I recently had the opportunity to try ‘Yes Cacao‘ botanical chocolates.
Botanical Chocolates are a blend of cacao and assorted botanicals, and they are a tasty way to enhance your mental and physical performance naturally.
I never knew they existed until recently when ‘Yes Cacao’ sent me some to try. And I’m pretty sure it was the best chocolate I’ve ever had.
(Now before I launch into this review and sound like a shill, here’s the backstory: I never knew botanical chocolate was a thing until ‘Yes Cacao’ asked if I would post a review of theirs. They sent me free samples. I tried them and wrote about it here. I don’t make a dime if you buy the product. I don’t care if you do or don’t. I’m just writing this to spread the word about a great product and hopefully get some more chocolate out of it because it’s very, very good.)
It All Starts with The Cacao
So what sets Yes Cacao apart from other chocolates?
Obviously the botanicals are a new player, but it all starts with the cacao.
Rich, velvety Cacao.
Cacao, real cacao, is heaven sent. It tastes amazing, it’s fun to eat, and it’s actually kind of good for you.
Cacao literally means ‘Food of the gods’. And ‘Yes Cacao’ is some of the best I’ve ever had.
How to “Practice Safe Chocolate”
My research revealed that “Practice Safe Chocolate” was Yes Cacaos’s campaign at one point.
These botanical chocolates are a mouthgasm and you can eat them guilt free without nasty repercussion or sugar crash. In fact you can feel good about eating this chocolate because it was done right in every way.
(Unlike the over-processed and denatured cacao found in most chocolate today that’s mixed with soybean oil and artificial flavors. These are bastardized versions of cacao and are ‘unsafe’ for human consumption.)
‘Yes Cacao’ sources the only organic, raw, and wild-harvested cacao in the world.
They don’t use farms or plantations to grow cacao.
Instead they employ 450 cacao-hunters to roam the jungles of Ecuador and harvest wild cacao for their chocolates.
Imagine that – wild, naturally occurring cacao. Which means this cacao takes root naturally in the best spots to thrive. Unlike farmed cacao that loses nutrients with each crop. With agriculture, each harvest is less potent than the last due to nutrient depletion in the soil.
Why Mix Botanicals with Cacao?
If the cacao alone is so good, why add anything to it?
Blending botanicals with cacao is a clever and tasty way to get incredible health and performance enhancing benefits.
The combination is ingenious – the cacao increases blood flow by dilating blood vessels which in turn allows better delivery of the botanicals to the body.
Botanicals are plants that have medicinal or therapeutic benefits. They are also added to foods to enhance scent, taste or overall essence.
Botanicals with cacao creates a potent supplement capable of some pretty amazing things. The botanicals take effect quicker and at a larger order of magnitude then they would if consumed without cacao.
There are thousands of botanicals, each with their own unique benefits. The benefits they provide range from subtle to extraordinary. They can be blended for desired effects.
Some botanicals relieve anxiety while others increase testosterone, help build muscle mass, improve sexual potency, or enhance mental focus. All of these claims are backed by volumes of scientific research.
I was actually impressed by the many, many studies available showing very strong evidence in favor of botanicals.
Yes Cacao’s Secret Ingredients: Botanicals, Adaptogens and Superherbs
‘Yes Cacao’ is Different than any chocolate I’ve ever seen before.
Each chocolate contains adaptogens and superherbs which are groups of botanicals.
Adaptogens
Adaptogens are essentially herbal pharmaceuticals – natural plants that help the body resist stressors.
These stressors can be physical, chemical, or biological. Adaptogens shield your body and mind from the harmful effects of stress and help you ease your mind and repair your body.
They do this by triggering chemical production in the brain, reducing inflammation and helping relax the body and mind.
Superherbs
Not all herbs are created equal. Some herbs are superior to other herbs.
And the herbs in these chocolate bars are the best at what they do.
So, yeah, I would say that they are in fact superherbs.
(I talk about the superherbs in these chocolates later in this article. I was blown away by what I found out about these plants.)
