MiCacao Loose Cacao Tea

How would you like to drink organic liquid dark chocolate all day, not gain an ounce, get your vitamins and a massive amount of antioxidants?

Yes? Me too.

So I was thrilled to learn about MiCacao Loose Cacao Tea. When we think of chocolate or cocoa, we tend to think of what comes from the inner nib of the bean. MiCacao Loose Cacao Tea is made of the Cacao Shells, which are organic. This is an herbal Chocolate loose tea that is nothing but the organic, gluten-free, vegan Cacao shells. There are no preservatives, artificial flavoring, or starches. It is caffeine free as well.

The shells have a ton of health ingredients, including a massive amount of anti-oxidants and minerals including Iron, Zinc, and Magnesium.

You might be wondering why the health benefits are so much better than from the actual cacao nib. Think about it: in fruits, the nutrients tend to be more concentrated in the rind. For instance, orange rind has much more Vitamin C than the part we typically eat. The oils that flavor many dishes come from the rind. The same applies to the Cacao Shell: it contains a concentrated amount of all the good things we hear about eating dark chocolate. For instance, they provide 40 times the number of antioxidants as Blueberries.

The shell “leaves” themselves are absolutely beautiful, a rich golden variegated brown. When hot water is added, the leaves dance in the water, giving a kaleidoscope-like show until they settle to the bottom of the pot to brew.

To brew the tea, add one to two tablespoons into boiling water and let it steep for about five minutes. I found that it doesn’t get bitter if you let it brew for longer, but the flavor does get more intense. So you can adjust it to taste.

The tea has a dark chocolate top note that is very reminiscent of intense organic chocolate and a buttery chocolate aftertaste. It has a bit of a wine note, but not overly sweet. It is a complex and smooth taste that could easily be enjoyed at any time, from a treat in the morning to a special treat for your guests at a wedding.

I’m a purist when it comes to tea: I like it straight, no milk or sugar. But both can make it a richer taste. I tried it with just a hint of vanilla, and that brought out the chocolate flavor a bit more. If you want to make it an after dinner “dessert tea,” try adding a bit of dark chocolate liqueur for a truly sublime cup.

I found that the tea did provide me with a decent amount of sustained energy without the dreaded caffeine slump. This is likely because Cacao contains theobromine, which is a mild stimulant found in chocolate and in regular tea. Theobromine (which translated, means “food of the gods”) has some impressive health effects as well: studies have shown that it can increase the hardness of tooth enamel, and there is promising research that shows that it might help prevent certain cancers. Of course, if you are sensitive to the stimulant effect of chocolate or black tea, you may want to ask your doctor if theobromine is safe for you.

The energy boost that the tea provides is part of the story of how it came to us through MiCacao: the makers of the tea were hiking through Peru when the guide offered the tea to keep their bodies strong during the hike. They fell in love with the tea and now search through Central and South America for the finest Cacao beans from Sustainable Farms. It’s a tea that makes you feel good, and that you can feel good about supporting!

And much like dark chocolate, this tea can help curb your appetite. I found that it cut down on my cravings for sweets, which is nice.

I truly love this tea for both its’ health properties and its’ amazing taste! The Style Chicks consider themselves “Tea Elitists,” and MiCacao Loose Cacao Tea makes the cut as one of our favorites!

Find MiCacao Loose Cacao Tea at MiCacao.com

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdv5KdP6EGo[/embedyt]

I received compensation for my time and effort on this review. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.