Cocoa (or Cacao) Nibs are made from cocoa beans after they get separated from their thin shells and roasted. The bulk of nibs produced are ground into chocolate liquor, either used as unsweetened baking chocolate or as the main ingredient of chocolate bars and candies.
Roasted cocoa nibs are not for everyone. They taste rather bitter because they are not sweetened. If you can get past the bitterness, you’ll find they do taste rich and chocolaty and have a crunch similar to nuts. In fact, nibs are often used to replace nuts in cookies and granola recipes.
Why would a person even eat cocoa nibs? Well, nibs are one of nature’s superfoods. They come packed with generous amounts of anti-oxidants, flavanoids and vitamin E. I can tolerate nibs by themselves, but would rather enjoy them coated in chocolate – DARK chocolate.
Trader Joe’s brand Dark Chocolate Nibs are enrobed in a 65% cacao dark chocolate. I find them delicious and addicting. The first flavor that comes off is an intense chocolate, as you would expect. Then nutty, and subtle fruity notes follow. The finish is a long lasting cocoa taste with a hint of coffee.
The nibs come in a 1 oz. tin. Tiny bits of yum!
