  i have doubts about this particular project.  i mean the goal is to put dark chocolate in their bellies right?  but how perfect can it be nutritionally with that as a starting point?  maybe say "okay i'm putting dark chocolate in their bellies with all the benefits that bestows, and any other nutritional benefit i can work in there is a bonus".  maybe focus on micronutrients that can feasibly be absorbed in the sitting?

 

FWIW, and i don't know how this stacks up against alternatives, but blackstrap molasses is a liquid canesugar rich in minerals.

[Alchemica]

Yeah could be a bit hard to get working at my donation funded price scheme hope. Might be better with Heart-space introduction skin therapy material. Just playing with a heart expansive medicine on a frequent schedule makes you want to help everyone which can be a bit hard to stay on track with..

Keep me in line TI with your wisdom, it's appreciated.

[ThunderIdeal]

well, i'm not naysaying entirely.  i'm suggesting that, an all-in-one super bar is a little optimistic even with money behind it.  at least, in the case of commercial bars, they end up costing a lot of money for something the size of one bite, and having looked on the ingredients of many often going as far as sampling them, they usually have pretty major shortcomings.

 

an obvious one is how to include significant protein (lets say no more than 40g since eating more than that at once poses an absoption problem).  protein bars tend to eschew sugar, and the texture is dry and chewy.  if you put a lot of fatty chocolate with it, that's going to go a long way to making it palatable if its done right.  somewhere along the way it does need to be sweetened.  since your target consumer is malnourished, rather than a fitness freak trying to reduce their calories, go for some kind of sugar why not?

 

i dunno. 

 

i guess it's hard for me to get in the headspace of trying to improve the nutrition of somebody who doesn't eat properly.  what is easier is honing in one one thing, like if you can say 'these people are all deficient in x, lets combat that specifically'.

[Anodyne]

ok, if the aim is less perfect chocolate bar and more healthfood as vessel for cacao-alks, then I would be looking more at bliss-ball type recipes for inspiration - relatively cheap & simple to make, easy to tweak in a high-protein/keto direction, easier to pack/distribute than jars of paste.

[Alchemica]

I almost see it as being something that could be an emergency quick hit of goodness. Probably not a long term health solution. I'll sleep on this, stay focused on one thing initially is probably the way to go. A simple heart medicine is really what I aimed to put out there but lately I've been seeing other avenues and exploring possibilities.

[ThunderIdeal]

and you can hawk them for like four dollars for something the size of your thumb!

 

:D

 

back to PUFAs, if you're gonna consume them, then in a mineral and antioxidant rich meal (such as you propose) is best.  i can't help but think, all of the crap food that's everywhere is loaded with PUFA oils anyway, to the point that, ugh, you can hardly escape it if you try!!!!!  nut butter would be the healthiest source.  i would have to sniff around to determine which nut would be best.

 

packaged nut butter is very expensive but it can be made cheaply i think.

[ThunderIdeal]

been a while since i've looked at the ingredients  since i personally shun this sort of thing nowadays (can't justify the prices)..... but bliss balls are composed primarily of stuff like ground nuts, almond meal, dates, and whatnot?  its quite likely that instead of nut butter (yet another ingredient bereft of solid texture) you could decide on a seed or nut, whether or not it be roughly-ground... the chunkiness could come in handy to keep the thing together or provide crunch or whatever, PLUS, this provides your PUFA component in the healthiest way that i can think of.

 

it's hard to go past chia seed as a superfood, don't recall the exact profile right this second.... not the easiest thing to incorporate in a delicious way though, especially if dry.

Edited July 8, 2017 by ThunderIdeal
forgot to mention PUFA

[Anodyne]

TI - bliss balls can be cheap if you make them yourself. They're often date-based, but you can def make them more nut-butter/coconut oil based if you want - I'm not much into dates & sweet things in general and prefer to make them like this myself, eg. cashew-coconut-cacao. My point wasn't that they're necessarily a perfect food - just that they're more versatile & forgiving of variations/additions than block-type chocolate recipes are. Nut butters work better as a binder than rough-ground nut meal since they have released their oils, but if you don't need it to be smooth/sticky for texture/binding reasons (eg. if you're adding lots of oil & dates) then you can use either - they're nutritionally about the same and you can make both with a food processor.

 

Wet chia seeds make a good binder for other stuff (if the product doesn't need to keep well at room temp).

[ThunderIdeal]

i edited it out before posting but i was actually agreeing that such a format seems more realistic than chocolate... its more of an appropriate way to include different ingredients and create more of a nutritionally diverse snack

[Alchemica]

Chocolate R&D continued.
 

20g coconut oil and 30g soy lecithin granules dissolved over hot water bath with heating with difficulty, 200mg alkaloids added, stirred in 10g agave and slowly poured in 20g cacao powder. This is pushing up the kJs (740 kJ from coconut oil and 756 kJ from soy lecithin) but also providing 11.6g PUFAs including 1330mg ALA, 4g fibre, 1.9g monounsaturateds and a source of choline as phospholipids. Should help bioavailability of flavonols, alkaloids etc.
 

