Ceremonial Grade Cacao is a title for a type of Cacao (a bit like when something is fair trade, however ceremonial cacao is not an official certification). It generally means that it is:

• Sourced from heritage cacao varieties (e.g. Criollo) and not hybrid beans. The original beans are often smaller, harder to process and grow, but also have higher levels of psychoactive ingredients and all the yumminess we want in ceremonial cacao

• Grown in natural rainforest environments (no monoculture)

• Harvested and processed with ceremonial intention

• Made from whole beans with no additives - and also nothing is taken away

• The beans are minimally processed and handmade. For example, they are dried in the sun, not with machines. They are roasted at low temperatures to prese hand-pulled. This ensures that as much of the psychoactive properties are retained as possible, but also that the quality is increased, for example, by sorting out the bad beans (which is not done in a huge machine).

• The local men and women who work with the Cacao are paid a decent wage and treated properly.

A cacao ceremony is a sacred container where we use cacao as a plant teacher to:

• Open our hearts and deepen self-connection

• Journey inward through meditation

• Set intentions and receive guidance

• Work with personal transformation

• Connect deeper to the wisdom of nature

A typical ceremony (2-4 hours) includes:

• Sacred space creation

• Connection with the cacao spirit

• Guided journey or meditation

• Sharing and integration

• Grounding practices

All of our Cacao ceremonies are acoustic, guided by medicine songs, icaros and sounds.

However, others might make their ceremonies different.

Glad you asked! This is an important topic - and also a senisitve one with many opinions.

Our perspective is that Cacao has a rich history of ceremonial use spanning thousands of years and many different Mesoamerican cultures such as the Mayo Chinchipe, The Olmecs, The Toltec, The Aztecs and the Mayans. We see a exchange of culture, Cacao and ritual throughout these thousands of years of these different cultures throughout Mesoamerica. We honor and acknowledge this ancestral lineage and recognizing that plant medicines, including cacao, transcend cultural boundaries and speak to people across time and traditions. You cannot owe a plant spirit but you can attribute specific rituals to a culture and taking those specific rituals without permission might be considered cultural appropriation - and working with any practices without permission doesn’t truly work. The energy doesn’t truly flow. It is not worth it.

We feel that Cacao is stepping out of the jungle to teach us how to reconnect to the earth and earth-based practices - not only where Cacao originates from - but where we are living and what linages we have in our bones and blood.

We create contemporary rituals that respect the origins of ceremonial cacao while allowing this sacred plant to guide us in deepening the connection to the nature here and the ancient culture here, in ways that authentically resonate with our own path and community.

Our ceremonies draw inspiration from the Nordic shamanic tradition, our study with the shipibo lineage in the Amazonian jungle, our yoga teacher training in India and our own deep practice with Cacao. While we have been in the Mayan “highlands” and attended ceremonies within this tradition, we do not claim our practice with Cacao as traditional Mayan or indigenous ceremony.

By sourcing our cacao ethically from indigenous producers, acknowledging its cultural roots, and developing our own meaningful relationship with this medicine, we strive to engage with cacao in a way that shows deep respect for both ancient wisdom and modern exploration.

Cacao offers a rich spectrum of natural compounds:

• Theobromine (heart-opening properties)

• Anandamide (bliss molecule)

• Phenylethylamine (PEA - love compound)

• Essential minerals including magnesium

• Natural MAO inhibitors

• Antioxidants and flavonoids

Curious to nerd a little more into the science and nutricion of Cacao? check out our Blog on this: Cacao Blog.

When having a ceremony with us we help guide you in dosage and help you deepen your expreience with Cacao.

if you are making Cacao yourself we recommend:

• Ceremonial dose: 42g (deep ceremonial work)

• Daily practice: 15-25g (meditation & heart-opening)

• Beginner dose: Start with 15g and increase gradually

• Microdose: 5-10g (focus & creativity)

While most people can enjoy cacao, please consult your healthcare provider if you:

• Are pregnant or nursing

• Have heart conditions

• Take antidepressants (especially SSRIs)

• Experience low blood pressure

• Have sensitivity to stimulants

Feel free to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

Know that we address this topic in our Cacao Preparation Guide we send out before attending a Ceremony with us.

We also have added a section about this in the Cacao Ritual Starter Kit.

Ceremonial Cacao:

• 100% pure cacao

• Whole bean processing

• Low-temperature preparation

• High concentration of active compounds

• Grown and processed with intention

• Direct trade relationships

Commercial Chocolate:

• Added sugar and ingredients

• Highly processed

• High-temperature production

• Lower concentration of beneficial compounds

• Industrial manufacturing

• Often unclear supply chain

• Around 70% of the world's cocoa production comes from African plantations where many farmers earn less than $1 a day and child labor is still practiced.

• Most mainstream cocoa also comes from hybrid beans produced in monoculture with pesticides.

Yes - of cause! Remember that as with building any relationship or practice it is a step-by-step process.

We invite you to begin by:

• Learning proper preparation methods

• Creating sacred space at home

• Starting with smaller doses

• Following your intuition

• Participating in guided ceremonies

For deeper practice, consider:

• Our Ceremonial Cacao Starter Kit

• Online guidance sessions

• Cacao Apprenticeship