Ceremonial cacao is having a moment
Instagram is full of it. Wellness accounts talk about heart-opening experiences and cacao ceremonies. Some of it is real. Some of it is marketing.
We make ceremonial cacao. We also make the chocolate bars, the drinking chocolate, and the nibs. We know this ingredient from the farm to the cup, so here's what we actually know.
What ceremonial cacao is
Ceremonial cacao is 100% cacao. No sugar. No milk powder. No vanilla. No fillers. It's cacao beans that have been fermented, roasted, and ground into a paste or powder. That's it.
The "ceremonial" part comes from how it's used. Indigenous Mesoamerican cultures have used cacao in ceremony for over 3,000 years. The drink was bitter, thick, and sometimes spiced with chili. It was nothing like Swiss Miss.
What makes ours different
We source our cacao from 1,000+ farming families in Nicaragua's highlands through our partner Ingemann. The beans are heirloom varieties (Nicalizo, Opayo, Tuma, and others) grown in volcanic soil at 800+ meters elevation. Each batch is carefully fermented using a cascade protocol that develops the complex flavor profile.
Most ceremonial cacao brands don't tell you the variety, the fermentation protocol, or the farmer's name. We can. That's the difference between a brand story and a supply chain.
How to prepare it
Heat 8oz of water (not milk, for the traditional method). Add 2 tablespoons of our Ceremonial Drinking Chocolate. Whisk vigorously until dissolved. Optional additions: a pinch of cayenne, a drizzle of honey, a splash of oat milk.
Drink it slowly. That part matters.
What it tastes like
Intense. Bitter. Complex. You'll taste fruit acidity first, then deep earthy notes, then a long finish that evolves as the cacao cools. It's not sweet. It's not supposed to be.
If you're used to hot chocolate, this will be a shock. If you're curious about what cacao actually tastes like without sugar covering it up, this is where you start.
Our ceremonial cacao products
- Ceremonial Drinking Chocolate (100% cacao, ground for drinking)
- Ceremonial Cacao Bar (100% cacao, tempered in our Wicker Park shop)
- Cacao Nibs (roasted, cracked cacao beans)
All single origin. All Nicaraguan. All from farmers we know by name.