In so many of our episodes over the last four years, we have explored how no food we eat is intrinsically ‘bad’. Instead, it’s what we as humans living in a rapidly globalising and industrialising world, have done to that food that causes problems. The topic of today’s episode, cacao, epitomises this. Originally, in its home, central america, cacao beans were revered and used unsweetened as a drink. Our world has taken and transformed them into an unrecognisable sugary commodity that fills the shelves of shops globally. A commodity that can, as Alison personally knows, through at 20, being addicted to the stuff and obese, ruin health.

But as ancestral cooks, we need not be scared. And our guest today knows that better than anyone we’ve ever come across. Marcos Patchett is a self-confessed cacao geek and has written two books on this bean’s wonders, the first of which, The Secret Life of Chocolate is 700 pages of incredible research, of which Alison has devoured every page!

Cacao is an incredibly nutrient-dense food and one that can give us both pleasure and health. Let’s talk about why, and, how, you should be eating chocolate.

Supporters of the podcast, check your private feed for a fascinating discussion on addiction that we just couldn’t squeeze into the main episode.

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One Earth Health make the grass-fed organ supplements we use and trust. Get 15% off your first order here and 5% off all subsequent orders here.

For US listeners, we recommend Grand Teton Ancient Grains. They sell regenerative, organic flours and berries that can satisfy all your baking needs. Stock up and get free shipping at AncientGrains.com

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What we cover:

• Why we should be eating chocolate
• Health benefits of cacao
• Anti-oxidants and how they work
• Cacao as suncream!
• Discussion on the stimulant effect of cacao, comparing it to the stimulants in coffee and tea and covering the different types of beans
• Wider discussion on habituation and how 'exciting' foods can be part of our life, healthily
• Reductionism in food culture and how cacao, just like every food, is more than the sum of its parts
• How we should be eating chocolate
• How cacao was originally consumed and what happened when it came to Europe
• Alison's experience making atoles
• Ways we can maximise cacao's health benefits in our own lives

The personal views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect our own personal views or opinions. We recognize that our guests are whole persons and this may include views we or our audience actively disagree with; our guests are invited to the show because we feel they have something valuable to share with us all, and we do not ask them to censor their personal views on air. Our sharing of their work is not necessarily an endorsement of their personal views.

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Resources:

Marcos has written two books on cacao:

The Secret Life of Chocolate (Alison has the hardback but this is also now available more economically as an ebook), and Pharmakakawa.

If you want to buy a copy of them, he is offering podcast listeners a 20% discount. Use the code CHOC20 on the publishers website: https://www.aeonbooks.co.uk

Marcos’ Instagram

Marcos’ herbalist website

Marcos is on You Tube as The Nocturnal Herbalist

Alison's course Bean-to-Bar Chocolate with No Special Equipment mentioned in the recording will guide you through making chocolate at home from the raw bean with equipment you already have in your kitchen

Do you have memories, documents, recipes or stories of those who cooked ancestrally? If so, we would love to hear from you! Visit our website here for how to share.

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The podcast is mixed and the music is written and recorded by Alison's husband, Rob. Find him here: Robert Michael Kay