FAQ

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Is Holy Cacao ceremonial grade?

Yes. Ceremonial grade means the whole bean, stone-ground into a paste with its cacao butter still in it, with nothing pressed out, nothing alkalized and nothing added. It is the form cacao has been prepared in for centuries, and the reason it tastes and feels different from cocoa powder.

Where do you source your cacao?

Holy Cacao is part of a collective formed in Ecuador among a group of small farms, with a mission to change the way cacao is traded. The collective helps create and sustain best practices across the supply chain. Every batch is tested for metals and hazardous material, and once approved, shipped directly from the farm it was sourced from. Participating in the collective lets us support small family farms while keeping the quality where we want it.

Is Holy Cacao tested for heavy metals?

Yes. Every batch of cacao we receive is tested for metals before we use it. We only work with farms following sustainable practices, and lab results are available on request.

Will ceremonial cacao make me hallucinate?

No. Cacao is not psychoactive in that way. What it has is theobromine, a gentle and steady lift without the spike and crash of coffee, plus magnesium and antioxidants. Most people describe feeling calm and clear, not altered.

What are the benefits of ceremonial cacao?

Because the cacao butter is left in, you get the whole bean rather than a stripped-down version of it.

Antioxidants. Cacao is rich in flavonoids.

Steady energy. Theobromine and a little caffeine give a gentle lift rather than a spike.

Minerals. A good source of magnesium, iron and potassium.

Focus. Many people find it helps them settle into work, meditation or creative time.

Connection. Cacao has been shared in social and ceremonial settings for centuries, and that is still the part we care most about.

How do I prepare it?

Blend 2 to 3 tbsp of Ecuadorian Bliss or Sweet Rose Blend with 6 to 8 oz of hot plant-based milk or water until it froths. Sweeten with honey, maple or spices to taste.

Other ways people use it: stirred into morning coffee for a mocha, warmed gently on the stove, or blended into a smoothie. Just do not boil it.

How do I host my own cacao ceremony?

Start with an intention, whatever you are hoping to open up, on your own or with people you care about.

Prepare the cacao mindfully: 2 tbsp blended with 4 oz of hot plant-based milk per person. Do not burn it.

Choose a quiet space, sit in a circle if there are a few of you, and light a candle if that helps mark the time as different from the rest of the day.

Drink slowly. Leave room afterwards for people to say what came up, without anyone needing to fix it. Close with something simple, a breath together or a thank you.

There is no correct way to do this. Sincerity matters more than form.

What is dried cacao fruit?

Cacao grows inside a pod, surrounded by a sweet, tangy pulp that tastes closer to mango or citrus than to chocolate. Most of the world throws that pulp away and keeps only the beans.

We dry the pulp instead. It is high in fiber, vitamin C and potassium, and it makes a chewy snack that surprises most people who have only ever tasted the bean.