Harvard & Brigham · AJCN 2022
The COSMOS Trial, 21,442 adults
The largest study of cocoa flavanols to date examined cardiovascular outcomes in over 21,000 older adults across five years.
Read the study →
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Bamboo Spoon
High-flavanol cacao + 4 adaptogens for focus, calm energy & healthy circulation.
5× more flavanols than regular cocoa.
- ✦500mg+ cocoa flavanols per cup, Harvard-studied levels
- ✦Lion's Mane + Ashwagandha for focus & calm energy
- ✦Smooth energy, no jitters, no crash, no sugar
- ✦Un-Dutched, single-origin & heavy-metal tested
✓30-day money-back
✓Free shipping on all orders
✓Heavy-metal tested
✓Ships in 1–2 days
Benefits
A daily cup delivers 500mg+ cocoa flavanols (the level studied in Harvard's COSMOS trial) to support healthy circulation and your body's natural nitric oxide production, with four adaptogens for focus, a calm response to everyday stress, and steady energy.
Directions
Add one scoop to 8–10oz of hot water or your milk of choice and stir or froth. Enjoy in the morning for calm, focused energy or in the afternoon as a coffee alternative. Also blends into coffee, smoothies and oatmeal.
Ingredients
Organic high-flavanol cacao, Lion's Mane mushroom, Ashwagandha root, Maca root, Ceylon cinnamon. That's it. No sugar, no fillers, no proprietary blends.
Studies
We don't hide behind made-up 'research institutes.' We link the actual peer-reviewed research so you can read it yourself.
See the studies →Shipping & Guarantee
Free shipping on all orders, ships in 1–2 business days. Covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee, even if the tin is empty.
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Heart & Circulation
🧠
Focus & Clarity
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Calm Energy
OrganicNon-GMOVeganGluten-FreeHeavy-Metal TestedThird-Party Tested
Backed by decades of real research.
20+ yrs
of cocoa flavanol research
30+
clinical studies on cocoa flavanols
21,442
people in Harvard's COSMOS trial
OrganicHeavy-metal testedNon-GMOVeganGluten-freeNo added sugar
The Science
Flavanols are the whole point.
Cocoa flavanols, led by the compound epicatechin, are what decades of research keep pointing to. Here's the chain of events your daily cup supports.
1
Real flavanols, intact
Un-Dutched, single-origin cacao delivers 500mg+ of cocoa flavanols and epicatechin per cup, not stripped out by processing.
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2
Nitric oxide support
Flavanols are studied for supporting your body's nitric oxide production, the molecule behind relaxed, open blood vessels.
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3
Healthy circulation
The result researchers point to: support for healthy blood flow and the vascular function behind focus, energy, and graceful aging.
21,442
adults studied in Harvard & Brigham's COSMOS trial, the largest study of cocoa flavanols to date.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Don't Take Our Word For It
The research is public. Go read it.
We don't hide behind made-up “research institutes.” Here's the actual peer-reviewed science on cocoa flavanols, linked, so you can read every study yourself.
Cochrane Review · 2017
Cocoa flavanols & blood pressure
A systematic review of randomized trials examined cocoa flavanols and their relationship to healthy blood pressure and vascular function.
Read the study →JACC · 2010
Flavanols & vascular repair cells
Flavanol intake was associated with improved endothelial function and an increase in the body's circulating endothelial progenitor (repair) cells.
Read the study →Brickman et al. · PNAS 2023
Flavanols & memory in healthy aging
In older adults with lower flavanol intake, supplementation was associated with improved performance on a hippocampus-dependent memory task.
Read the study →J. Agric. Food Chem. · 2008
Why Dutch-processing matters
Alkalizing (“Dutching”) cocoa was shown to dramatically reduce its flavanol content, the reason we never Dutch ours.
Read the study →EFSA · Approved Claim
200mg flavanols & blood vessels
European food-safety regulators recognize that 200mg of cocoa flavanols daily helps maintain the elasticity of blood vessels for normal blood flow.
