Cayenne Pepper vs. Cocoa Powder

Nutrition comparison of Cayenne Pepper and Cocoa Powder


Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?

We compared the nutritional contents of cayenne pepper versus cocoa powder (100g each) below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].

For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in cayenne pepper and cocoa powder:

  • Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in calcium, calories, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, iron, potassium and protein.
  • Cayenne pepper has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6 and folate, however, cocoa powder contains more pantothenic acid.
  • Cayenne pepper has signficantly more Vitamin K than cocoa powder.
  • Cayenne pepper is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
  • Cocoa powder has 4.9 times less sugar than cayenne pepper.
Detailed nutritional comparison of cayenne pepper and cocoa powder is analyzed below. You can also visualize the nutritional comparison for a custom portion or serving size and see how the nutrition compares.

USDA sources for nutritional information: Cayenne Pepper (Spices, pepper, red or cayenne) and Cocoa Powder (Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.


Image of Cayenne Pepper src
Image of Cocoa Powder src

Calories and Carbs

calories

Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in calories. Cayenne pepper has 39% more calories than cocoa powder - cocoa powder has 228 calories per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 318 calories.

For macronutrient ratios, cayenne pepper is lighter in protein, heavier in fat and similar to cocoa powder for carbs. Cayenne pepper has a macronutrient ratio of 11:53:36 and for cocoa powder, 18:54:29 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.

Macro Ratios from Calories:

Cayenne Pepper Cocoa Powder
Protein 11% 18%
Carbohydrates 53% 54%
Fat 36% 29%
Alcohol ~ ~

carbohydrates

Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in carbohydrates. Cocoa powder is very similar to cayenne pepper for carbohydrates - cocoa powder has 57.9g of total carbs per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 56.6g of carbohydrates.

dietary fiber

Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in dietary fiber. Cocoa powder has 36% more dietary fiber than cayenne pepper - cocoa powder has 37g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 27.2g of dietary fiber.

sugar

Cocoa powder has 4.9 times less sugar than cayenne pepper - cocoa powder has 1.8g of sugar per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 10.3g of sugar.

Protein

protein

Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in protein. Cocoa powder has 63% more protein than cayenne pepper - cocoa powder has 19.6g of protein per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 12g of protein.

Fat

saturated fat

Cocoa powder is high in saturated fat and cayenne pepper has 60% less saturated fat than cocoa powder - cocoa powder has 8.1g of saturated fat per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 3.3g of saturated fat.

Vitamins

Vitamin C

Cayenne pepper is an excellent source of Vitamin C and it has more Vitamin C than cocoa powder - cayenne pepper has 76.4mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and cocoa powder does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin A

Cayenne pepper is an excellent source of Vitamin A and it has more Vitamin A than cocoa powder - cayenne pepper has 2081ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and cocoa powder does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin E

Cayenne pepper is an excellent source of Vitamin E and it has 297 times more Vitamin E than cocoa powder - cocoa powder has 0.1mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 29.8mg of Vitamin E.

Vitamin K

Cayenne pepper has signficantly more Vitamin K than cocoa powder - cocoa powder has 2.5ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 80.3ug of Vitamin K.

The B Vitamins

Cayenne pepper has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6 and folate, however, cocoa powder contains more pantothenic acid.

Cayenne Pepper Cocoa Powder
Thiamin 0.328 MG 0.078 MG
Riboflavin 0.919 MG 0.241 MG
Niacin 8.701 MG 2.185 MG
Pantothenic acid ~ 0.254 MG
Vitamin B6 2.45 MG 0.118 MG
Folate 106 UG 32 UG

Minerals

calcium

Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in calcium. Cayenne pepper has 16% more calcium than cocoa powder - cocoa powder has 128mg of calcium per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 148mg of calcium.

iron

Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in iron. Cocoa powder has 78% more iron than cayenne pepper - cocoa powder has 13.9mg of iron per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 7.8mg of iron.

potassium

Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in potassium. Cayenne pepper has 102% more potassium than - cocoa powder has 1524mg of potassium per 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 2014mg of potassium.

Antioxidants and Phytonutrients

carotenoids

Carotenoids are micronutrients commonly found in plants and some animal products. An example is beta-carotene, the notable carotenoid which is a popular source of Vitamin A.[4][5]

For specific types of carotenoids,

Cayenne Pepper Cocoa Powder
beta-carotene 21840 UG ~
lutein + zeaxanthin 13157 UG 38 UG

Omega-3 and Omega-6

omega 6s

Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, cayenne pepper has more linoleic acid than cocoa powder per 100 grams.

Cayenne Pepper Cocoa Powder
linoleic acid 7.71 G 0.44 G
Total 7.71 G 0.44 G



Customize your serving size


The comparison below is by weight, but sometimes 100g isn't that intuitive of a measurement for food. View a custom portion comparison (e.g. cups, oz, package).

You can try adding or subtracting the amount of either Cayenne Pepper or Cocoa Powder .

Note: The specific food items compared are: Cayenne Pepper (Spices, pepper, red or cayenne) and Cocoa Powder (Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened) .

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FAQ

Does cocoa powder or cayenne pepper contain more calories in 100 grams?
Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in calories. Cayenne pepper has 40% more calories than cocoa powder - cocoa powder has 228 calories in 100g and cayenne pepper has 318 calories.

Does cocoa powder or cayenne pepper have more carbohydrates?
By weight, both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in carbohydrates. cocoa powder is very similar to cayenne pepper for carbohydrates - cocoa powder has 57.9g of carbs for 100g and cayenne pepper has 56.6g of carbohydrates.

Does cocoa powder or cayenne pepper contain more calcium?
Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in calcium. Cayenne pepper has 20% more calcium than cocoa powder - cocoa powder has 128mg of calcium in 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 148mg of calcium.

Does cocoa powder or cayenne pepper contain more iron?
Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in iron. Cocoa powder has 80% more iron than cayenne pepper - cocoa powder has 13.9mg of iron in 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 7.8mg of iron.

Does cocoa powder or cayenne pepper contain more potassium?
Both cocoa powder and cayenne pepper are high in potassium. Cayenne pepper has 100% more potassium than - cocoa powder has 1524mg of potassium in 100 grams and cayenne pepper has 2014mg of potassium.