What is Ceremonial Cacao And How to DIY a Cacao Ceremony

Cocoa has played a central role in our culture and in the daily life of many people. But what a majority of people do not know is that chocolate or cocoa powder contains only a fraction of the plant’s actual power. Don’t get me wrong, I love the delicacy of good chocolate. But today I want to talk about raw cocoa – and its natural doping properties (in a good way).

Chocolate is usually made from cocoa mass and cocoa butter. In my blog about seasonal depression I have already talked about how cocoa produces long-term serotonin after fermentation. However, this effect is reduced by sugar, as sugar produces short-term serotonin spikes and is a central component of chocolate or industrial cocoa powder.

So what exactly is raw cacao? First of all, the term raw is usually not entirely correct, since the bean is still roasted at low temperatures. Nevertheless, it is an improvement over industrial cocoa, which is roasted at very high temperatures to obtain a homogeneous mass from the various ingredients.

For the indigenous population throughout Central and South America, slow roasting is a traditional process. Unfortunately, cocoa has been heavily colonized. European settlers have diluted the old traditions by turning them into mass production. The people who harvest the plants usually do not see much of the profits and often receive low wages. But many small, conscious companies are returning to the roots and offer traditionally prepared raw cocoa, where the farmers actually make profit and further investments are made in resource-saving agriculture and permaculture.

Cacao as a Plant Medicine

In recent years, people increasingly started to participate in so-called cacao ceremonies. The cacao is usually melted into plant milk with some spices and natural sweeteners, to then be consumed either in a group or alone in a meditative space. But what exactly is this fuzz about?

I will start on a scientific note: Cacao contains theobromine, an alkaloid that belongs to the psychotropic substances from the group of stimulants. This means it is structurally related to caffeine. Theobromine however, is only about one quarter as stimulating as caffeine, and it has a much longer half-life in the liver, which means that its effect on the body is gentler and lasts longer. Theobromine is a cardiac stimulant, as opposed to caffeine which is a nervous system stimulant.

To express it in emotional terms, cocoa opens the heart. This was one of the main reasons why locals used it when working with trading partners. Cocoa was so sacred that in many South American countries it was the main currency instead of money. It is said that the energy of cocoa moves through the body in clockwise spirals, which is why the natives like to prepare it by continously stirring it clockwise until all ingredients are added. Instead of giving you a “detached high” like drugs do, it grounds you deeper in yourself. Sometimes you feel the urge to be creative or to move.

How can I use it for myself?

1. Buy from a conscious company. Instead of buying trendy raw cacao bites from your next supermarket who hopped on a new food trend, do your research to find companies that honor the traditional preparation techniques and pay their farmers fairly and maybe invest in resourceful farming like permaculture. Google is your friend.
2. Prepare without sugar. To avoid the short-term spike of serotonin, use natural sweeteners like date syrup. Now I’ll be honest: The taste is something to get used to :-D. But I would still recommend not to “over-sweet” it to enjoy the full taste.
3. Take your time. Don’t prepare it when you are in a hurry or a lot of stress.

A Simple Recipe

30g raw cacao
1 cup of plant milk
Pinch of salt
Pinch of chili
Optional some cinnamon and/or vanilla to taste
Syrup to taste (maple, date, agave, …)

Fill a cup with plant milk, depending on how much you want. Warm it on a stove without cooking it, then slowly add the chopped raw cacao to melt it. You can also start with 20g if you like a less intense taste or are a sensitive person. While stirring, add salt, chili, cinnamon or vanilla, and a little bit of syrup. Keep stirring until the drink is smooth and it feels ready.

Then, light some candles or whatever makes you feel cozy, and: Enjoy!

Lots of Love, Frauke ♥