I like the taste and mouth feel! Could have more cacao powder in it easily

Thoughts on this source (soy lecithin) TI, too unstable etc? This is a nice basic heart space with a possible pro-cognitive benefit? Cognition seems sharp but I'm also confronting deeper self layers and darker emotional material from the interpersonal sphere this time. I like it but I'd have to guard against PUFA oxidation and have a good lecithin source, slight bit of GI heaviness possibly due to using cheap lecithin?

Edited July 8, 2017 by Alchemica

[Alchemica]

@ThunderIdeal would you object to me using part of your extremely kind donation to secure some nutmeg butter? It's rich in trimyristin which I had hoped to use awhile ago for my chocolate base but struggled to find a local source. Found one. This is hydrolysed to the GABAA active myristic acid

 

Myristic Acid Produces Anxiolytic-Like Effects in Wistar Rats in the Elevated Plus Maze

 

A mixture of eight fatty acids (linoleic, palmitic, stearic, myristic, elaidic, lauric, oleic, and palmitoleic acids) at similar concentrations identified in human amniotic fluid produces anxiolytic-like effects comparable to diazepam in Wistar rats. However, individual effects of each fatty acid remain unexplored. In Wistar rats, we evaluated the separate action of each fatty acid at the corresponding concentrations previously found in human amniotic fluid on anxiety-like behaviour. Individual effects were compared with vehicle, an artificial mixture of the same eight fatty acids, and a reference anxiolytic drug (diazepam, 2 mg/kg). Myristic acid, the fatty acid mixture, and diazepam increased the time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and reduced the anxiety index compared with vehicle, without altering general locomotor activity. The other fatty acids had no effect on anxiety-like behaviour, but oleic acid reduced locomotor activity. Additionally, myristic acid produced anxiolytic-like effects only when the concentration corresponded to the one identified in human amniotic fluid (30 ug/mL) but did not alter locomotor activity. We conclude that of the eight fatty acids contained in the fatty acid mixture, only myristic acid produces anxiolytic-like effects when administered individually at a similar concentration detected in human amniotic fluid.

 

I have some oleoylethanolamide which is super therapeutic without much subjective effect. I can tweak coconut oil bases, add some mouth feel and that easily and safely is with some PPAR-α agonism and TRPV1 activity from ca. 100mg oleoylethanolamide, the endogenous satiety factor, potent anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, wakefulness promoting, antidepressive, memory enhancing and fear conditioning agent, to name a few benefits. It's derived from food derived oleic acid etc. It's subtle, subjectively you don't pick it unless you're tuned to it. It's much more potent at PPARs than palmitoylethanolamide but would be a nice addition. Wont do oleamide chocolate again, that stuff was odd.

[Anodyne]

It occurred to me that a hot chocolate drink paste might be another way to go with this. Hot drinks can be very comforting even when they're just some leaves in hot water... and a nice fatty hot chocolate on a cold winter day is on a whole new level. If you just had a jar of paste (or powder, but paste might be easier to make) that you could stir into some hot water...dunno where you're at and what the homeless facilities are like in your area, but in Sydney it is pretty easy to access a cup of hot water. Sorry to keep throwing ideas @Alchemica when you've obviously got a lot already!

[Alchemica]

Thank you. Much appreciate the ideas, keep them coming, this is like a relatively unexplored frontier so if we pool some good ideas other people can have a play. I do like the paste idea for hot chocolate! Cheers

[ThunderIdeal]

8 hours ago, Alchemica said:

Chocolate R&D continued.

 

20g coconut oil and 30g soy lecithin granules dissolved over hot water bath with heating with difficulty, 200mg alkaloids added, stirred in 10g agave and slowly poured in 20g cacao powder. This is pushing up the kJs (740 kJ from coconut oil and 756 kJ from soy lecithin) but also providing 11.6g PUFAs including 1330mg ALA, 4g fibre, 1.9g monounsaturateds and a source of choline as phospholipids. Should help bioavailability of flavonols, alkaloids etc.

 

I like the taste and mouth feel! Could have more cacao powder in it easily

 

Thoughts on this source (soy lecithin) TI, too unstable etc? This is a nice basic heart space with a possible pro-cognitive benefit? Cognition seems sharp but I'm also confronting deeper self layers and darker emotional material from the interpersonal sphere this time. I like it but I'd have to guard against PUFA oxidation and have a good lecithin source, slight bit of GI heaviness possibly due to using cheap lecithin?

 

Hmmm i never delved into understanding soy lecithin, obviously many health freaks want to avoid it but its usually in such small quantities as to be irrelevant.  Protein powders include some to prevent clumping yet some body-builders are so frightened of soy that manufacturers may elect to switch to sunflower lecithin.  you're including a lot, it maybe warrants a bit of investigation...? and sorry, im still having a bit of an issue reconciling the dietary info i've gathered which aims for higher than average health with  your goal of providing a degree of health to those who probably have unchecked diets and health problems.

