Cacao nibs. Wow they are rank!

[HeadingForHome]

Had high hopes for cacao nibs as I like dark chocolate and thought they might be a nice healthy addition to my diet. They're just horrible! I bought them from Amazon where they have a lot of good reviews about tasty they are but they are basically just a bag of grit. I've tried heating them and they don't really melt so not sure how they can be used in baking?

Gah. Anyone have any thoughts on carob before I was more money? I remember having it once as a kid and liking it but that was 30+ years ago...

Really trying to lower my sugar and fat intake.

Waste* more money. Sorry for typos

They don't melt because they are pieces of cacao seeds, not chocolate. Cacao is bitter. So if you were expecting the flavour or texture of chocolate, no wonder you think them rank.

I like very dark chocolate, but 85% is about my limit. I could not eat cacao nibs neat!

I use them in flapjacks and muesli, and in yogurt mixed with nuts and raisins or other dried fruits.

Yeah I don't know what I was expecting but not hard bitter lumps with an aftertaste of dirt... some of the reviews said people loved how delicious and chocolatey they tast and they make their own chocolate with them. Oh well, you live and learn!

@Dilbertian

They don't melt because they are pieces of cacao seeds, not chocolate. Cacao is bitter. So if you were expecting the flavour or texture of chocolate, no wonder you think them rank.

I like very dark chocolate, but 85% is about my limit. I could not eat cacao nibs neat!

I use them in flapjacks and muesli, and in yogurt mixed with nuts and raisins or other dried fruits.

I use them as Per @Dilbertian. They are great at upping fibre intake and, for me, increasing my iron. I wouldn't eat them on their own.

I use carob as my yd is allergic to chocolate (makes her throat burn when she eats it) It's an acquired taste but have successfully used the powder and buttons in a brownie and cookies, and used the powder on top of a dairy free chocolate free tiramisu and honestly, couldn't taste the difference on that. I wouldn't buy it expecting it to taste like chocolate. It doesn't, but if you can't eat chocolate and want something similar, then try it.

I blitz them up with some dates, nuts, coconut, and then add a few seeds and a bit of honey if it's too dry and roll into balls to snack on. Gives me a sweet 'hit' but only natural sugars (and all the good bits from seeds etc).

@HeadingForHome

Yeah I don't know what I was expecting but not hard bitter lumps with an aftertaste of dirt... some of the reviews said people loved how delicious and chocolatey they tast and they make their own chocolate with them. Oh well, you live and learn!

You know what they say about not believing everything people claim on the Internet?

You know what they say about not believing everything people claim on the Internet?

Hah that is brand new information

Aren't they just!! I got some to make some chocolate brownies out of the blood sugar diet book. They were the most hideous things along with the cheese scones I also made out of that book, that I have ever tried. They both must've been shite cos even DCat who will snaffle anything turned his nose up in disgust at them.

Yes! I was disappointed in these too, had some lovely 'cacao discs' (like chocolate buttons) so was excited to try the cacao nibs and was bitterly (no pun intended) disappointed!

I did a search on mumsnet for cacao nibs because I bought a packet too. I like dark chocolate and I had some high hopes for them but they don't melt like chocolate. They are horrible.

I couldn't waste them so I decided to brew them in a pot and brewing basket and I have some cacao water and adding the water to coffee to make a mocha.

Cacao powder from Holland and barret makes lovely hot chocolate. You don’t need to add sugar and it is so chocolaty