Current Favorite Smoothie Addition: Cacao Powder and Nibs

I’m not sure I’d call myself a full-out chocoholic, but I certainly love chocolate. And I especially dig the dark, good quality stuff. And lately, I have been obsessed — I mean, like having it twice a day — with this smoothie. So simple, so healthy, so good!

Chocolate and nut butter is always good together, yes, and the greens (I typically use kale but any will do!) make this smoothie “super,” but it’s the raw cacao powder and nibs that I use in it that make it extra special.

I was recently sent some 100 percent Pure Organic Raw Cacao Powder that’s cold-pressed and milled at low temperatures, free of heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides, and sourced 100 percent from sustainable farms — and it’s about 8,ooo (or so) times better than the plain ol’ cocoa powder I was using. Rich, chocolaty and with more antioxidant flavonoids than red wine, green tea and blueberries, it’s even high in dietary fiber, magnesium, iron and vitamin C. And again, it tastes fab.

I mix that with some cacao nibs (because, really, who doesn’t love double the chocolate?!), and it’s sweet, savory, chocolate smoothie heaven.

I highly, highly recommend.
Do you ever use cacao powder instead of plain cocoa? Have you noticed the taste difference, too? And what’s your favorite smoothie addition? —Jenn