Cacao Butter

Cacao prices have surged in recent years, reaching an all-time high in January 2025. The primary cause is a global cacao shortage caused by droughts and floods in West Africa, which produces about 80% of the world's cacao. The limited resources of the smallholder farmers there, combined with an increased demand for cacao, a volatile commodities market and supply chain disruptions have only worsened the situation. To maintain the quality of our cacao products while continuing to support fair trade practices and sustainable agriculture, we have made the decision to raise the prices on our Cacao Powder and Cacao Nibs. We greatly appreciate your understanding and ongoing support!

The cacao bean is loaded with heart-healthy fats! When the bean is ground and cold-pressed under pressure, the fats separate from the solids, producing two separate end products: cacao butter and cacao powder. The cacao butter is solid at room temperature, mildly chocolate-scented, and delicious in baked goods, skin care products, chocolate making and more. For more inspiration, visit our favorite recipes here.

No, cacao butter is naturally free of caffeine. During the cold-pressing process when the fats are separated from the solids, many nutrient compounds—including caffeine—are entrapped within the cacao bean fiber and removed from the butter. In addition to the heart-healthy fats that make up cacao butter, this product contains fat-soluble vitamins E and K, and bountiful antioxidants. However, our other cacao products do contain caffeine; cacao powder contains 6.6mg of caffeine per teaspoon and cacao nibs contains 4.6mg of caffeine per teaspoon.

Yes! Whether making a body cream or lip balm, cacao butter can replace shea butter in almost all recipes. Both contain fatty acids and antioxidants that nourish and moisturize your skin. The main difference is the distinct chocolate aroma that cacao butter imparts, and the slightly firmer texture it has when cooled.

We are unable to ship any products that have a high cacao butter content in the summer because they are at risk of melting during transit. While it doesn’t actually harm the product, it changes the form that the product arrives in and may impact usage options. We recommend purchasing this item from brick and mortar stores only during the summer months. For our store locator, please click here.

When stored in a cool, dark place and properly sealed, our Cacao Butter has an 18-month shelf life from the time of manufacturing. The 'best before' stamp can be found on the back of the bag, and we recommend enjoying your Cacao Butter before then. If you haven't, but your product still smells normal (chocolatey!) and looks normal (no discoloration), you may consume it at your discretion. However, we cannot guarantee flavor, freshness, or nutritional potency after this point.

Due to this product’s heat sensitivity, we are unable to ship it during the summer months. Unfortunately, this disqualifies it from subscription orders year round. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Cacao butter is cold-pressed and minimally processed to retain the natural aroma, flavor, and nutrients from the cocoa bean. Unlike refined cocoa butter products, our pure cacao butter preserves the antioxidants and beneficial fatty acids inherent to the cacao bean.

Our cacao butter melts at body temperature, making it ideal for skin creams and DIY body care products. It’s packed with stearic acid and natural oils that help deeply moisturize and nourish the skin. This versatile ingredient is also popular as a base for essential oil blends, where it offers a mild chocolate scent and potential cacao skin benefits like hydration and antioxidant support.

To preserve freshness, store your cacao butter in a cool, dark pantry. While you might be tempted to keep it in the fridge, the environment inside refrigerators is actually quite humid and can negatively affect the product’s quality. Properly sealed, our cacao butter has a minimum shelf life of 18 months and will keep its natural cocoa butter flavor and nutrient quality best in stable, room temperature conditions.