Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Bar chart of relative flavanol content by processing: raw cacao powder 100, cacao nibs 90, natural cocoa powder 55 and Dutch-processed cocoa 25

Raw Cacao vs Cocoa Powder: What's the Real Difference?

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on May 24 2026

Raw cacao and cocoa powder come from the same fermented bean. The difference is processing, and processing can wipe out 30 to 60 percent of cacao's heat-sensitive flavanols. Here's what changes between the two powders, how they compare on nutrition, and which one to keep in the pantry.

#antioxidants
#buyer guide
#cacao
#cocoa powder
#dark chocolate

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