Equal Exchange Fairly Traded Organic Baking CocoaEqual Exchange is an employee owned company that aims to improve sustainable partnerships between farmers and consumers. In 1986, the founders of Equal Exchange started with fairly traded coffee in Nicaragua. Today the company has grown considerably with several product lines including chocolate and baking cocoa (which we’ll be reviewing today). The great part about Equal Exchange is that when you purchase one of their products, you help build a democratic and sustainable food system. Their business is based on democratic principles instead of maximizing profits or return to investors. That’s some pretty ingenious stuff.
Equal Exchange’s Baking Cocoa comes in an eight ounce canister with a great snap lid. It’s certified organic by the USDA and certified Kosher Pareve by the Orthodox Union. The cocoa bean used in Equal Exchange’s Baking Cocoa comes from farms in the CONACADO co-operative of Dominican Republic. According to Equal Exchange, they’ve been buying the cocoa directly from this small farm co-operative for over ten years. That’s a long time of chocolaty goodness.
Taste Experience – Score: 10 out of 10
Equal Exchange’s Baking Cocoa has a rich full flavor and smell. You can smell and see the richness immediately when you open the can. It’s a dark deep chocolate brown color with an even consistency texture. Without looking at the ingredients, I can tell Equal Exchange doesn’t add fillers. The cocoa is uniform chocolaty powder.
Tasting it on its own, you can feel the fresh taste. This absolutely has to be in part because Equal Exchange buys directly from the farms in the Dominican Republic. It’s as if you stepped foot on a cocoa bean farm and they freshly ground and dried the bean for you.
The baking cocoa is robust and intense while staying silky smooth. In brownies, oatmeal energy bars, smoothies, breads, and other treats, you can taste the intensity but it’s a quality that complements, never over powers other ingredients. Have you ever added more baking cocoa than what the recipe calls for to elicit more of a chocolaty taste? Me too. With Equal Exchange’s Baking Cocoa, you’ll find you don’t need to because of the powder’s potency. You can get Equal Exchange’s Baking Cocoa on Amazon.
I especially enjoy using it in oatmeal energy bars. If you’re interested, check out my favorite recipe here or keep scrolling for the nutrition goodness.
5 minute Chocolate Coconut No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls (makes 12)
- 1 cup dry oats (I like 1/2 old fashioned oatmeal and 1/2 quick cooking)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (I like Teddie Peanut Butter)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons Equal Exchange Baking Cocoa
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients in and bowl and stir to combine. The mixture will be a bit sticky. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Use a spoon to scoop about a tablespoon of the mixture into your hand. Roll in your hands until a tight ball forms. Repeat. Store covered in the fridge for up to a week and enjoy!
Nutrition – Score: 10 out of 10
Before we get into this particular product, let’s first revisit what in the heck cocoa is. Cocoa, also known as cacao, can be found in tropical rainforests of Central and South America. It comes from a bean on the cacao tree. The cocoa beans have long established nutrition benefits. The Mayans used the beans in spiritual ceremonies and weddings. Europeans touted chocolate to have aphrodisiac and healing properties. This once delicacy can now be enjoyed in products across the world.
Just because cocoa based products are so readily available, doesn’t mean they are all great choices. Many mass marketed products have large amounts of sugars, oils, and additives. Equal Exchange Baking Cocoa is natural without fillers and considerably healthier. Minimal in calories (Equal Exchange Baking Cocoa has 20 calories per tablespoon) and high in nutrients, it’s a great natural food to create a healthy rich chocolatey taste.
The cocoa beans have one of highest sources of plant-based iron per weight. In Equal Exchange Baking Cocoa you’ll find 4% of your iron needs in just one tablespoon! Since iron is important in creating hemoglobin that carries oxygen to our cells, I like to add it to post-workout energy snacks (like in the recipe above) to optimize athletic recovery.
Although cocoa isn’t a significant source of macronutrients (fat, protein, carbohydrates), the food is nutrient dense with micronutrients. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. Cocoa is good source of magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. These micronutrients have several benefits and roles in the body but most notably they play a role in reducing inflammation and improving heart health.
If all that doesn’t make you happy, the cocoa itself will! It serves as a natural mood booster increasing serotonin and tryptophan levels that increase our happiness. Maybe this is why the Greeks called cocoa a food from the Gods!
The Non-Vegan Review – Score: 10 out of 10
I am a believer folks! My plant-killing wife has converted me. I thought Ovaltine was the end-all-be-all of chocolate powders. I’m here to tell you to drop the Ovaltine. Buy this Equal Exchange cocoa powder and taste what real chocolate powder is supposed to taste like. Add your own sugar and whala, you have the best tasting chocolate milk (plant-based milk of course) or hot chocolate. And, those chocolate balls, man of man, who doesn’t love some chocolaty balls, just delicious! Oh and them brownies, just to die for. You won’t be disappointed with Equal Exchange’s baking cocoa. Get you some now! Non-vegan husband out.
Parting Thoughts
Equal Exchange Baking Cocoa is a pure, high quality, and versatile staple. The rich flavor will add decadence to all of your chocolate endeavors while buying from Equal Exchange helps small farmers continue to produce a great product. Nestle, Tollhouse, or any of the other baking cocoas have NOTHING on Equal Exchange’s quality and business model. I will never settle for another one again and I encourage you to try today. Equal Exchange Baking Cocoa is available on Amazon, and by using my link you’ll help support this site and a fellow vegan. Thanks for stopping by.
Hello ,
I saw your tweet about animals and thought I will check your website. I like it!
I love pets. I have two beautiful thai cats called Tammy(female) and Yommo(male). Yommo is 1 year older than Tommy. He acts like a bigger brother for her. 🙂
I have even created an Instagram account for them ( https://www.instagram.com/tayo_home/ ) and probably soon they will have more followers than me (kinda funny).
I wanted to subscribe to your newsletter, but I couldn’t find it. Do you have it?
Keep up the good work on your blog.
Regards
Wiki
Hey Wiki, thanks for visiting my blog and for the kind words. Tammy and Yommo are beautiful! Thanks for sharing them with the world. 🙂
I never thought about having a newsletter, but that’s a great idea. I’ll see if my husband can get that going. Thanks!