The bars contain "cocoa liquor"; is there alcohol in them?
A: There is no alcohol in any of the Bija® Omega Truffles. Cocoa liquor is not a liqueur. After being roasted, the cacao beans are cracked open to separate the shells from the nibs, or inner kernels. The nibs are then crushed and turned into a thick, dark fluid called "cocoa liquor". Cocoa liquor is also known as "cocoa mass" or "cocoa paste"; it contains about 55% cocoa butter and 45% cocoa solids.
Q: Why do they contain so much fat?
A: Depending on the flavour, one bar contains 31-34 g of fat – but it's the good kind! Remember, each bar provides a full tablespoon of Udo's 3·6·9 Oil Blend, which supplies 9.5 g of polyunsaturated fats (2.95 g Omega-6 (including 12 mg of GLA) and 6.5 g Omega-3), 2.95 g of monounsaturated fats and 1.5 g of saturated fats. The rest of the fat comes from the chocolate itself, 1/3 of which is oleic acid (or Omega-9, also found in olive oil). This is in addition to the saturated stearic acid, which the body converts to even more oleic acid rather than raising blood cholesterol. When looking at the nutrition facts for the new Bija® Omega Truffles, keep in mind that the bars are now 50% bigger than they were previously.
Q: Why is there so much saturated fat?
A: Saturated fat is not necessarily unhealthy. Please note that there is NO TRANS FAT in any of the Bija® Omega Truffles. Each bar contains 11-14 g of saturated fats, depending on the flavour. The Udo's 3·6·9 Oil Blend supplies 1.5 g from the medium-chain triglycerides, which are an immediate energy source. The rest of the saturated fat comes from the chocolate itself (cocoa butter and cocoa liquor). One third of the saturated fat in chocolate is stearic acid; the liver converts stearic acid to oleic acid, which is the monounsaturated Omega-9 fatty acid found in olive oil. Stearic acid has no effect on blood cholesterol levels.
Q: Is the chocolate fair trade?
A: The organic chocolate in the Bija® Omega Truffles is not yet certified fair trade, but the beans come from small, familyoperated farms in the central Peruvian jungle region. No children are employed as farm hands. Many farmers live on the land and have small vegetable gardens and other subsistence crops such as bananas, papayas and citrus fruits, and they are working toward fair trade certification.
Q: Is it necessary to refrigerate the chocolate?
A: Yes, Bija® Omega Truffles should be kept cool, otherwise the Udo's 3·6·9 Oil Blend that's in them will go rancid, as would a bottle of oil. The EFAs are safely sealed inside the chocolate itself, so the oil is protected from both light and oxygen. We store the chocolate in the cooler in our warehouse and ship it to retailers with the same care that we give Udo's 3·6·9 Oil Blend, Flax Oil and probiotics, packing them with freezer packs during the warmer months to ensure that they stay fresh and cool. Bija® Omega Truffles will be fine if they are out of the fridge (at room temperature) for up to a couple of days, as long as they do not get too warm. Freezing is not recommended; the molecular structure will change and the chocolate will no longer be as smooth and creamy.
Q: Is the oil still as good for me as it would be if I used it separately?
A: Yes! Each piece of chocolate has a delicious, creamy filling, which consists of Udo's 3·6·9 Oil Blend, cocoa liquor or cocoa butter, sugar and flavourings. The chocolate on the outside undergoes a refining or conching process, which involves using heat, pressure and friction to blend the cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, milk powder (if applicable) and sugar in a machine called a refiner. This removes bitter substances and makes the chocolate silky smooth. The filling is made separately in small batches, using low heat, so the Udo's 3·6·9 Oil Blend is not affected. As long as the Bija® Omega Truffles are kept cool and consumed by the Best Before date, the oil will remain a fresh source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids.
Q: Is the cocoa butter deodorized?
A: No! While much of the cocoa butter on the market is deodorized (essentially steam-cleaned), Bija uses only un-deodorized organic cocoa butter.
If you have any further questions about Bija® Omega Truffles or any other Flora products, please call 1-888-436-6697.
