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Cocoa, or cocoa powder is a naturally occurring product from the cocoa beans of the cacao tree Theobroma cacao, known for being a main ingredient in chocolate. It is found usually in the form of cocoa beans, which are taken from the cocoa plant, or cocoa powder. Cocoa beans and bean powder contain psychoactive compounds that when ingested or insufflated act as mild to moderate stimulants. Businesses as well as companies and their subsidiaries sell cocoa powder for baking because cocoa powder is used to add chocolate flavor to baked items or doughs.
The compounds theobromine, caffeine, and phenethylamine are the main psychoactive constituents of cocoa. Caffeine and theobromine are metabolized by xanthine oxidase and phenethylamine is metabolized mainly by monoamine oxidase B.
Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWikicontributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.
It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.
It is recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this drug.
Although cocoa is relatively safe when ingested orally, snorting cocoa is very damaging to nasal passages and therefore it is not recommended to snort cocoa powder often, in large amounts, or potentially even at all.
Overdose
The LD50 of cocoa powder in humans is estimated to be around 25-100(This information has a large range of numbers (ex. 25-100) that is unjustified or unsourced and/or it is a very vague statement.) grams per kilogram of body weight. [citation needed]
Dependence and abuse potential
Because cocoa can act as a powerful (compared to other weaker stimulants on their own) stimulant, it can be considered addictive, but less so than compounds such as amphetamine and DOx compounds. Caffeine dependence and withdrawals have been documented.
[8]
↑Irsfeld, M; Spadafore, M; Prüß, BM (30 September 2013). "β-phenylethylamine, a small molecule with a large impact". WebmedCentral. 4 (9). PMID24482732.
↑Restuccia, D; Spizzirri, UG; Puoci, F; Picci, N (2015). "Determination of biogenic amine profiles in conventional and organic cocoa-based products". Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment. 32 (7): 1156–63. doi:10.1080/19440049.2015.1036322. PMID25833003.
↑Franco, R; Oñatibia-Astibia, A; Martínez-Pinilla, E (18 October 2013). "Health benefits of methylxanthines in cacao and chocolate". Nutrients. 5 (10): 4159–73. doi:10.3390/nu5104159. PMID24145871.
