Cacao vs Hot Chocolate – What’s The Difference?

The winter season is now well and truly here in the northern hemisphere and what could be better than cosying up with a warming mug of something chocolatey and delicious? As we slowly make our way towards winter solstice, the days are growing short and the nights are getting longer: it’s the perfect time to be more inwards and reflective, to tend to our inner hearth and to nurture ourselves with nourishing foods so we have enough energy to sustain ourselves over the coming colder months.  

With their comforting warmth and flavour, hot chocolate drinks are hugely popular at this time of year. The first chocolate drinks were thought to have been made by the Mayan people as long as 2,000 years ago for their invigorating, health-giving and mood-enhancing properties... But things have changed a lot since then! 

Today’s hot chocolate drinks – with their artificial additives, sweeteners and preservatives – are far away from those original chocolate brews. Meanwhile, the many health benefits of cacao are still only known and enjoyed by a relative few. In this blog, we explain the key differences between cacao and hot chocolate – and why this favourite winter warmer may not be providing as much nourishment as you might expect. 

Composition: what’s in our cup?

Hot chocolate, also known as cocoa or drinking chocolate, is a warm drink consisting of cocoa power, chocolate shavings or melted chocolate heated in water, milk and/ or cream, often with added sweeteners and preservatives. While in its purest form, cacao is a single-ingredient drink made from the solid mass which comes directly from the cacao bean, melted in hot water. Spices, plant milks, essential oils and natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup are often added to cacao to personalise the brew.  

The taste test: what’s the difference in flavour?

Hot chocolate is often milder and milkier than cacao: it’s also much sweeter thanks to the added sugar, and you probably won’t get that deep, dark chocolatey hit unless you buy a brand with a higher percentage of chocolate solids. Cacao is much richer and darker than hot chocolate, with a fuller-bodied mouth-feel, a thick and velvety texture and more complex flavour profile.  

Processing power: how are they made?

Many hot chocolate mixes on the market today are made from cocoa powder: the dry, solid remains of roasted cacao beans once the cacao butter has been removed. Because cocoa powder is roasted at high temperatures, the molecular structure of the bean changes, reducing its enzyme content and slightly lowering its nutritional value. Whereas cacao is made by processing cacao beans at low temperatures, which preserves the antioxidant content and retains the beneficial cacao butter, which you’ll often see shimmering and swirling on the surface of a cacao drink. 

The health benefits: are we helping or harming our body?

Pure cacao is high in antioxidants – containing even more than blueberries and acai – which are believed to protect cells from damage by free radicals. It’s also rich in minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper and manganese, and contains flavonoids that are believed to have cancer-fighting properties and improve the functioning of blood vessels. 

While the theobromine found in cacao is gently mood-enhancing, energy-boosting and relieves fatigue, the high quantity of sugar and dairy found in store-bought hot chocolate can cause crashes and run havoc with our hormones: did you know that a small hot chocolate from a high-street coffee shop can contain up to 20g of sugar?! 

The dairy in processed hot chocolates and cocoas can also block the absorption of antioxidants, while the addition of artificial flavours, sweeteners and preservatives to ensure they taste better and last longer can result in a less than wholesome drink. Cheaper hot chocolate in particular often includes low-quality powdered milk and artificial sweeteners to standardise the flavour and ensure lower manufacturing costs. 

Ethics and energy: what are we really drinking?

Cheap hot chocolate is often made with low quality cacao, which isn’t good for cocoa farmers or consumers, whereas ethical brands like Ritual Cacao only source fair-trade and organically grown cacao that comes directly from indigenous communities in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Amazon. Check out our blog on ethical chocolate if you’d like to dig deeper into the integrity of the chocolate in your cup and ensure you’re not inadvertently supporting unethical practices like child and slave labour...

Warming chocolate drinks are undoubtedly one of winter’s greatest pleasures, but if you’re drinking a highly processed hot chocolate, you simply aren’t reaping the same health benefits as you could be with cacao. Not only is cacao more satisfying and fulfilling, it’s also far better for you and the planet! This winter, why not treat yourself or someone you love to a gift of beautiful, ethical and health-enhancing cacao?

 
Ceremonial Grade Cacao Individual Portions
Ceremonial Grade Cacao Individual Portions
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Are you ready for the holidays? Below are some alternative gift ideas for you and your loved ones:

  • Support yourself and your loved ones through the winter season with a Ritual Cacao Starter Pack or Self-Care Box.

  • Stuck for stocking fillers? Try our BRAND NEW individually portioned packs!

  • Don’t forget our monthly Cacao Membership, Bookworm Bundle or Goddess Gift Pack make ideal Christmas gifts for the chocolate lovers in your life.

  • Or check out the rest of our cacao products available in our shop.

 
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