 

the studies where people eat tons of soy lecithin and receive x y benefits use a more refined product with less of the soy oil, more of the choline-whatever.

 

 

2 hours ago, Alchemica said:

@ThunderIdeal would you object to me using part of your extremely kind donation to secure some nutmeg butter?

 

hmmmmm you may use it on any of the three projects although feeding homeless isn't a cause im even slightly aligned to.  the donation is for you to develop your own projects i guess.

Edited July 9, 2017 by ThunderIdeal

[Alchemica]

So a bit on the pharmacology of other chocolate constituents!
 

So some of the fatty acids are interesting at opioid receptors, too: The mixture of linoleic and palmitic acids (1:1) showed an affinity for δ opioid receptor with a Ki value of 9.2 ± 1.1 μM. Cocoa butter is rich in palmitic and ~4% linoleic. These are the fats and an assay from Nelumbo nucifera. Lotus based fat base chocolate sounds good!
 

Data suggest that (-)-epicatechin exerts its antinociceptive effects by activation of the NO-cyclic GMP-K channels pathway, 5-HT1A/1B/1D/5A serotonergic receptors, and μ/κ/δ opioid receptors. [1]
 

Always thought there was something nicely serotonergic + happening!

[☽Ţ ҉ĥϋηϠ₡яღ☯ॐ€ðяئॐ♡Pϟiℓℴϟℴ]

don't porn stars use lecithin? or so i heard before using it for a couple of years ...

what about honey? or is that gna be too pricey?

also , what about hexagonal salts?

and some reishi spores for augmentation of eventual constituents?

 

...stab in the dark here too : any benefit from different species/clones of chocolate ?

 

also what about ancients ingredients like virola nut fats , i'm pretty sure the butter of virola nuts is much easier to procure than the nuts themselves in my hunting experience ,

might be expensive too tho,.. unless sources could be found via pals in countries like brazil  around the amazon areas,

...might open up a score of live nuts too ;) or new patch of sustainably harvested and well paired (sexually) virola tree plots cropping up mmmm what a nice dream 

Edited July 14, 2017 by ☽Ţ ҉ĥϋηϠ₡яღ☯ॐ€ðяئॐ♡Pϟiℓℴϟℴ

[Alchemica]

So rather than chase down expensive nutmeg butter for a chocolate base, virgin coconut oil and cocoa butter seems best for taste and benefits. Trying to get an OK mp now. You also get coconut polyphenolic antioxidants! Trying to work out a good ratio!
 

The chemistry and pharmacology of these two comprise:

Cocoa butter contains palmitic acid (affinity for δ opioid receptor, precursor of palmitoylethanolamide, PPARα agonist), stearic acid (all I can find is that this one is pro-inflammatory), and oleic acid (modulates the membrane structure and concomitantly, the localization and/or activity of signaling proteins (G-proteins, PKC and adenylyl cyclase) Regulation of adenylyl cyclase activity by G proteins controls blood pressure, forms the peripheral and CNS active PPARα agonist/TRPV1 active oleoylethanolamide and oleamide (CB1/GABAA/5-HT2A/other serotonergic effects/PPARs etc), reduced in the brain of Alzheimer's patients, GABAA modulating itself, reduced locomotor activity).

Coconut oil is a unique combination of medium-chain fatty acids, with lipid lowering, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities including lauric acid (45% - ketone body forming, neuroprotective, immune modulating in things like autoimmune conditions), myristic acid (20% - GABAA modulator anxiolytic), palmitic acid (10% - affinity for δ opioid receptor) and calprylic acid (10% - potent CNS beneficial fat, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties), as well as stearic, linoleic (affinity for δ opioid receptor) and caproic acids (more ketones!). MCTs C8 etc are potent supplies of PPAR-gamma modulating fatty acids.

PPARα modulation can be added as desired with various natural ligands such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid (7.9, 17.3, and 60.8 nM, respectively).

Add the cacao flavonols: antioxidant, BDNF boosting, CBF hemodynamic modulating, neuroprotective effects. prevent BBB disruption and excessive inflammation reactions, immunomodulatory incl. through TLRs. activate NO-cyclic GMP-K channels pathway, 5-HT1A/1B/1D/5A serotonergic receptors, and μ/κ/δ opioid receptors just to name a few benefits!

Edited July 14, 2017 by Alchemica

[Ajnadurga]

I extol your efforts and knowledge to go to such lengths to share all of this... for our benefit....

 

Wouldn't home made nutmeg butter be a dream tho.....from what ive read about nutmeg... im not sure how active it is orally but in a cream??? Haha.... but if it had any oral effects I imagine they would compliment the cacao beautifully......

 

Nutmeg is a tricky thing tho as i understand......?