Ceremonial cacao is an
ultra premium type of
chocolate. It elevates your mood and makes you
feel good about yourself and those around you, but it is in
no way hallucenogenic. Actually it helps with your
focus,
concentration &
memory. Ceremonial cacao is usually mixed with plant based milk to make a
hot drink and its heritage is from pre-Colombian
Mesoamerican civilizations.
An ultra premium chocolate
So what distinguishes ceremonial cacao from ordinary chocolate?
1. Firstly, it comes from a very premium indigenous strain of cacao (criollo or trinitario) which is much harder to grow than the common forastero strain, used to make 90% of the world’s chocolate.
2. Secondly, it uses the whole cacao bean including the cocoa butter, which is rich in minerals & antioxidants. When producing ordinary chocolate this is separated off to be used in e.g. beauty products.
3. Thirdly, it is only lightly processed with a low heat. This means the cacao bean retains all of its wonderful natural goodness. In ordinary chocolate these benefits are destroyed in the heating process.
Chocolate with special effects
What’s so special about ceremonial cacao?
Ceremonial cacao is a great natural mood booster. A combination of chemical compounds (theobromine, anandamide & phenylethylamine) trigger a positive emotional response. This also makes us more empathic to those around us, and ceremonial cacao is thus said to be a heart opener. However these effects are striclty non-hallucenogenic, and actually enhance your ability to perform every day tasks.
Ceremonial cacao also gives us a calm confident energy. This is because theobromine gives a smooth, consistent boost that helps keep us focused & present, without overstimulating our system. It works on the cardivascular system (this can be contrasted with caffeine which instead works on the central nervous system making us more jittery and on edge). Cacao's high magnesium content also helps us feel calm & centered. Nonetheless it is better not to consume too late in the evening or night or too close to bedtime as it can keep you awake.
Ceremonial cacao also provides mental clarity, better memory retention, and increased focus. It is rich in flavanoids, particularly epicatechin, which improves cognitive function. Theobromine improves circulation and oxygen supply to the brain, and magnesium improves neural function, synaptic plasticity & memory.
Ceremonial cacao also has a whole host of health benefits being very rich in minerals & antioxidants. It is also a fermented food so is particularly great for gut health.
A warm & tasty drink
How do we prepare ceremonial cacao?
Ceremonial cacao is best melted into warm milk, or milk alternative like oatmilk to make a warm drink. Other ingredients to enhance the cacao's beneficial properties and improve the taste can also be added.
For inspiration for your perfect ceremonial cacao blend check these Wonders.
Where does the idea of ceremonial cacao come from?
Cacao has been held sacred for thousands of years. In Central America the Olmecs, Mayans & Aztec all revered cacao as a divine gift from the gods. Not only did they prepare cacao drinks in their rituals, but the Mayans & Aztecs also used cacao beans as a currency.
Most amazingly, the Aztecs used it to cheer up victims who did not want to dance before their own ritual sacrifice!
In a powerful message to the modern world (and a mantra that fuels the Wão family) an ancient Mayan legend holds that:
When there is an imbalance between humans and nature, cacao comes from the rainforest to open people's hearts, and return the planet to a state of harmony.
