Ceremonial Cacao Reciepe

Ceremonial cacao has been used as a sacred plant medicine for millennia. Cacao is a doorway into the world of medicine. She (the spirit of the cacao tree) guides us into deeper connection with ourselves, our heart, nature, our practice, each other and this magical moment.

— MightyTree

Welcome to the magical space of cacao

Cacao is more than just a beverage - it's an ancient teacher that has been used for centuries as a gateway to deeper connection, healing and transformation. In our modern times, ceremonial cacao can be a bridge between daily life and the sacred - a way to return home to ourselves and nature.

We are so excited to share this ceremonial cacao recipe with you. It has been created through years of learning, both in the jungles and mountains of South and Central America and here in the Nordics, where we have woven traditional wisdom together with our own experience working with plants as teachers, therapy and embodiment.

Good luck exploring the magical world of Cacao and how to create a meaningful brewing ceremony and then your own ritual/ceremony with Cacao.

Cacaos Magic and Medicine

Before we dive into the recipe, it's important to understand that ceremonial cacao is different than regular cacao or chocolate. It is:

  • An all-natural product that uses the whole cacao bean (nothing is removed or added)

  • Grown and harvested with intention and respect

  • Processed at low temperatures to preserve its psychoactive properties

  • A powerful plant partner that can:

    • Open the heart and strengthen our connection to ourselves

    • Support deep healing and transformation

    • Enhance creativity and intuition

    • Help us feel our true nature

Buy Ceremonial Cacao here

Choose Cacao with Care

We work with 100% pure, ceremonial cacao from Guatemala and Mexico, hand-picked and processed by local (mostly) women with deep respect for the spirit of the cacao tree. The quality of your cacao is crucial - it's the difference between an ordinary chocolate experience and a deep, transformative journey.

What is Ceremonial Cacao? Ceremonial cacao is a particularly pure form of cacao that is grown, harvested and processed with ceremonial intention. It differs from regular Cacao in that it is:

  • 100% pure cacao with no additives

  • Made from whole cocoa beans, most often of the Criollo variety

  • Processed at low temperatures to preserve the active ingredients

  • Grown in natural ecosystems without the use of pesticides

  • Handcrafted with respect and intention

If you are curious to know more about the physical properties of cacao, what is a cacao ceremony etc. Then check out the FAQ further down the page.

The Brewing Ceremony

The first important point in brewing Cacao is how you do it - the presence you bring to the process. In our experience, the more presence we put into each part of making a cup of cacao, the better/deeper/richer the experience becomes. Making a cup of Cacao can be a ceremony in itself, which is the difference between a “normal” cup of Cacao and a deeply enriching, healing cup of Cacao.

Every ingredient matters

The quality of all the ingredients that go into your cup is important. It also means that if you have a good relationship with a particular spice, plant, mushroom or ingredient, it could be what makes your Cacao magical. We like a simplicity in our Kacao where every plant and element can be felt. But some people like to create a whole symphony of different ingredients, flavors and properties.

Temperature matters

Always make sure the cacao is never hotter than you can dip your finger in it. One of the elements of preserving most of the physical properties and chemical compounds in cacao is minimal processing, one of which is to avoid extensive heat that burns off the goodness of the cacao.

Shop Ceremonial Cacao here

Recipe for Ceremonial Cacao

What you need:

Good beans - and good prayers

  • 1 cup of water (preferably spring water). You can also replace some of it with plant milk

  • 42g ceremonial dose of cacao (15-25g for daily use)

  • Spices: cinnamon, cardamom, cayenne pepper or similar

  • A pot and a whisk (or molinillo as we use)

  • Your open heart and presence

    Create your ceremonial space:

  • Turn off your phone (or do not disturb)

  • Light a candle or incense

  • Take some deep breaths

  • Connect with the cacao through intention or prayer

  • Take your time and allow yourself to be present during the brewing process.

  • Sing or put on some beautiful music.

... remember that you don't have to be extra “spiritual” or “serious” - do it your own way.

How to do it

  • Cut the cacao into small pieces.

  • Heat a small amount of water (<1/4 cup), no hotter than your finger can still be in it.

  • Pour the cacao into the water and whisk to a thick/semi-thick paste. Don't worry if the cocoa water doesn't make it thick. Note: This is the part that gives the smooth consistency.

  • Be careful not to overheat the cacao!

  • Whisk in the spices.

  • When there are no more lumps in the mixture, slowly add more water/plant milk.

  • Whisk, whisk, whisk - in a relaxed manner. This is a good time to communicate with Cacao in your own way.

  • Continue as long as you feel it's necessary and you have the consistency you like. You can add more beans (intention beans :D), spices or water/plant milk.

  • Enjoy it with intention, presence and you-ness.

Get your Starter Set here

Ritual Cacao Starter Set

Would you like to go deeper with your cacao connection?

