KAKAO AUS - News 2019-04-21T11:03:00+10:00 KAKAO AUS 2019-04-21T11:03:00+10:00 2019-08-18T02:02:06+10:00 Cacao Ceremony: What To Expect Aydin Rahmi Wait, what? You're encouraging me to make drinking chocolate part of my daily spiritual practice?

Chocolate...seriously? Yes, seriously!

And here's why:

Cacao, aside from its many physical health benefits (a topic for another discussion) is a powerful plant medicine. When used to assist daily, spiritual practices (meditation, journaling, breath work, etc.), you can expect to experience a number of delightful benefits:

1. A heart-opening experience:

I feel obligated to leave this one pretty open ended. Ceremonial cacao works almost magically at opening up the heart chakra. For most people this will mean FEELING, and that's partly why this experience is so unique for each individual. For some, this will mean feeling your deep and intimate connection to Mother Earth, Spirit, your Spirit Guides, the entities your channeling, your Soul, the Spirit of Cacao, and all beings in the Universe. For others, it may mean connecting with your inner-child and feeling emotions that have been suppressed, avoided, and/or misunderstood for years. And still for others, this may mean tapping into a level of gratitude & abundance beyond that which you have ever experience before. 

Whatever comes up for you to feel during your cacao ceremony, it's important to remember that the Spirit of Cacao is your personal partner on this journey, and being your partner, she will assist you in processing your emotions when and where you invite her to (but she WON'T do the work for you). So invite her into your heart and trust that she's got you (because she does).

2. Intentionality:

Drinking cacao for ceremonial purposes invites us to SLOW DOWN and to intentionally set time aside for ourselves. This means stepping OUT of the daily hustle and stepping IN to our higher/inner-self. So often we rush from one experience to the next without even understanding why we're doing what we're doing. Cacao ceremony invites us to tune in to our inner-knowing, our inner-self, our inner-guidance system, and to take action from a place of inspiration ("in spirit") rather than habit and/or our "to do" list.

Set your intentions, whether for the ceremony, the day, a specific event, or your entire life, and watch the magic unfold! 

3. Feel-Good Feelings

Cacao contains a whole host of natural "feel good" chemicals known to influence the body and brain in subtle ways, so don't be surprised if you start to feel the effects of these guys shortly after drinking your cacao. You may notice feelings of warmth, calm, tranquility, peace, bliss, and others of the sort. Relax, you don't need to fully understand how these chemicals work in the body in order bask in their benefits. Enjoy! Cacao wasn't coined the name "food of the gods" for nothing. 

Remember, cacao ceremony is a practice that,  as with many things that involve practice, only gets better with time. So enjoy your daily cacao ceremony while keeping an open heart and open mind. Your experience of cacao ceremony will likely evolve over time as you do. Don't worry, that's a natural and integral part of the process. The important thing is to make sure you set enough time aside to really allow yourself to dive in. I suggest anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. But only you will know what time frame works best for you.

Above all, trust your guidance, and be sure to fully dive in and enjoy the generous benefits of this delicious magical elixir! 


]]> 2019-04-21T11:00:00+10:00 2019-08-18T01:57:55+10:00 What Makes Cacao 'CEREMONIAL-GRADE'? Aydin Rahmi





- Chuncho: native to Peru

          - small beans, fine flavor,







]]> 2019-04-21T10:59:00+10:00 2019-08-18T02:03:04+10:00 Why Should I Help Protect Native Strains of Cacao? Aydin Rahmi It's the age old question, "what's in it for me?" Something we all ask (on some level) when presented with an opportunity to contribute to a cause bigger than us. But in this case, why would you even consider donating your precious resources (money) to a cause such as protecting and saving native strains of cacao?





1. Native cacao is a plant medicine.



2. This is bigger than cacao.



3. We have to start somewhere.





]]> 2019-04-21T10:52:00+10:00 2019-08-18T02:06:27+10:00 The Process: From Tree To Cup Aydin Rahmi

You may be surprised to discover all that is ACTUALLY involved in making ceremonial drinking cacao available to the world. Here's a step-by-step break down of our tree-to-cup process.

