Cocoa powder is a staple in many pantries, and is often used to flavor desserts. If you are sensitive to caffeine and concerned about the stimulant's effect on your ability to sleep, you may be concerned about consuming desserts made with cocoa powder late in the evening.
What Is Cocoa Powder?
Cocoa powder is produced when the nibs of the cacao bean are crushed to a paste called chocolate liquor. This liquor is pressed to remove most of the fat, or cocoa butter. The remaining substance is dried and pulverized to produce cocoa powder. Cocoa powder has an intensely bitter chocolate flavor. It is often used to flavor sweetened baked goods and hot beverages, although some cuisines use it without sugar to flavor savory sauces.
Types of Cocoa Powder
There are two types of cocoa powder: natural and Dutched or Dutch processed. The Dutching process requires the cocoa nibs to be soaked in a slightly alkali solution before being ground into chocolate liquor. This reduces the natural acidity of the chocolate, bringing its pH close to neutral. According to taste tests done by "Cook's Illustrated" magazine, the Dutching process actually produces a better chocolate flavor because it removes the strong acidic notes in the cocoa, allowing the more subtle flavors to shine.
Caffeine and Theobromine
Caffeine is one of a family of chemicals called xanthines. Both caffeine and theobromine, another xanthine compound, occur naturally in cacao beans. Both are stimulants and mild diuretics, although theobromine is much weaker than caffeine. A research study by the Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, suggests that theobromine may act as a cough suppressant.
Effects of Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system, giving you a sense of alertness. It is also a muscle relaxant that is used medicinally to treat migraine headaches and asthma. According to guidelines published by the South Dakota Department of Health, 300mg of caffeine per day is a moderate amount for healthy adults. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others, and will experience nervousness, headache, or stomachache if they consume too much caffeine.
Amount of Caffeine in Cocoa Powder
According to nutritional information published by the Hershey Center For Health And Nutrition, 1 tbsp. of cocoa contains about 8mg of caffeine and 106mg of theobromine. As a comparison, a cup of decaffeinated coffee contains between 2mg 4mg of caffeine, while a cup of regular drip brewed coffee contains between 65mg and 120mg of caffeine.
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