No longer a simple flavour, cacao is now a value-adding ingredient. The Global Food Forums Report noted that the health treat trend was still growing, but cafes looking to keep their fare fashionable should know that chocolate’s not out – it’s more in than ever.
Solomon’s Gold is a unique range of cacao and dark chocolate products set to enter New Zealand’s $16 billion value-adding food export industry. Their artisan wholesale cacao nibs and kibble are ideal for everything from confectionary to health and sports nutrition. They can be used in cereals, baked goods, drinks – even sauce. The cacao products are available in plain dark or naturally flavoured berry, orange, mint, and caramel, and in sizes ranging from 1-4mm.
Antioxidants are king in the superfood industry, and there’s one that’s all-too-often forgotten: cacao. Because cacao is associated with chocolate – a luxury indulgence item – it’s easy to forget that it’s a powerful wellbeing ingredient. A serving of cacao contains more antioxidants than red wine, blueberries, acai berries, pomegranate and goji berries combined. It’s universally appealing and adds to both food and drink as a delicious, nutritious snack enhancer.
It’s also a 100 percent free-from product, as it contains no nuts, dairy, gluten, refined sugar, soy lecithin, or sunflower lecithin. Cacao nibs are also non-GMO, ideal for vegans, and Kosher certified.
Although it’s undoubtedly a great healthy food option, there’s often consumer concern over origin and processing. Solomon’s Gold New Zealand’s general manager, Glenn Yeatman, explained that “as one of only a few vertically integrated chocolatier specialists in the world, we’re able to control every aspect of the bean-to-bar process”.
That process starts in the Solomon Islands, where their established network of growers allows them to choose the finest beans. After being graded, the beans are sent to a dedicated bespoke facility in Mt Maunganui. Here the beans are slow batch roasted without any artificial additives.
To learn more about adding superfood value and a popular, indulgent flavour to your food or beverage, contact +64 7 574 3022, email wholesale@solomonsgold.co.nz, or visit www.solomonsgold.co.nz/wholesale.
Solomon's Gold general manager Glenn Yeatman