1. Growing: all cacao comes from cacao trees (Theobroma cacao). Cacao trees take up to 5 years to mature. Once mature, cacao trees grow thousands of flowers every year. However, only a small percentage (as low as 1%) produce a cacao pod. Each football sized pod takes nearly 6 months to ripen and contains about 30-40 almond-shaped seeds surrounded by a sweet, juicy pulp.

2. Harvesting: Once the cacao pods have ripened, they are cut down from the trees. This is no easy task given that cacao trees can reach heights of nearly 40ft. The pods are then split in half with a machete or wooden club and the pulp removed by hand. Though cacao can be harvested nearly year round, there are two main harvesting times each year, which varies depending on the type of cacao strain you are working with.

(photo credit: Sumaq Foods)

3. Fermentation: the cacao bean, still inside its pulp, must be fermented anywhere from 1-4 days. Typically taking place in a wooden fermentation box, this process allows the cacao bean to shed its pulp and undergo specific chemical changes that allow it to obtain its characteristic aroma and flavor.

(photo credit: Sumaq Foods)

4. Drying: after fermentation the cacao beans are then laid out to dry in a designated drying center. Weather permitting, the beans will reduce their moisture content from about 60% to 7.5% over the course of one week. Once dried, the cacao beans can be stored for 4-5 years.

(photo credit: Sumaq Foods)

5. Shipping: the beans are then packed, packaged, and shipped to their end destination. Depending on their country of origin, this process can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks.

(photo credit: Sumaq Foods)

6. Roasting & Winnowing: once at their final destination, the beans can then begin to be processed. Compared to coffee beans, cacao beans are roasted at much lower temperatures and for much shorter periods of time. This process must be monitored very closely as over-roasting is common and can easily destroy the flavor profile of the bean. After roasting, the beans are then cooled and "winnowed." Winnowing is a technical term for the process of removing the husks (or shells) from the bean.

7. Grinding: the remaining cacao beans are then stone ground with a traditional stone grinder into what's known as a 'cacao paste'. At this point, panela is added to the cacao causing the paste to thicken and take on a course consistency, like the one you see in each scoop of KAKAO. Other ingredients like vanilla and chile spices can be ground along with and at the same time as the cacao.

8. Drying & Food Processor: The dry paste is then chopped up and put briefly through a food processor, so that you don't have to chop it at home! Sometimes, if exposed to summer temperatures, the paste can melt back together again. If this happens with your KAKAO, simply chop it up with a large knife and/or run through a food processor. You can use a kitchen scale to weigh out your daily dose of KAKAO.

9. Packaging and Shipping: Each order received is packed and shipped by hand, meaning it's sent away with love to your doorstep.

At this point, if you hadn't already, we hope that you have a more profound understanding of all that is required to get cacao out of the forest and into your cup. We approach each cup of KAKAO with absolute gratitude, respect, and reverence, not only for the divine plant wisdom that lies within, but also for all the time, energy, and love (from all the people involved) that goes into making this beautiful plant medicine available to the world.

Our invitation to you is that you invite this same reverence into your heart as you participate in your own daily ceremony. Cheers!

"Indigenous mythology recounts how whenever the balance between humans and nature becomes threatened, cacao leaves the rainforest to open people's hearts and return the planet to harmony."


]]> 2019-04-21T10:47:00+10:00 2019-05-03T07:51:53+10:00 The Science: How Cacao Benefits The Brain & Body Makenzie Marzluff If you've participated in cacao ceremony before, then you're familiar with the feel-good feelings that arrive anywhere from 20-40 minutes after ingestion. That's because cacao is a fantastic source of scientifically proven "bliss chemicals" known to influence the body and brain in beneficial ways. Let's pull the curtain on these mysterious chocolate chemicals and reveal their delightful identity:

1. Serotonin: A neurotransmitter commonly known as the "feel-good chemical. Cacao not only supplies the body with serotonin, but also aids the body in producing its own serotonin naturally. Serotonin is well known for its ability to combat stress and improve our mood by promoting the feelings of comfort, contentment, happiness, relaxation, and well-being. 

2. Phenylethylamine (PEA): better known as "the love chemical," for its association with the giddy excitement one feels when falling in love. When ingested, PEA stimulates the central nervous system to release the body's natural opium-like compounds called endorphins. PEA signals the body to promote the sensation of alertness, focus, and mental acuity, all while elevating one's mood, speeding up metabolism, and boosting memory.

