CocoaVia is a brand name for a daily

cocoa Cocoa may refer to: Chocolate * Chocolate * ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree * Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao'' * Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...

extract supplement. The name CocoaVia is a registered

trademark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from others ...

of Mars, Incorporated.

Brand history

In 2003, the CocoaVia brand was first launched by Mars Chocolate. It was the first functional food launched by Mars, Incorporated. CocoaVia featured a line of dark chocolate bars and chews that contained cocoa flavanols and plant sterols. After the initial launch, the brand expanded its product line, introducing a range of products including milk chocolate, granola bars, chocolate covered almonds, and ready to drink beverages. In 2009, Mars Chocolate discontinued the original line of CocoaVia. Also in 2009, Mars Botanical launched CirkuHealth, a cocoa extract-based dietary supplement. This was the first supplement launched by Mars, Incorporated and it featured cocoa extract that delivered cocoa flavanols. In 2010, Mars Botanical launched two new products - CocoaVia and Cirku. Both were powdered cocoa extract supplements. CocoaVia came in sweetened and unsweetened dark chocolate flavors. These products had originally been launched under the brand CirkuHealth but were rebranded as CocoaVia. The Cirku brand offered a line of fruit flavored cocoa extract supplements and came in four varieties. In 2012, the CocoaVia package graphics were redesigned. As part of the package graphics change, the Cirku flavored cocoa extract supplements were rebranded under the CocoaVia brand name. Th
U.S. CocoaVia web site
is used to sell CocoaVia supplements.

Product

CocoaVia is a daily cocoa extract supplement that contains 450 milligrams of

flavanols per serving. Flavanols are naturally occurring

phytonutrients Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them resist fungi, bacteria and plant virus infections, and also consumption by insects and other animals. The name comes . Some phytochemicals have been used as poison ...

. Scientists have identified a unique mixture of flavanols present in cocoa.

Cocoa flavanols and Cocoapro

Although all chocolate is made from

cocoa bean The cocoa bean (technically cocoa seed) or simply cocoa (), also called the cacao bean (technically cacao seed) or cacao (), is the dried and fully fermented seed of ''Theobroma cacao'', from which cocoa solids (a mixture of nonfat substances ...

s, a natural source of cocoa flavanols, not all chocolate or cocoa-based products contain cocoa flavanols because most traditional cocoa handling and processing procedures can destroy them. As a result, percent of cocoa (cacao) is not a reliable indicator of the level of cocoa flavanols. Gentle handling and processing of the cocoa bean, from harvesting the bean through delivery of the product, are critical in preserving cocoa flavanols.

References

{{Mars confectionery products Mars brands Brand name chocolate Patented foods