Once used as currency by the native people of the Americas, Cacao beans still hold immense value in the form of nutrients, antioxidants and, of course, flavor. What we call cacao beans are actually the seeds of the Theobroma Cacao plant. The beans are found inside football-sized fruit pods which grow right off the trunk of the cacao tree. The beans and pulp of the cacao fruit must be fermented, sun-dried, roasted and finally ground before they come to resemble the chocolate we know and love. Theobroma translates to “food of the gods”; nevertheless, humans have been enjoying chocolate for thousands of years.

Taza Stone Ground Organic Chocolate is a company that is revolutionizing the way we look at our favorite candy. In fact, let’s call it food; with all of its nutritional benefits, Taza Chocolate is a far, far cry from a Mars Bars. Dark chocolate supplies the body with micronutrients such as potassium, zinc, magnesium and iron. And laboratory tests of Taza Chocolate reveal it to have sky-high levels of antioxidants, more even than famed antioxidant foods like red wine, green tea, and blueberries.

Antioxidants are known to slow the action of dangerous free radicals, the chemicals that damage cells and are thought to cause cancer and aging. Dark chocolate also contains anandamide, the so-called “bliss chemical.” Anandamide is believed to produce feelings of calm, anxiety relief, and the mitigation of pain. This may explain our joy and passion in consuming chocolate.1

Eating for two makes for some intense food cravings; crisp dill pickles, rare red meat, and copious chocolate. While there are no proven health perks to downing half-sours, research is showing that chocolate benefits both mother and child in many ways. For instance, recent work suggests that theobromine, the primary stimulant in dark chocolate, not only has cardiovascular benefits, but can also decrease the risk of preeclampsia, a dangerous condition for mother and fetus. In a Yale study, women with the highest traces of theobromine were 69% less likely to develop preeclampsia.2 And daily dark chocolate intake, according to a London study, may also reduce the risk of miscarriage.

Unfortunately, industrial production and innovations like milk chocolate and conching (a production method where chocolate is highly processed to smooth texture and mellow flavor) have deprived much of the chocolate we consume of vital health benefits. Taza Chocolate is different – it’s stone ground in the traditional manner of Central and South America. Taza is minimally processed in order to preserve the dynamic flavors and found naturally in cacao. The millstones used to grind Taza Chocolate are hand-chiseled from Mexican granite. Each chocolate bar and disc made by Taza is wrapped by hand.

This attention to detail and craftsmanship is applied at every stage of production, from sourcing beans to washing molds. Taza Stone Ground Organic Chocolate is deeply dedicated to the sustainability and quality of the chocolate they produce. Taza develops direct relationships with their growers, refusing to use a broker or intermediary to purchase their beans. They cut the middleman and work directly with the farms to meet stringent quality standards. Sourcing from small, organic, family-owned farms leads to fairer wages and work practices on the farm, and relationships that will stand the test of time.

David Wolfe, nutrition guru and co-author of Naked Chocolate: The Astonishing Truth about the World’s Greatest Food explains why we love and crave chocolate so very much. “Every study on chocolate is pointing to the same conclusion: there is something in chocolate that is really good for us. That something is the raw cacao bean, the nut that all chocolate is made from. The cacao bean has always been and will always be Nature’s #1 weight loss and high-energy food. Cacao beans are probably the best kept secret in the entire history of food.” Taza Chocolate’s unerring focus on quality, sustainability, taste, and tradition ensures that the health and wellness benefits associated with the consumption of chocolate are realized to the utmost.