Botanicals
A botanical, as I mentioned previously, is a plant-based additive.
The botanicals in ‘Yes Cacao’ are selected, measured, and perfectly combined for a desired effect. (Boost energy, enhance focus, relax, etc.)
(If you want to learn more about botanicals’ benefits, you can check out the National Institutes of Health Supplement Fact Sheet.)
Common botanicals are ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and acai.
Some lesser known botanicals are Gaba, Kava, Maca, Blue Lotus, and Lions Mane. (All of which are in ‘Yes Cacao’ products.)
These are natural Nootropics infused with chocolate. A killer combo.
(Nootropics are cognitive enhancers that boost memory, creativity and motivation.)
Conscientious Cacao
Everything about the ‘Yes Cacao’ company is admirable.
They are a relatively small shop with a passion for bringing great products to people to improve health and make people happy.
All of their chocolate bars are organic, Kosher, vegan and gluten free.
I respect ‘Yes Cacao’ because they go to great lengths to preserve quality and they strive to do something truly beneficial.
I get the feeling that it’s about more than just money. Their business is about providing something that actually benefits the consumer.
You can tell they take a holistic approach to their business. They have a certain vibe that resonates with me.
“Make a Wish and Take a Bite.”
Something I found interesting is their tagline, “Make a Wish and Take a Bite.”
This is an amazing slogan used to put you in the right state of mind. It makes you hopeful and optimistic.
It’s the same concept that applies with blessing your food before eating it. You want to send your positive energy into the food. you want to receive the food with feelings of gratefulness, appreciation, abundance and optimism. That way it’s processed by your body in a better way.
(It’s been proven than the frequency of your thoughts impacts the arrangement of molecules. You want to tune yourself into the right frequency. Practicing gratitude and focusing on the good helps do this.)
It’s easy to dismiss this tagline as cute and quippy, but there’s a lot to it.
I made a lot of wishes while eating this cacao. One is that I wish Yes Cacao would send me more chocolates.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly
Even the packaging is made from recycled materials. And the package is designed to be reused and are resealable. True sustainability. Snickers can’t say any of that.
‘Yes Cacao’ Botanical Chocolates Review
‘Yes Cacao’ has mixed up some pretty tasty concoctions with added benefits.
They have three blends: One for focus, one for endurance, and another for relaxation. And each one is delicious.
It’s some of the best tasting chocolate I’ve ever had, but it’s actually a superfood disguised as a snack.
The bar is under 170 calories and is a good way to get some healthy fat (and rare botanicals) into your diet.
Everyone wants an edge. Why not eat a snack that gives you that edge and tastes delicious. Rather than eat a nasty snack that makes you feel like poop after eating it.
‘Yes Cacao’ Chocolate Botanical Bars and Ingredients
Yes Cacao offers three flavors: ‘Endurance’, ‘Brain Power’, and ‘Bliss Out’. Each is carefully crafted to produce the desired effect.
Each bar is made with some or all of the following (plus unique botanicals as described below).
Cacao, Cacao Butter, Sun-dried Cane Sugar, Lucuma (a Peruvian superfruit), Sea Slat, Organic Vanilla and a few other ingredients depending on the flavor.
‘Endurance’ Bar
(formally known as ‘Dirty’, the grounding bar).
This was the first bar I tried. I wrote down my first impressions immediately upon trying it:
Aroma was fantastic. This one smells fresh and slightly pepperminty, with little citrus note.
Tastes complex flavors brought together with sweet, melty cacao. Sweet and silky finish. After the first bite my mouth was watering for another.
The sweet aftertaste lingers a while and slowly fades.
There is a very subtle dryness I experienced after eating the whole bar but that could have been the coffee I was drinking it with. I think it was the coffee or the heat because when I tried the other two bars on separate days, I did not experience this same dryness.
As far as the effects from the botanicals, I’ll have to wait and see. It says that the effects are cumulative with use. So I may have to get more and eat one bar a day to see if it makes a difference.
