We've seen a lot of refined chocolate this week (More happy choccy for charity, Eat chocolate, prevent animal cruelty, Heavenly handmade truffles and Organic chocolate with a twist of modern art) so it's time to consider the bean itself, naked and pure, 'cause according to the folks at Raw Living, Cacao Nibs are "one of the most complex foods known to man, and these raw nibs are the ultimate raw treat." £9.00 for 250g - or go for their £50.95 extravaganza and get the bits plus the butter.
This is just chocolate, not sugar or additives, so it's roughly comparable to eating green coffee beans in terms of raw power. So if you want something more accessible to start with (not to mention more modestly priced) you can always check out the Yachana Jungle chocolate from the Hunger Site.
Yachana chocolate is "sun-dried, slow-roasted, coarsely cracked, and sweetened with a touch of fresh sugarcane juice." Comes in Plain, Macadamia Nuts, Brazil Nuts and Coffee, Raisin and Coconut. "Yachana Gourmet pays farmers 200% to 300% above the local market price for their cacao. The Ecuadorian Government says that this project is a truly viable alternative in Ecuador to industries involved in the growing and trafficking of cocaine." Need we say "fair trade" any more clearly? $4.95 USD + P&P - for a limited time, buy three, get one free. [GT]
From: BEST OF 2008: Eco-friendy and sustainable shoes