Cocoa, dry powder, hi-fat or breakfast, processed with alkali
Whole food · Sweets
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a rich, dark cocoa powder processed with alkali to mellow its natural bitterness, resulting in a deep brown color and smooth, less acidic flavor. Its texture is ultra-fine and velvety, designed to dissolve seamlessly into liquids. Nutritionally, it's a powerhouse of fiber and plant-based protein with a significant fat content, making it far more substantial than standard cocoa.
Calorie split: 14% protein · 41% carbs · 45% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore it for its profound, complex chocolate flavor that is intense yet smooth, lacking the sharp, fruity notes of natural cocoa. It's the secret behind the deep color and rich taste of classic hot chocolates, brownies, and truffles.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The alkali process significantly reduces the content of beneficial flavanols found in raw cacao. It is also very low in sugar, so recipes using it often require substantial added sweeteners, which can lead to blood-sugar spikes. For those sensitive to stimulants, its caffeine and theobromine content can be potent. To counteract this, use it in balanced recipes that include protein and fat (like eggs and nuts in brownies) and practice portion control.
Key benefits
- Excellent source of dietary fiber (33.9g per 100g)
- High in plant-based protein (16.8g per 100g)
- Contains healthy fats from cocoa butter
- Alkali processing (Dutching) reduces bitterness and acidity
- Provides minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'alkali' in its name refers to a process called 'Dutching,' invented by Coenraad van Houten in 1828, which treats cocoa with an alkaline solution to neutralize its natural acidity.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 3.0 g |
| Energy | 479 kcal |
| Energy | 2006 kj |
| Protein | 16.8 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 23.7 g |
| Ash | 6.8 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 49.7 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 33.9 g |
| Total Sugars | 1.5 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 122 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 14.5 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 476 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 758 mg |
| Potassium, K | 2509 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 20.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 6.7 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 3.6 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 12.3 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.08 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.37 mg |
| Niacin | 1.8 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.19 mg |
| Folate, total | 38.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 38.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 38.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 11.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 33.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.18 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 4.4 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 72.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 2445 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 12.6 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 5.8 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 6.7 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 7.4 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 7.4 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.77 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.77 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened — USDA does not publish this profile for Cocoa.
| Tryptophan | 0.29 g |
| Threonine | 0.78 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.76 g |
| Leucine | 1.2 g |
| Lysine | 0.98 g |
| Methionine | 0.20 g |
| Cystine | 0.24 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.94 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.73 g |
| Valine | 1.2 g |
| Arginine | 1.1 g |
| Histidine | 0.34 g |
| Alanine | 0.90 g |
| Aspartic acid | 2.0 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.9 g |
| Glycine | 0.88 g |
| Proline | 0.84 g |
| Serine | 0.85 g |
FAQ
What's the difference between this and regular cocoa powder?
This is 'Dutch-processed' or alkalized cocoa. Regular cocoa powder is 'natural' and acidic. Dutching darkens the color, mellows the flavor, and makes it dissolve more easily in liquids, but it reduces the flavanol content.
Can I use this in place of natural cocoa in recipes?
Not always directly. Because Dutch cocoa is neutral (not acidic), it won't react with baking soda to leaven baked goods. Recipes using Dutch cocoa typically rely on baking powder. Swapping one for the other can affect rise and flavor.
Is this the same as cacao powder?
No. Cacao powder is typically raw, unalkalized, and minimally processed, preserving more heat-sensitive nutrients. This product is cocoa powder that has been roasted and treated with alkali.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 4.79 kcal/g · 14% calories from protein · 33.9 g fiber · 1.5 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.01 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.