Is Cocoa Acidic or Alkaline?
Alkaline, and strongly so. Heavily defatted baking cocoa has a PRAL of −35.7 per 100 g and alkalized cocoa −31.7, while dark chocolate comes in at −6.1 and milk chocolate at −2.1.
Why cocoa is alkaline
Cocoa is one of the richest ingredients of all in magnesium and potassium. That is why it is clearly alkaline despite its protein content. Alkalized cocoa ("Dutch process") is also treated with potassium carbonate. Heavily defatted baking cocoa still comes in slightly lower, because it contains less fat and therefore more fat-free cocoa solids per 100 g. One teaspoon of cocoa powder contributes −3.2 to −3.6.
With chocolate, the cocoa content is what counts: 70% dark chocolate comes in at −6.1 per 100 g, milk chocolate at −2.1, and white chocolate at −1.5. That does not make chocolate healthy, since 100 g of dark chocolate has 563 kcal. But two pieces a day are a non-issue for your acid-base balance.
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
The PRAL (potential renal acid load) estimates what a food leaves behind after digestion. It is not the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0. If you are asking whether cocoa is acidic because of heartburn or reflux, that is a question of pH and your stomach, which the PRAL does not measure; talk to your doctor about it.
Cocoa in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Cocoa powder (alkalized) (dried) | −31.7 |
| Cocoa powder, baking (dried) | −35.7 |
| Dark chocolate (prepared) | −6.1 |
| Milk chocolate (prepared) | −2.1 |
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chocolate acidic?
No, all three kinds are alkaline: dark chocolate −6.1 per 100 g, milk chocolate −2.1, white chocolate −1.5. The more cocoa, the more alkaline.
Why is Dutch-process cocoa so alkaline?
It is treated with potassium carbonate to give it a milder taste. The extra potassium pushes its PRAL down to −31.7, close to heavily defatted baking cocoa (−35.7).
Cocoa and everything else on your plate: calculated automatically.
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More sweets & snacks compared
All sweets & snacks with their PRAL: Sweets & Snacks table. Back to the overview Acidic or Alkaline?, or put together a meal in the PRAL calculator.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.