February is here, and you know what that means? Valentines day is nearly among us! Valentines day doesn’t have to feel like something commercial and phony, rather it is an awesome opportunity to pause and reflect on the love in our lives; that which we give and receive everyday. It is a great reminder to open our hearts, breath deeply, and feel love always. If there was only one food on Earth that could be chosen to symbolize love and the heart chakra it would be the cacao bean. Rich in magnesium and flavanoids, it helps keep the heart healthy on a physical level, but cacao also works with heart energy on an emotional level. Cacao contains a few very special chemicals that work with our adrenals and our brains, the most noted being phenylethylamine or PEA, serotonin, tyramine, and tryptophan. All of these chemicals work with our nervous system to create a sense of well being, calmness and joy. PEA in particular is often called “the love chemical” because it induces or heightens those wonderful feelings we get when we are falling in love.

When it comes to getting all of the immense benefits of cacao, eating it in it’s raw form is the way to go. RawGuru has many different raw chocolate goodies to choose from to fit a wide variety of different chocolate preferences. Of course there is our top selling and infamous Rawtella, which is the perfect treat for a Valentines day brunch as a fruit dip or crepe filling. Just make sure you gently melt it before hand to turn it into a creamy-dreamy consistency perfect for coating fresh strawberries. We also carry Fortina bars made from truly raw, sprouted and stone ground cacao which is sweetened with wild local rizona honey. These are particularly powerful chocolate bars!

Also in stock are chocolate bars from Golden Bean, Gnosis, and Righteously Raw. If you haven't tried the Rose Bar from Righteously Raw you absolutely must! Sweetened with raw palm sugar, this bar is the perfect balance of delicate rose, raspberry, maqui berry, beet crystals and dark luscious chocolate. If chocolate bars aren’t on the agenda we also offer ChocAlive truffles, as well as Spirit Bliss Passion and L.O.V.E Cups made with raw yacon or agave. Also, we can't forget to mention our amazing chocolate making ingredients such as cocoa powder, cocoa butter, coconut oil, cacao nibs, vanilla bean, raw unprocessed salts, all-raw sweeteners, and superfoods such as medicinal mushrooms, blue green algae, mesquite pod meal, lucuma, and more! All of our cacao treats are made with organic or sustainable, fair trade ingredients and are just as great for the planet as they are for the people you love the most in your life.

Enjoy your Valentines Day experience with an open heart filled to the brim with love (and plenty of raw chocolate!) Order early to ensure you get your chocolate treats right on time.

by Anna Hays