Most people know that chocolate comes from cacao beans. Some may also know that cacao is a fruit. What many are unaware of, however, is the fact that 70% of that fruit is wasted in the production of chocolate, which uses only the beans while discarding the pulp and shell.

The beans have been known for their superfood benefits for centuries, dating back to the ancient Maya and Aztec, who used the beans in ceremonies and even as currency. Surrounding those beans, however, is a delicious and juicy white pulp. This pulp is encased and held together by a vibrant outer shell. As it turns out, the shell and pulp have their own unique benefits as well, which have gone to waste for ages. Until today.

Blue Stripes Urban Cacao is a company founded by famous chocolatier Oded Brenner, better known worldwide as Max Brenner. Their mission is simple: To harness the power of the whole cacao, helping the planet by upcycling millions of tons of discarded shell and pulp, and bringing consumers the nutritional benefits of this complex superfood.

So, what are the nutritional benefits? The deliciously sweet pulp is rich in Vitamin C, Potassium, Magnesium, and flavanols. When it’s cold pressed as juice, it produces a refreshing and hydrating beverage known as Cacao Water. Dried Cacao Fruit can also be made by dehydrating the cacao pulp and natural sugar produced when the pulp is freeze dried. The shell is also a nutritional powerhouse, rich with Potassium, Iron, Magnesium, antioxidants, and dietary fiber.  By drying the shell and grinding it into a fine powder, a nutrient-rich, gluten-free cacao shell flour is made.

And as for the planet? Utilizing the whole cacao reduces food waste: the #1 driver of greenhouse gas emissions. On top of that, by upcycling the shell and pulp, farmers in Central and South America can charge two and a half times more for every cacao pod harvested.

The Whole Cacao: It’s not just chocolate. It’s a nutrient-rich superfood.