Raw Cacao: The Newest, Sweetest Drug To Hit The European Club Scene

European clubbers are transitioning to a new kind of high. They have opted to turn their party up by sweetening the experience. The new trend of snorting lines of cocoa is sweeping through Europe's clubs, with dedicated events now offering it in place of alcohol and drugs like cocaine and ecstasy.

Although people have always known cocoa to be the main ingredient in chocolate, and the role it plays in sweet treats, a number of Western party goers have decided to trade alcohol and some illegal drugs for the substance containing high concentrations.

According to Medical Daily, one monthly party in Berlin, ravers kept dancing until dawn just from the buzz of raw chocolate taken in drink, pill or powdered form. It's not sweetness they're after, but the feelings of euphoria and relaxation such high doses can induce when drunk or inhaled.

Lucid, which can be found in downtown Berlin boasts of giving club goers 'a dynamic gathering... where music, dance and natural high vibes roam wild and free'. Ozy reported that Lucid is one of the most popular clubs when it comes to cocoa in Western Europe. In the report, it also said that there is not a single drug in sight. Instead, partygoers in the venue enjoy the rush they get from cocoa, and clubs such as Lucid in Germany pack the substance in sweet drinks to keep partiers going all night. There is even a device that allows you to snort the substance if you are a real chocolate connoisseur.

Lucid spokesperson proudly said, 'We do not serve alcohol, but this does not make us 'anti' anything. 'We have local artisans and culinary adventurers serving various high vibe medicines such as raw Cacao, super-food smoothies, herbal concoctions, vegan cuisine and much more.'

Advocates say raw cocoa is far more potent than previously believed, according to The Telegraph.

Before cocoa became the sweet treat we recognize today, the substance was used by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans in rituals and ceremonies because of its endorphic properties, Newser reported. However, instead of distorting reality or inducing a feeling of intoxication, cocoa's effects on the body are far less extreme.

The Telegraph also reported that the active components in cocoa boost the levels of serotonin and endorphins in our brain, giving a pleasurable sensation. In a 2009 study, chocolate was found to have a calming effect and can help reduce stress levels and lower blood pressure.

In addition to affecting our mood, research has suggested that cocoa can even improve brain power and memory. Habitual consumption of chocolate is also linked to reducing the risk of dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and even the common cold. What's more, despite the high calorie count in chocolate bars, cocoa could help control body fat levels and surprisingly, individuals who eat chocolate more frequently may actually be thinner than those who eat it less.