If Hunter & Gather’s Vanilla Collagen Creamer is the safe, crowd-pleasing option, the Cacao version is its richer, more indulgent sibling.

Same concept, same collagen dose, same clean ingredient list, but with organic cacao and a touch of Himalayan salt swapped in to create a chocolatey coffee experience. For anyone who likes a mocha-style drink or simply wants their collagen to taste like something more interesting than water, this is the one to try.

What Is It?

Grass-fed bovine collagen peptides blended with organic coconut milk powder, organic cacao powder (10%), glycine, natural flavourings (cacao and vanilla), and pink Himalayan salt. Six ingredients, all recognisable, nothing artificial.

The cacao is organic and raw, which means it retains more of its natural polyphenol content compared to heavily processed cocoa powder. The Himalayan salt is a small but considered addition that rounds out the chocolate flavour and prevents it from tasting flat.

Each serving delivers 13g of collagen and around 12g of protein, identical to both the vanilla creamer and the standalone bovine powder. The 300g pouch gives you roughly 18 to 20 servings. Same formula backbone as the vanilla, just a different flavour direction.

Taste and Mixing

The cacao flavour is darker and more grown-up than you might expect. This is not sweet hot chocolate territory. It tastes like proper raw cacao: rich, slightly bitter, earthy, with the Himalayan salt providing a subtle savoury note that balances the whole thing out. In coffee, it creates a convincing mocha flavour without any added sugar. In hot water on its own, it works as a low-calorie hot chocolate alternative, though people expecting the sweetness of a traditional cocoa drink may find it underwhelming unless they add their own sweetener.

The coconut milk powder gives the same creamy mouthfeel as the vanilla version. Mixing is easy in hot liquids with a good stir or frother. Several customer reviews specifically mention this product as their afternoon or evening ritual, a comforting hot drink that also delivers a collagen boost without the sugar crash of conventional hot chocolate.

The flavour does divide opinion more than the vanilla. The majority of customers love the rich, sophisticated chocolate taste, but a small number find it too bitter or earthy for their liking. If you enjoy dark chocolate (70%+ cocoa) you will almost certainly like this. If you prefer milk chocolate sweetness, the vanilla may be a better fit.

Ingredients Breakdown

The base is the same as the vanilla creamer: grass-fed bovine collagen peptides providing Type I and III collagen, organic coconut milk powder for creaminess, and added glycine for sleep and gut health support. The differentiating ingredients are organic cacao powder at 10% of the formula, natural cacao and vanilla flavourings, and pink Himalayan salt.

The organic cacao is worth highlighting. Raw cacao is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods available, containing flavonoids that support cardiovascular health and may benefit skin elasticity. At 10% of the formula it is not going to deliver a therapeutic dose of cacao polyphenols, but it is a genuine functional ingredient rather than just a flavouring, which aligns with Hunter and Gather’s real-food philosophy.

What Do Real Customers Say?

Customer reception is broadly positive. The cacao creamer is particularly popular among people who drink bone broth, with multiple Trustpilot reviewers mentioning they add it to their evening broth to create a savoury-sweet hot chocolate.

Others use it as a guilt-free dessert drink after dinner. The most common praise points are flavour depth, the absence of artificial sweetness, and the convenience of combining creamer and collagen.

The bitter and earthy notes are the main point of contention. A minority of reviewers expected something sweeter and were disappointed.

This is a product for people who appreciate the taste of real cacao rather than processed cocoa, and the reviews reflect that divide clearly. If you are unsure which way you lean, the 60-day money-back guarantee gives you a risk-free way to find out.

Pricing

Purchase Option	Price	Per Serving
One-time purchase (300g)	£34.00	~£1.70
Subscribe and save (300g)	£27.20	~£1.36
Vanilla and Cacao bundle (subscribe)	£52.80	~£1.32 each

Identical pricing to the vanilla creamer. The bundle with vanilla offers a small saving and lets you alternate between the two flavours to keep things interesting. At £1.36 per serving on subscription, the same value calculation applies: factor in the creamer or milk you are replacing and the net cost is lower than the sticker price suggests.

How It Compares

The closest competitor is Ancient and Brave’s Cacao + Collagen, which is a standalone hot drink rather than a creamer. Ancient and Brave’s version includes ashwagandha, Siberian ginseng, beetroot, and other adaptogens but only delivers 2,000mg of collagen per serving. Hunter and Gather’s cacao creamer delivers 13,000mg of collagen, more than six times the dose, but without the adaptogenic extras. If collagen dose is your priority, Hunter and Gather wins decisively. If you want the adaptogen stack, Ancient and Brave is the better choice, though you would need to supplement with additional collagen to reach a therapeutic dose.

Who Should Buy This?

Perfect for dark chocolate lovers who want a rich, unsweetened cacao flavour in their coffee or as a standalone hot drink. Particularly good as an evening ritual for people who want a comforting hot drink without caffeine (when made with hot water rather than coffee). The full 13g collagen dose means it is not a compromise product. Also a smart choice for anyone who finds unflavoured collagen too boring but does not want vanilla.

Skip it if you prefer sweet, milky hot chocolate flavours, if you do not enjoy dark cacao, or if you want adaptogenic ingredients alongside your collagen (look at Ancient and Brave’s Brave Blends instead).

Or, if you just prefer vanilla, go for that, as flavour is the only difference here!

Our Verdict: 4.3 out of 5

A well-executed flavoured collagen product that delivers a full therapeutic dose in a format that genuinely enhances your daily routine.

The organic cacao and Himalayan salt create a flavour profile that feels considered rather than thrown together, and the clean ingredient list is exactly what you would expect from Hunter and Gather.

The slightly divisive taste profile and shorter pouch life keep it at the same score as the vanilla, but for the right person this is the more interesting product of the two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it sweet like hot chocolate?

No. It has the rich, slightly bitter taste of raw organic cacao rather than the sweetness of conventional hot chocolate. There is no added sugar or sweetener. The Himalayan salt and coconut milk soften the bitterness, but if you want sweetness you will need to add your own.

Can I mix it with bone broth?

Yes, this is a popular combination among Hunter and Gather customers. Stirring a serving into hot bone broth creates a savoury-sweet chocolate drink that some people use as an evening ritual. The brand sells a dedicated Bone Broth and Collagen bundle for this purpose.

What is the difference between this and Ancient and Brave Cacao + Collagen?

Hunter and Gather’s cacao creamer delivers 13,000mg of collagen per serving versus Ancient and Brave’s 2,000mg. Ancient and Brave includes adaptogens like ashwagandha and Siberian ginseng that Hunter and Gather does not. They are different products for different priorities: Hunter and Gather for maximum collagen dose, Ancient and Brave for functional ingredient variety.

How many servings per pouch?

Roughly 18 to 20 servings per 300g pouch. At daily use, expect the pouch to last about three weeks rather than a full month.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Consult your GP or a qualified healthcare professional before starting new supplements, particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medication.

Affiliate disclosure: BovineCollagen.co.uk may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial independence or the price you pay.