In this Filipino-English YouTube video, the host tests two affordable cocoa powders—Dutchess Special (≈₱350/kg) and Lufa/Elufa (≈₱280 for 500 g)—against a premium brand, JB15 (≈₱800‑900/kg), by baking brownies. The comparison covers visual color, moisture, flavor intensity, texture, baking time, and aftertaste. JB15 yields the darkest color, very moist, intensely chocolatey brownies with a chewy texture. Dutchess Special produces lighter‑colored, softer, fudgier brownies with a hint of artificial vanilla and a mild, slightly peppery/orangey aftertaste; it bakes about three minutes faster. Lufa/Elufa falls between the two, offering more chocolate flavor than Dutchess but less than JB15, and a neutral aftertaste. The presenter concludes that the cheaper powders are acceptable alternatives for baking, but advises businesses to be cautious when switching brands—suggesting they either launch new products with the cheaper cocoa or be transparent with customers if substituting in existing recipes. The video ends with a call to follow the channel.
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Nagahanap ka ba ng mas murang cocoa powder? Hurray me! At nagahanap na ako ng de luwang mas affordable na options, and today we're putting them to the test to find out kung okay naman sila for baking brownies. Tumain ko dito ng Dutchess Special. You can buy a kilo of this online for about ��350. Tapos itong isan naman ay Lufa. Nayo nang kulang actually encounter yung brand naito. Yung 500 grams nito ay nasa ��280. Now we are comparing these two against JB15, which retails for ��800-900 per kilo. Una tingnan natin sa itura. As you can see, darkest ang JB15 while lightest naman ang Dutchess Special. Kapag tinigdanan lob ng brownies, parang drier yung ginamitan ng Dutchess Special while very moist yung ginamitan ng Elufa. Nyon, pagdating sa lase at texture, ang ginamitan ng JB15 ay talagang chocolatey Sabi ko madun sa nakaraang Battle of the Brands, straight chocolate flavor ang binibigay niya. Wala masado ibang notes. Sa texture naman, very chewy. Itunaman Dutch Special ay may hawik sa Dutch Premium na ka price range ng JP15. Parehasi lang may hint na artificial vanilla flavor pero hindi nalang ganun ka chocolateese Dutch Special. Very reminiscent yung flavor niyo doon sa mga pambatan chocolate-flavored snacks na hinakaen natin dante. Nalala ko rin dito yung lase ng champorado na nabibili nyo on sakanto tuwing almo sal. Nyon mi parang naman para medyo mas magin chocolate yung lase ng Dutch Special, you can add instant coffee powder. Dating naman sa texture, chewy pero significantly softer yung ginamitan ng Dutch Special compared sa brownie ng ginamitan ng JP15. Mas mabilis din itong nabake compared sa ginamitan ng JP15 at Elufa, mga 3 minutes less baking time. Nayon, di to naman tayos sa ilufa. So mas chocolaty siya sa Dutch Special, pero less chocolatey naman sa JB15. Tapos mero nang aftertaste na hindi ko mapinpoint. Kapag ina mo yung mismo cocoa powder, may peppery aroma sha na mi pa ka orangey, pero sa Lassa hindi naman ganon. In any case, for me, hindi naman unpleasant yung aftertaste. So texture, itoyong softest and fudgiest with a little chewiness lang. So in conclusion, okay naman itong Dutch Special at Elufa as cheaper alternatives. Nothing unpleasant sa mga lasa nila. However, you have to be cautious sa pagda transition sa ibang brand ng cocoa powder. Siempre maninibago ang mga customers mo, lalo na yung mga loyal customers. So siguro gamitin mo ito to introduce an entirely new product Instead, substitute when making an already existing product, or you can be transparent to your customers and offer a cheaper alternative to an existing product using the cheaper cocoa powder. If this has been helpful, please follow