GUEST REVIEW: Living Foods Rainforest Cacao Chocolate (Cacao-aholic)
by Jenni Simmons

I really love chocolate.  No, really - I LOVE chocolate.  My husband and I say, “The darker the better.”  What could be darker than pieces from actual cacao beans?  Not much, so I tried Garden of Life’s Rainforest Cacao Chocolate With Macadamia Nuts.   It definitely passed my dark chocolate test containing roasted cacao bean pieces, ground macadamia nuts, and a light drizzle of sugar cane syrup.  First, I nibbled the snack right out of the box.  It was so rich that I didn’t need a large quantity to satisfy my demanding sweet tooth.  During my second taste test I sprinkled it on Ritter’s “cake batter” frozen custard to make myself feel better - this cousin of ice cream was not anywhere near organic or healthy.  The box of Rainforest Cacao Chocolate is small (2 oz.) and costs $2.99 at the Health Food Emporium.  However, since this snack is rather decadent, the box actually seems to stretch out to the six suggested servings per box.  Although the more I nibbled, my servings could have been larger, so maybe the price steeps on the high side.Not only is this a delicious snack, but it is much healthier than frozen custard.  Cacao is a rich source of magnesium which balances brain chemistry, strengthens our bones, and causes euphoria.  Well, at least it sheds a little more happiness into our lives.  In fact, cacao is purported to be the #1 source of magnesium of any food, but sadly most Americans severely lack this nutrient in their SAD diet.  Tasty cacao is also friendly to the heart, and Garden of Life’s snack in particular supports a healthy heart, good cholesterol levels, and microcirculation.  I live to find a food like chocolate with a litany of such health benefits!Yet another reason to adore this chocolate is that Garden of Life practiced fair trade to provide this smoky cacao.  Since their web site makes the claim that each purchase supports family farms in the Ecuadorian Amazon and that the harvested cacao is all-natural (but not organic), I inquired for further details.  Here is what Mandi from Garden of Life kindly shared with me:

Rainforests are not certified as USDA Organic.  However, we can confirm that our Rainforest Cacao™ chocolate is grown in an all-natural environment and free of any artificial ingredients or chemicals of any kind.  Your purchase of Rainforest Cacao™ Chocolate supports sustainable economies in the ecologically fragile Ecuadorian Amazon. Garden of life donates a portion of the proceeds from each product sold to support the FUNEDESIN foundation’s education, health and rainforest conservation programs.  Garden of Life has also purchased Renewable Energy Certificates equal to 100% of the company’s energy needs for it’s offices and fulfillment center located in Florida.  The company worked with 3 Phases Energy to purchase these certificates, which are authenticated by Green-e, a voluntary certification program that sets consumer protection and environmental standards for electricity products. 

I appreciate that informative answer which geeks me up about their cacao snacks even more.  I mean, I had to order the other two flavors: Rainforest Cacao Chocolate With Brazil Nuts & Coffee and Rainforest Cacao Chocolate With Raisins & Coconut.  I’m picturing each flavor sprinkled on homemade ice cream using raw milk and cream, or mixed into my favorite granolas and trail mixes.  My brain, bones, and heart need chocolate, people.