If you haven’t tried Cacao Nibs, you don’t know what you’re missing. With the crunch of a nut, but the satisfying mouthfeel of chocolate, nibs are bits of fermented, dried, roasted and crushed cacao bean (essentially the least processed and most natural form of chocolate). They’re packed with fiber, have free radical (anti- cancer) fighting properties, and have been shown to help prevent heart disease. These nutritional powerhouses are like superfoods on steroids!

Plus, it turns out Cacao Nibs are extremely versatile. Our favorite way to enjoy them is in a smoothie. Rising Tide features Raw Cacao Nibs in two of our yummiest smoothie creations; The Betterfinger (better than a Butterfinger!) and The Boss (named after the man, the legend, Rising Tide founder and owner Jerry Farrell).Try them once–you’ll be hooked.

At home, swap Raw Cacao Nibs for sprinkles on ice cream or cupcakes, bake them into granola or cookies, or use in savory dishes like this salad from Chef Michael Chiarello http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/mixed-green-salad-with-whole-citrus-vinaigrette-recipe.html. And there’s certainly no harm in just snacking on them. Mmm, mmm, mmm.

We’ve got Raw Cacao Nibs for a great price in Rising Tide’s bulk section. At $12.99/lb., they’re $5/lb. less expensive than the packaged kind. Pick some up, get creative, then let us know YOUR favorite way to use them.