3. Anandamide: in Sanskrit, ananda literally means "bliss," making anandamide the "bliss chemical" in chocolate. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter found naturally in cacao and also in the human brain (the only two places it is has currently been discovered). Anandamide doesn't leave you in a mind-altered state, but, does produce a feeling of euphoria.

4. Theobromine: this chemical acts as a vasodilator, meaning it relaxes smooth muscle. Benefits of this chemical include enhanced blood flow and oxygenation to the brain in addition to long-term antioxidant properties.


We could go on for days touting the health benefits of cacao, but to save you your sanity (and us ours), we'll simply sum it all up with this EPIC quote:



]]> 2019-04-21T10:41:00+10:00 2019-08-18T02:00:15+10:00 Four Simple Steps To Enjoying Your Own Daily Cacao Ceremony (Plus Video on how to make KAKAO!) Aydin Rahmi

1. Prepare your KAKAO

Preparation is simple! Just heat 8 oz of water, add in 4-5 tbsp of KAKAO Ceremonial Drinking Chocolate, 1 tbsp coconut oil; blend in a blender safe for hot liquids and pour into your favorite mug! Watch this 1 minute video for a demonstration:

*Note: Separation is normal, which is why we suggest a single-serve blender.


  • Want it spicier? Add a dash of cayenne pepper!
  • Want it sweeter? Add honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar!
  • Bonus add-ins: 1 tsp Maca Powder; Dash cinnamon; and/or Coconut oil blended in!

2. Set your intentions

Intention setting is key when it comes to cacao ceremony. You may begin by asking yourself, "why am I sitting in ceremony today?" Or, "what is it that I desire to experience by sitting in cacao ceremony today?" Peace? Calm? Happiness? Ease? Love? Joy? You get to decide!

You can set one intention or you can set fifty. Neither is better than the other. The important thing is to focus, be present, and really connect with your purpose for ceremony that day. You may not know right away what your intentions are, and that's OK. The beginning of a ceremony is the perfect time to slow down, check in, and gain clarity on your intentions.

Examples of possible intentions:

- My intention is to open my heart.

- My intention is to listen to my internal guidance system.

- My intention is to feel peaceful, connected, and calm.

- My intention is to pay attention to what my heart is telling me.

- My intention is to tap into my creativity and let it flow.

- My intention is to reconnect with me.

3. Invite in the Cacao Spirit

Like all plants, animals, and beings, theobroma cacao has a spirit. We kindly refer to Her as the Spirit of Cacao, or Cacao Spirit. She's gentle, loving, kind, and tends to work very subtly with whomever she's partnering with. Nothing to fear here. She's not going to take you anywhere you don't want to go. But if you allow Her, if you invite Her into your ceremony/heart, she will guide your process. She will help you heal the parts of yourself that are still unresolved. She will help you see yourself, others, and the world through the eyes of love. She will help you reconnect to your roots, and understand your place/purpose in the world. Ultimately, she will partner with you in going as far as you are desiring to go. But she will never push you beyond your limits. 

Invite Cacao in as if you were talking to someone sitting directly in front of you. Talk with her as you would an old friend. It could sound something like this; "Spirit of Cacao, I invite you to join me in the center of my heart. Please guide me in...(fulfilling my intention for ceremony)." Let Her in on what you're thinking, feeling, experiencing. You can absolutely trust her with anything that is on your heart.

4. Follow your guidance

If "guidance" is a new term for you, another way of saying this is, follow your intuition/gut/heart. There are many things that partner well with cacao ceremony; things like meditation, breath work, a walk in nature, journaling, self-reflection, connecting with a loved one, creating (writings/paintings/other works of art/business), conscious movement, etc. Follow your guidance, there is no right or wrong way.

And above all, do yourself the favor of really allowing yourself to bask in the bliss of your ceremony. Daily cacao ceremony can be a POWERFUL access to connecting with yourself, your guidance system, your spirit guides, the Spirit of Cacao, Mother Earth, God, and any other beings desiring to assist us. But, as with anything, it will only be what you allow it to be. So drink up and allow it to be the pure, earthly, celestial, magic that it is!

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