Native to South America, cocoa beans have been used in folk medicine to treat a variety of disorders — including coughs and hair loss — and as a source of nutrition. During processing, cocoa beans are roasted and fermented, then processed to remove their fat content, leaving the cocoa powder — pure cocoa solids — behind.

Adding pure cocoa solids to your diet offers a range of benefits because it comes loaded with health-boosting minerals, fiber and phytonutrients.