I can tell you for sure that I did not feel worse after eating these chocolates. The chocolates themselves are amazing.
This chocolate bar contains Shilajit, Tulsi, Reishi, and Maca.
Shilajit
A true superherb. Shilajit contains fulvic acid and many, many minerals. It makes your whole machine run better which results in an energy boost. Shilajit may also boost testosterone.
Tulsi – A.k.a. Holy Basil
Helps reduce anxiety and stress. it also helps reduce inflammation which results in overall health improvements and energy.
Reishi
Boosts immune system and shields the body from illness. Promotes efficient body function, spiritual wellbeing and longevity.
Maca
Boosts sports performance and energy. Increases sexual potency. Boosts strength, endurance and evidence shows it could help build muscle.
Nutraceutical – helps with memory and learning.
‘Bliss Out’ Bar
I enjoyed this bar (along with the others) with a cup of strong black coffee. The combination of coffee with these chocolates was amazing and I looked forward to it.
(previously known as Gabe Baba) contains GABA, Kava, Blue Lotus, and Turmeric and is designed to help you relax.
What are these botanicals and what do they do?
GABA
Reduces anxiety and provides all kinds of benefits that put you at ease.
Kava
Reduces stress, anxiety and elevate insomnia.
Blue Lotus
Helps with lucid dreaming, visualization, and cognition.
This flower is associated with feelings of ‘calm euphoria’. (Blue lotus is no longer in the formula. It was made illegal for human consumption by the gov’ment. So, you know it must work.)
Turmeric
All-around ass kicking herb for good health.
Turmeric promotes healthy brain function, reduces inflammation, and helps digestion.
(It might also help detoxify the Pineal Gland. Look this up and get woke.)
‘Brain Power’ Bar
Helps improve mental performance, as its name suggests. It contains Turmeric, Bacopa, and Lions Main.
This bar has a distinct yellow-orange color. (Mine melted in the sun. I put it in the fridge to become solid again it was deformed, otherwise I would show a picture!)
Bacopa
Studies suggest Bacopa helps improve neurotransmitters and the production of dopamine and serotonin. (Happy chemicals that make you feel positive and productive.)
In essence, Bacopa is a cognitive enhancer that improves memory and increases blood flow to the brain. Very interesting. (You can read more about clinical trials of Bacopa here.)
Lions Mane – Lions mane is a mushroom known to improve nervous system function. Helps reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Improves cognitive function and brain processing speed.
‘Yes Cacao’ Chocolate Botanical Bar Macros
Each bar varies slightly but they are about 140-170 calories per bar.
Only 5g of sugar in each bar, very low for how good these taste. It’s really hard to believe they have so much flavor and sweetness with so little sugar.
My First Impressions of ‘Yes Cacao’ Botanical Chocolates
The packaging is interesting. It reminded me of a craft beer design. They are rebounding their products FYI, so be on the lookout for that. Either way, I thought the design was pretty cool. The current packaging to me is mystical, whimsy and alchemy-y.
Everything about Yes Cacao screams passion. And, I’ll say it again, it’s possibly the best chocolate I’ve ever had.
For health conscious people, it’s hard to find snacks that are healthy and satisfy a sweet tooth.
If you’re going to eat chocolate you might as well give your body and brain a boost.
Conclusion
Reviewing ‘Yes Cacao’ was a great experience. I learned a lot about herbal medicine and the power of plants that occur naturally in the wild.
Not only that, but their cacao is delicious. I’m not gunna lie, I was skeptical. I thought it might taste like dirt. I was pleasantly surprised and very, very pleased because they taste amazing.
Yes Cacao has scoured the Earth to find the best ingredients.
The botanicals provide many benefits to the body and mind. the botanicals give it a very subtle yet distinct flavor and aroma/scent.
I love everything ‘Yes Cacao’ stands for. I think we can all learn something from their business practices. Yes Cacao is also the perfect treat if you love chocolate and what the real deal.
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