Cocoa Butter

COCOA BUTTER Cocoa butter (sometimes called theobroma oil) is a natural, meltable oil that’s extracted from the cocoa bean. Cocoa beans are seeds from the Theobroma cacao L. plant, a member of the Sterculiaceae plant family. Processors extract creamy cocoa butter from the beans by fermenting, drying, roasting, and then pressing them. They turn the remaining portion into cocoa powder. Cocoa butter is a common active ingredient in lotions, creams, and lip balms. According to some historical sources, people have been consuming or using cocoa in other ways since 460 AD. In more recent times, researchers have found that cocoa has several healthful properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Many of these properties are due to substances that cocoa powder contains, such as catechin. Cocoa butter may also have healthful benefits. Cocoa butter is also a primary ingredient in chocolate. Chocolate is made up of cocoa butter and cocoa powder, often with milk and sugar.