So far I've tried this Navitas brand and Healthworks and Viva Naturals. This Navitas brand was the best quality. This brand nibs were softer and oilier in teas. The other two brands were drier and had many hard twigs or shell that I had to pull out from my mouth. This Navitas brand nibs also smelled more like chocolate than the other two I've mentioned here.

Hoping Navitas will keep up the quality, because if it changes, I will update my review accordingly. As of now, there are many negative recent reviews for the two other brands I mentioned about shell (or twigs) in Viva and Healthworks brands.

I've had the Nibs before, and they are very good. But a WARNING for anyone wanting to take advantage of the current sale: This is OLD STOCK!

I ordered these a few months ago, and the package received matches the package pictured above (with "Navitas Organics", and "Organic Cacao Nibs" prominently displayed). The expiration date was January 2019.

Fast forward to this week. Just received these today. I didn't recognize the packaging ("Navitas Naturals" and "Cacao Nibs", with only a 'Certified Organics' sunburst to show that it's organic). And when I looked at the expiration date ('best buy' date, to be more accurate), it was shockingly only THREE MONTHS FROM NOW!!

Shame on you, Amazon.

Pretty much everything I expected. Based on other reviews and some quick Googling, I toss a small handful into my oatmeal, and it really adds a nice crunch to it. I've also tried grounding some up to make hot "cocoa", and it tastes like hot cocoa without any sugar.

I wasn't expecting it to be anything like typical chocolate, and I'm not sure why so many people thought it was. The sour/vinegary smell/taste some people so dramatically complain about isn't that strong. It's unusual, and if you weren't expecting the unique smell, or expecting it to smell like milk chocolate, then you might be surprised. It's nutty, it's bitter, but you can taste the chocolate (not the highly sweetened kind but like 90+% dark chocolate).

As for the "shells" that some people complain about, there's some "skin" (not sure exactly what it's supposed to be called) that's still attached to a few of the nibs, but nothing crazy (see picture). It's similar the skin on pistachios and other nuts. I usually take a look at what I grab out of the bag and pick it out. If I missed one or two, which I've probably done already, it probably wouldn't be noticeable.

I have been using this product for over a year. I make protein smoothies with it every morning using 1.5 tablespoons. The shake yield is 28 ounces. I absolutely love this Cacao powder in my protein smoothies! I can tell when a day went bad for me as far as eating is concerned and that's when I didn't get a chance to have my protein drink. The recipe is mine and after I was settled on a certain mixture, I found that it wasn't chocolate enough tasting (yes, I know, I am using cacao, but when in recipes, it commonly tastes like chocolate). The only thing I had to tweak in my recipe is to add more Navitas cacao powder and I am completely hooked!

Also, other products of Cacao being reviewed, including the top seller, have consumer complaints of how bad the smell of the product is. Using your nose is commonly a good indication of taste (something like 90% of taste comes from our nose... I forgot what the percentage really is). It is not always an accurate indication, but it can be mostly reliable. This stuff smells good and when I smell it, I can't wait to have my shake! :-)

The Consumer Lab report from 2014 is outdated. Reviewers are saying that the company is not coming forward with the fact it has cadmium in it. Well, I found it suspect that Amazon would go on selling it when the product exceeds FDA levels of cadmium in foods. I too began to research it, but my focus was on, how are they getting away with being caught to have too much cadmium and yet are still be sold? The answer is, they are clearly addressing the cadmium levels. They have heard your complaints, explain what the issue is, and how they have been lowering the cadmium levels. You should go read it for yourselves to see if it their efforts satisfies you. The only thing I am concerned about is that they are self-policing. It would be great if they regularly sent product samples out to a 3rd party testing company to get an assay back that reveals the cadmium levels. That kind of self-policing is not unusual and is used as a tool for them to make sure their processing is not taking up too much cadmium.

It is also not unusual for competing companies to take their competition's product to a lab and get an assay. They did this with a toxicity in a baby formula and I love that it is being checked over and over again by both sides. In fact, the company that had the toxicity has made it a huge campaign to assure only the highest quality formula is in their products.

That's why I am saying, just don't rely on an assay from Consumer Labs. Keep up with what's going on and realize that although your phone call or email is not being returned, they did hear the outcry and are doing something about it. Go to the Navitas Naturals site and look for this page: prop65_cacao.html (or find that page by googling for: cadmium navitas cacao powder) and decide for yourselves if this is good enough action for you. Everyone is different.

I dropped my review to 4 stars only because I'd like to see assays being posted on their web site or something to that effect to assure their customers that they are serious about continual follow up to address this issue.

Finally, cacao is not a different spelling for cocoa. They are absolutely 2 different things. Many reviews are confusing the 2 as being one in the same and not just with this product's review. I found the confusion in reviews for almost all of Amazon's cacao Powder offerings.

I hope this helps!

Great value excellent product - bought it for its antioxidant benefits especially for men. Wasnt sure I could find it palatable unsweetened and in a cold "tea" but it is delicious. While dark chocolate is all the rage the truth is heating chocolate and adding milk proteins diminishes its benefits.
Just be patient with this product - moisten with slightly warm water to make a paste and then thin with more water to your desired consistency.
I often wondered how the Aztecs could drink so much of this unsweetened or just spiced with cayenne but after using Navitas I understand. Full disclosure - I love milk chocolate and do not like dark chocolate -drinking this satisfies my chocolate cravings without sugar or anything added - amazing ! Even my chocoholic wife agrees this satisfies and gives you all benefits without the downsides of candy