It's a bit of a mixed bag.
Cacao contains natural stimulants like theobromine and a lower amount of caffeine, making it a potential stimulant even at night.
If you're sensitive to stimulants, it might not be the wisest choice.
Having cacao in the early evening is an option, but it's advised to opt for a smaller dose compared to your morning intake.
Consider around 10-15g of cacao for an evening treat.
Interestingly, if you've moved away from caffeine dependency or deal with chronic stress, enjoying cacao at night might not disrupt your sleep; it might even enhance it.
This could be attributed to cacao's tryptophan and serotonergic properties, which promote relaxation and activate the restful state of our parasympathetic nervous system.
Additionally, the presence of Anandamide could contribute to a sense of euphoria and bliss.
Lastly, cacao's richness in magnesium might play a role in its positive effects on the nervous system, muscle and cardiac tissue, as well as the brain.