A great place to start is to buy our “Cacao Start Kit”.Through guiding hundreds of students & clients deeper with ceremonial cacao, we have created a starter kit. Here's the support and guidance to go deep - right now.

The Cacao Starter Set contains;

  • 450g organic ceremonial cacao

  • Online introduction video + Cacao cook-along (video + pdf)

  • Guide to creating your own personalized Cacao ritual (video + pdf)

  • Online guided Cacao ritual & acoustic sound journey (video)

FAQs

If you’d like to explore Cacao more deeply, you are welcome to read our Blogposts:

  • Ceremonial 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:

    • The cacao tree grows naturally in the rainforest in its natural ecosystem (not monoculture). The trees grow in interaction with other plants and trees.

    • Primarily Criollo beans or other original beans are used, not the common forms of 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

    • The beans are minimally processed and handmade. For example, they are dried in the sun, not with machines. They are roasted at low temperatures and 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 whole bean is used - nothing is removed or added (for example, around 50% of cacao is cacao butter, which helps us metabolize the cacao in our body)

    • The cacao is processed and created with intention

    • The hands and hearts that work with it have put love, intention and care into it

    • The local men and women who work with the cacao are paid a decent wage and treated properly. This means that there is respect throughout the chain, from the tree to the processing to the ecosystem the tree and product are part of.

  • Cacao is rich in natural compounds that support our well-being and stimulate cardiovascular circulation, among other things. Here are some of the most important ingredients:

    • Theobromine (heart strengthening and stimulating)

    • Anandamide (the “happy substance”)

    • Phenylethylamine (PEA - the love molecule)

    • Magnesium and other minerals

    • Natural MAO inhibitors

    Feel free to geek out more about ingredients, numbers etc. in our blog about cacao

  • A cacao ceremony is a sacred space where we work with cacao (i.e. in co-creation) as a plant guide to:

    • Open the heart and create a deeper connection to ourselves

    • Meditate and journey inward

    • Share in community and set intention

    • Work with personal transformation and healing

    • Connecting to nature and nature's wisdom

    • The ceremony can last 2-4 hours and typically includes

    • Welcoming and opening the ceremonial space

    • Connection to the cacao through intention and prayer

    • Guided meditation or journey

    • Sharing and integration

    • Closing and grounding

    If you are curious to join one of our cacao ceremonies, you can book a private ceremony or see our future events

  • In general, our guidelines are as follows:

    • Ceremonial dose: 42g (for deep ceremonial experiences)

    • Daily dose: 15-25g (for meditation and light heart opening)

    • Beginner dose: Start with 15g and increase gradually

    • Microdose: 5-10g (for light focus and creativity)

  • Most people can enjoy cacao, but be aware if you:

    • Are pregnant or breastfeeding (use smaller doses)

    • Have heart problems

    • Taking antidepressants (especially SSRIs)

    • Have low blood pressure

    Always consult your doctor if in doubt.

    Feel free to write us if you have any questions.

  • Ceremonial cacao:

    • 100% pure cacao

    • Whole beans used

    • Low temperature processing

    • High concentration of active ingredients

    • Grown with intention

    • Fair wages for locals

    Normal chocolate/cacao:

    • Added sugar and other ingredients

    • Only cocoa mass or powder (the cacao butter is removed)

    • High temperature processing

    • Lower concentration of active ingredients

    • Industrial production

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

    Most common cacao also comes from hybrid beans that are produced in monoculture with pesticides.

  • A great place to start is to buy our “Cacao Start Kit”.

    Here we have tested techniques and rituals by guiding hundreds of students deeper with ceremonial cacao.

    The Cacao Start Kit contains;

    • 450g organic ceremonial cacao

    • Online introduction video + Cacao cook-along (video + pdf)

    • Guide to creating your own personalized Cacao ritual (video + pdf)

    • Online guided Cacao ritual (video)

    Buy it here

    You are of course also welcome to book a private cacao ceremony with us or join one of our group ceremonies.

Get inspired by our songs for your ceremony

Listen to Naturkaldet on Soundcloud where Eva is sharing some of her medicine songs.

A Personal Invitation

Want to explore the deeper mysteries of cacao or create your own ceremonies? We're here to guide you. Book a free consultation to explore how cacao can support your journey together.

“Let cacao be your guide back to your core, your heart and true nature♡”

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Ceremoniel Kakao from Guatemala

Ceremoniel Kakao from Guatemala

We offer high quality ceremonial cacao from Guatemala. Grown in the tropical rainforest and hand-processed using traditional methods. Filled with love, power and deep connection and respect for the cacao tree and its spirit.

We offer Keith's Cacao - created with deep respect for the medicine of cacao and roasted, peeled and ground by the late Atitlán in Guatemala.

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