Banana and Harmony – Breakfast To-Go
Tasting Notes: Sweet & creamy banana contrast the deep, rich dark-chocolatey notes found in our Harmony Snacking Cacao.
Tip: If you’re feeling particularly pressed for time, I love pouring out the snacking cacao in a small bowl or on a plate and dipping the top of the banana in the cacao beans before taking a bite.
Food for Thought
Have you ever noticed a banana flavor note in your chocolate or cacao?
Most people know that banana and dark chocolate are a match made in heaven. Lesser known is that banana is a flavor note that can be found in cacao – especially ours from Honduras.
According to “Flavor Chemistry of Cocoa and Cocoa Products—An Overview” by Ana Clara Aprotosoaie, Simon Vlad Luca, and Anca Miron – over 600 compounds have been identified as odor-active compounds in cocoa! Most of these are activated through cacao’s fermentation and drying process.
Many of these compounds are found in other foods we’re familiar with, thus the associated “flavor notes.” Some common compounds have generic sensory descriptors like fruity, vegetal, floral, or herbal. But some are very specific – like banana, pineapple, honey, jasmine, rose, grape, or “raw potato” (no thanks!).
The next time you’re tasting cacao or chocolate, slow down to see what you can taste and smell.
Nutrition
With 14g (!) of fiber, plant-based fats and a little protein, this is a lower calorie way to keep you full for a while – either for breakfast or even a mid-afternoon snack. If you’re looking for more protein, this combo is great with peanut butter or Greek yogurt.
