Raw Cocoa/Cacao Nibs 5 lbs. Bulk Arriba National Bean From Ecuador

Pros: Delicious nutty mocha flavor with only the mildest bitterness Certified Raw Organic Less than $8 a pound with shipping!! Hot air treatment to kill all bacteria and mold before packaging. Addictive flavor and mood enhancer Great snack food Cons: Addictive flavor & mood enhancer It's easy to do too much of a good thing they way these taste! Hot air treatment to kill all bacteria and mold/sterilized- unknown to the extent this affects nutrients (not really "roasted" as in over a fire or over 250 degrees for processed chocolate but not left naturally fermented either- they use 150 degree air blasts for health/safety in shipping internationally [from Ecuador]) Large variation in nib sizes- runs to centimeter lengths in some cases I use nibs and share them with friends and family for undeniable health benefits. I am still looking for the "perfect" nib- one that retains the most nutrition while still having great flavor and the least bitterness. Yet tradeoffs are necessary. I suspect there is significant nutritional degradation over "lightly" or fully sun/field fermented yet we have also seen where these more purist products may be tainted with mold and bacteria. And what is the cost to our health in that case or are we really losing that much nutrition this way? Not really trying to scare anyone, but the open responses from Plant Guru gave me reason to question the health benefits of less heat without entailing other health/packaging risks. But that is best left for a discussion elsewhere. Suffice it to say, these are the best tasting nibs I have yet to try and I feel confident that I will never receive a bad batch from them and they are certified organic. And thanks for taking the time Plant Guru to share with me the harvesting/shipping process of these Ecuadorian Nibs. (this review was not requested by the seller or reimbursed- I paid for these nibs and am very pleased)

I had these for several days. I don't think I should consume any more. There's a cacao shortage. Plant Guru offered a competitive per pound price. Even though I was still upset, having paid $10 / lb a year ago, I bought this $17 / lb product. The nibs arrived double bagged. The interior bag had a cut corner. Maybe they put in to much at their factory and had to empty it to match the 5lb weight they were offering. Either way, the nibs tasted soggy, like they had absorbed ambient moisture. It could be that the seal was not great and allowed moisture to see inside the bag. There are many tiny nib specs, so much that when you pour a bit into you hand, they stick to your palm. The most disappointing aspect is multitude the weird flavors. I have tried nibs from various companies and sources around the world. Sometimes you get a bit that tastes like dirt. These flavors were truly odd. Maybe it was that moisture which caused things to change. I had handfuls which tasted like burnt BBQ wood. I had some which reminded me of gasoline scent. I don't think this is normal. yuck :p

I love this stuff. I started morning protein smoothies a while ago and added this to them several months ago. I have to tell you my best outcomes ramped up after adding the nibs. I’m an Oura user and my heart health has moved up considerably, my heart age was 7 years younger when I started this and now it is at 9.5 years younger. My blood pressure has improved considerably, high antioxidants, so many health benefits, low sugar, adds a chocolate flavor which (a bit bitter but if you pair it with a vanilla protein powder it’s utterly lost beyond the chocolate flavor. The texture is not noticeable of any kind, but I have a great blender. Smells delicious every morning, it’s great.

Excellent - exactly what I expected and hoped for. Nice flavor, nice texture, and properly packaged. The price was reasonable and they shipped and arrived timely.

Very good if you don't compare them back to back with other varieties of nibs. Alone, they taste great. Next to some superior, sweeter varieties, these taste a little sour, more vinegary. However.....I ate probably 6 oz.the day I opened these....heavenly.....until the caffeine and fiber overdose hit. And be prepared: 5 pounds is ALOT of nibs!!!! I got them because of the better price per lb.but....either have a big freezer, lots of friends, or go on a month long chocolate diet!

This is my second time buying cacao nibs from this company. They're unbelievably delicious. Hard to believe there is no sugar in it. They smell just like M&Ms and are so good when mixed with vanilla ice cream. They were double packaged and very fresh. I don't know how fast they shipped because I still had half of the other bag left when I re-ordered so I didn't follow the tracking. I highly recommend cacao nibs in general but this company specifically.

I bought a five point bag and divided it between three of us. Mine was great but both my daughters who live 2000 miles apart, without talking to each other complained that some of the beans had a petroleum flavor or smell and wouldn't eat the, We are not new to cacao beans. Amazon refunded my money (Yay Amazon; that's why they have my business). I am tempted to try it again, considering all the great reviews, the great price and my love of cacao beans, but I still wonder what contaminated part of these beans. Or is there something in the processing that could cause the bad petroleum flavor?

Excellent! We have already made several things using the nibs including a cocoa extract to use like you would vanilla extract in baking, as an ingredient in a room spray, and to flavor syrups for coffee. I would gladly order again when I run out.