The Hidden Power of Cacao Ceremonies: Unlocking Authentic Connection and Emotional Strength

By Andrée Noye Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

What is a Cacao Ceremony?

In a world that often pulls us in countless directions, finding moments of deep connection and emotional clarity can feel elusive. Cacao ceremonies—rooted in ancient traditions and gaining popularity in modern times—offer a profound way to reconnect with ourselves and others. Beyond being a delightful treat, cacao holds the power to transform our emotional and social well-being.

Living with Intention   “Cacao is a beautiful excuse to live life with more intention.” Unlike your morning cup of coffee meant to jolt you into action, cacao invites you to pause. The process of preparing and consuming cacao fosters mindfulness, asking you to slow down, breathe deeply, and create a space for reflection. This ritual helps ground you in the present moment, setting the stage for emotional growth.

From Head to Heart   “Cacao helps us move our energy out of our head and into our heart.” In today’s fast-paced environment, it’s easy to get stuck in our heads, weighed down by overthinking and stress. Cacao serves as a gentle bridge, guiding us back to our emotional core. The physical warmth and rich texture of cacao feel like a hug from within, encouraging us to tap into a part of ourselves often overshadowed by logic and analysis.

Accessing the Emotional Body   “Cacao can give us powerful access to our emotional body, something we don’t normally access on our own.” Through its unique combination of chemical compounds and soothing properties, cacao creates a safe environment for emotional exploration. It unlocks feelings we might have buried or overlooked, empowering us to process and understand our inner world more deeply.

Authentic Connection   “Cacao strengthens our ability to share ourselves with others and connect authentically.” Beyond the personal benefits, cacao ceremonies are often shared experiences. Sitting in a circle, sipping cacao with others, fosters vulnerability and openness. The sense of community formed during these ceremonies reminds us of our innate need to connect with others in meaningful and heartfelt ways.

Cacao ceremonies are more than just a momentary escape—they’re a doorway to deeper emotional strength and authentic relationships. By embracing this ancient practice, we can unlock the hidden power of cacao and bring more intention, heart, and connection into our lives. Why not let this beautiful ritual guide you toward a more emotionally fulfilling journey?

What is "ceremonial grade cacao?"

It is a cacao made differently from the baking and highly process cacao used in kitchen:

1) The WHOLE bean is used - nothing removed, nothing added.

2) Stone ground only, with no heavy machinery, tempering or conching.

3) Native/heirloom varieties and regeneratively grown cacao, as opposed to commodity/hybridized strains that is found in over 95% of the commercial chocolate industry. Our supplier has close, direct-trade relationships to the farmers, communities and indigenous families involved with cultivating this beautiful plant medicine in Peru, Guatemala and Colombia.

4) Made with intention and operated as a not-for-profit with service-based core values.

Which strain of cacao do we use for this ceremony?

Cacao Criollo is a native (heirloom) strain of cacao from Guatemala. It is only recently that our supplier could meet with a farmer in the jungle of Guatemala (Alta Verapaz) and source true criollo in higher quantities with integrity. Criollo is rare and highly revered, and up until recently they could only identify 12 trees left in this variety. As of August 2022, our supplier has been able to relaunch this strain of cacao and now you get to enjoy it with us.

While taste is subjective, we find this strain to be a deeper, rich, traditional chocolate experience.