Cocoa Powder comes from Cocoa beans the seeds of the cacao tree, Theobroma cacao, which is native to the the equatorial region of the world from Central and South America to Africa and Indonesia.
When the fat, called cocoa butter, gets removed from the cacao beans during the pressing process, the remaining dried solids are ground into cocoa powder. The pressing does not remove all the cocoa butter, so the cocoa particles remain coated with a thin layer of cocoa butter.
According to Scientific American, "these solid particles (the cocoa powder) are the basis of chocolate's flavor (and not as one might imagine—the cocoa butter). As a result, cocoa powder is the most concentrated version of chocolate there is."
Cocao powder is rich in antioxidants and helps give you smooth and healthy skin. Cocao powder not only contains lots of minerals like calcium, potassium, and zinc, but it also contains high levels of caffeine and theobromine which help firm skin cells, tighten skin and reduce puffiness.
Cocoa powder is a great natural exfoliant. It helps improve blood which results in a more youthful glow. The gentle exfoliation is particularly good for those with acne-prone skin.
A simple mask of cocoa powder and water can add a youthful glow, moisturize your skin and prevent blemishes. Cocao powder masks can be made by mixing cocoa powder with yogurt, olive oil, water, or honey. Choose ingredients, mix together and apply directly on washed skin. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then rinse with lukewarm water.
You can also make a scrub by mixing the mask ingredients with ground oatmeal or brown sugar to get rid of dead skin.
In hair care, cocoa powder helps moisturize, soften, and smooth hair and promotes shinier.
Using Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Cocoa supports quality products that improve lives, protect the environment, and support small farmer co-ops that use sustainable farming methods. Fair Trade helps consumers support products that come from farms that have been certified to provide fair wages and safe working conditions.
