Deodorized vs Non-deodorized Cocoa Butter

What is cocoa butter?

Cocoa butter is simply the fat pressed from the cocoa bean. The cocoa bean is the seed used to make chocolate. This pressed fat can be non-deodorized, which is simply the pressed fat which has been filtered to remove debris from the seed itself.

Non-deodorized Cocoa Butter

Non-deodorized cocoa butter. Image by Bean To Bar World.

Non-deodorized cocoa butter has a cocoa-like scent to it, but do not expect it to smell exactly like chocolate or a container of cocoa powder. It’s a fragrant odour. This non-deodorized can be used for both chocolate making and other culinary needs, as well as for skincare products. If using it for culinary purposes, ensure it is food-grade.

Deodorized Cocoa Butter

Deodorized cocoa butter is made by steam distilling (via high temperature and highly pressurized water) the non-deodorized cocoa butter to remove the odours within it. As well, the high temperatures usually break down the pigments in cocoa butter, making more off-white than the light yellow colour of the non-deodorized cocoa butter. This cocoa butter can be used for both chocolate making, culinary uses, and skin-care products. This cocoa butter is used when one does not want the aromas of the non-deodorized cocoa butter to interfere with what is it being used for. If using deodorized cocoa butter for culinary purposes, ensure it is food-grade.