Read the study →Links are to independent, peer-reviewed research on cocoa flavanols for educational purposes; they are not a claim about this product. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Backed by studies on cocoa flavanols:
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Supports healthy blood flow & circulation
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Supports healthy cognitive function
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Helps maintain flexible, healthy arteries
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Supports healthy blood pressure already in the normal range
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Supports steady, calm energy, no crash
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Supports overall cardiovascular health
Statements refer to published research on cocoa flavanols and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Five Ingredients. Zero Filler.
Every ingredient earns its place.
No proprietary blends, no mystery “natural flavors.” Just five functional ingredients you can actually pronounce.
🍫
High-Flavanol Cacao
The Hero
Per serving5,000mg
Un-Dutched, single-origin. 500mg+ flavanols to support healthy circulation.
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Lion's Mane
Focus
Per serving500mg
A functional mushroom traditionally used to support mental clarity and focus.
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Ashwagandha
Calm
Per serving300mg
An adaptogen that helps the body support a healthy response to everyday stress.
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Maca Root
Energy
Per serving1,000mg
A Peruvian root traditionally used to support steady, natural energy and stamina.
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Ceylon Cinnamon
Balance
Per serving200mg
“True” cinnamon that supports healthy blood-sugar balance, and tastes incredible.
What's In The Tin
Every detail, on purpose.
500mg+
Cocoa flavanols per cup, Harvard-studied levels
Un-Dutched
Single-origin, never alkalized
0g sugar
No fillers, no proprietary blends
4 adaptogens
Lion's Mane · Ashwagandha · Maca · Cinnamon
No crash
Smooth, calm energy, no jitters
30 servings
About $1.33 a cup
The Truth About Cacao
Most “healthy” cacao is processed to death.
Standard cocoa is alkalized, “Dutch-processed”, to look darker and taste milder. That process strips out up to ~78% of the flavanols: the exact compounds research is excited about. Then it sits un-tested for heavy metals. We refused to play that game.
Typical cocoa & cacao
- ✕Dutch-processed, most flavanols destroyed
- ✕Rarely tested for heavy metals
- ✕Loaded with sugar and fillers
- ✕Zero functional ingredients
Actual Superfoods
- ✓Never Dutched, 500mg+ flavanols per cup
- ✓Third-party heavy-metal tested, every batch
- ✓No sugar, no fillers, no proprietary blends
- ✓4 adaptogens for focus, calm & energy
The Honest Comparison
Why people switch to Actual.
| Actual | Regular cacao | Coffee | Supplement stack | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500mg+ high-flavanol cacao | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Never Dutch-processed | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Adaptogens (Lion's Mane, Ashwagandha, Maca) | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Smooth energy, no jitters or crash | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| No sugar, no fillers | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Heavy-metal tested | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| One scoop replaces the cabinet | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
What To Expect
Your first month, cup by cup.
First cup
Smooth, calm focus
Most people notice steady focus and warm, comfortable energy, without the coffee jitters or a crash.
First week
A ritual you look forward to
It becomes the easy part of your morning. Real chocolate flavor, zero sugar guilt, consistent energy.
First month
Consistency compounds
Daily flavanols support healthy circulation while the adaptogens support a calm response to everyday stress.
Long term
A habit that loves you back
A simple daily way to support healthy circulation, focus, and graceful aging, backed by your guarantee.
Individual experiences vary. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Loved Daily
What our customers say
4.9
★★★★★
Finally, a cacao that actually does something
Smooth, steady focus through my whole morning, no jitters, no 11am slump. It's the first thing I make every day.
★★★★★
My 3pm crash is just… gone
One scoop in the morning and that dead-tired afternoon feeling never shows up. Calm, clear energy instead of spike-and-crash.
★★★★★
Tastes like dessert, not a supplement
Rich and chocolatey with zero added sugar. I can't believe the ingredient list is this clean and it still tastes this good.
