Brazilian Company Creates Sweet With Cocoa Cousin

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL--(Marketwired - May 28, 2015) - The AMMA Chocolates, a company associated with the project Sweet Brazil, founded in 2010 by Diego Badaro, Luiza Olivetto and the American Frederick Schilling, takes to the world the benefits of a Brazilian fruit in fresh form. Genuinely Brazilian, it seems like chocolate, tastes like chocolate, but its main ingredient is not cocoa, but cupuaçu -- which belongs to the genus Theobroma (covering 22 native plant species of the Brazilian Amazon region).

The sweet originated and took shape with every visit Diego made to the cocoa farms of AMMA, located south of Bahia. Aside from being in pictures, cupuaçu was also found in farms in this region, and became the inspiration for the creation of the 'Theobroma Grandiflorum,' a jewel-shaped chocolate produced with 80% cupuaçu -- not cocoa -- and organic sugar.

"The AMMA has a long experience in cocoa production and now produces annually about two tons of cupuaçu to meet demand and launch products partially produced with the fruit, such as Theobroma grandiflorum," explains Diego Badaro, who inaugurated the first chocolate shop in São Paulo in April.

Cupuaçu is native to the Brazilian Amazon, rich in different nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as proteins, fatty acids, vitamin C, flavonoids, carotenoids, and proanthocyanidins. "Cupuaçu Chocolate has an antioxidant effect on our bodies, i.e. it protects cells and organs against free radicals, substances that in excess can damage the structure and function of our cells by way of an imbalance called 'oxidative stress,'" comments Neiva Souza, Nutritionist from the scientific department of APANUTRI, São Paulo Nutrition Association.

Therefore, the consumption of this fruit within a balanced and healthy diet can help protect against premature aging and contribute to reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.