★★★★★
Replaced three things in my cabinet
I was taking lion's mane, ashwagandha, and maca separately. This has all of them plus real high-flavanol cacao in one scoop.
★★★★★
No B.S. is right
Five ingredients, un-Dutched, third-party tested. Nothing hidden behind a 'proprietary blend.' That's why I trust it.
★★★★★
Smooth energy and I feel sharper
Within the first week I was getting through deep-work blocks without spacing out. It's become my non-negotiable morning ritual.
The 2-Minute Ritual
How to make it
1
Scoop
Add one heaping scoop to your favorite mug.
2
Pour
Add 8–10oz of hot water or your milk of choice.
3
Stir or froth
Whisk or froth until smooth and rich. Sweeten if you like.
4
Sip & glow
Enjoy your daily flavanols. Works hot or iced, any time of day.
Why We Made This
A supplement company that thinks most supplements are garbage.
We started Actual Superfoods because we were tired of the same playbook: fairy-dust doses, mystery “proprietary blends,” and cocoa processed until there's nothing real left in it.
So we did the opposite. Single-origin, never-Dutched cacao that keeps its flavanols intact. Four functional adaptogens at honest amounts. Five ingredients you can pronounce, and a label that hides nothing.
Small-Batch By Design
We don't mass-produce this.
Single-origin, un-Dutched cacao is harder to source and we test every batch for heavy metals, so we make it in limited runs. If it's in stock, it's the moment to start.
Good Questions
Everything you want to know
What makes this different from regular cacao powder?
Two things: we never Dutch-process it (so the flavanols stay intact at 500mg+ per cup), and we add four functional adaptogens, Lion's Mane, Ashwagandha, Maca, and Ceylon Cinnamon. Most cacao is alkalized, which strips out the very compounds that matter.
What exactly are flavanols, and why do they matter?
Flavanols are natural plant compounds in cacao, led by epicatechin, that research has studied for supporting healthy circulation and nitric oxide production. They're the focus of Harvard's 21,442-person COSMOS trial.
Is this the same as regular cocoa?
No. Standard cocoa is usually Dutch-processed, which can destroy up to ~78% of its flavanols. Ours is un-Dutched and single-origin to preserve them.
What are the ingredients?
Five, and only five: organic high-flavanol cacao, Lion's Mane mushroom, Ashwagandha root, Maca root, and Ceylon cinnamon. No sugar, no fillers, no proprietary blends.
How does it taste?
Rich, smooth, genuinely chocolatey, without the bitterness of raw cacao or any added sugar. Most people drink it like a hot cocoa or blend it into coffee, oats, or smoothies.
How do I use it?
Add one scoop to hot water, milk, or your favorite milk alternative and stir or froth. It also blends beautifully into coffee, smoothies, and oatmeal.
When should I take it?
Most people enjoy it in the morning for smooth, calm energy and focus, or in the afternoon as a coffee alternative without the jitters.
Can I bake with it?
Yes. It works anywhere you'd use cocoa powder, though high heat may reduce some flavanol content, so a daily cup is the best way to get the most.
Are there any side effects?
It's a food made from five recognizable ingredients. As with any supplement, if you're pregnant, nursing, or on medication, check with your healthcare provider first.
Is it safe to take daily?
Yes, it's designed as a daily ritual. One scoop a day is how you get the most from the flavanols and adaptogens.
Is it organic, vegan, and allergen-friendly?
Yes, organic, vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and made without dairy, soy, or added sugar.
Why is it more expensive than regular cacao?
Because un-Dutched, high-flavanol, single-origin cacao plus four real adaptogens costs more than alkalized commodity cocoa. At about $1.33 a cup, it replaces several separate supplements.
What's your return policy?
A 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don't love it, email us for a full refund, even if the tin is empty.
30-DAY GUARANTEE
Works Day 1, or your money back.
Try High-Flavanol Cacao for 30 days. If you don't love the focus, the calm energy, and the taste, email us for a full refund, even if the tin is empty. No forms, no hassle. That's how confident we are.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.