Cacao: Is It Worth The Hype?
🍫Separating the fact from fiction - what is Cacao and should you try it?
Cacao is trending right now, as it rightfully should, but what makes it different to just straight up cocoa? And is it worth all the hype? Let’s talk about it…
Cacao refers to the rawest form of chocolate, the fermented and dried cacao beans naturally have a bitter and slightly fruity taste, most similar to VERY dark chocolate. Cacao becomes traditional chocolate once dairy and/or fats and sugars have been added.
Now we can separate the two - let’s have a look at why people are swapping to Cacao:
🧪The Scientific Benefits of Cacao:
Contains theobromine - a stimulant that enhances blood flow
Contains phenylethylamine (PEA) - known as the “love molecule”
Contains anandamide - chemical that supports mental wellbeing
Provides sustained energy source, without crashes
High in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties
Rich in minerals such as iron, zinc, and potassium
Whilst these are all reason enough to try Cacao, there are some deeper, more spiritual explanations as to why so many people turn to this plant. These spiritual beliefs stem from the ancient Mesoamerican tradition:
🧘🏼♀️Spiritual Beliefs about Cacao:
Due to it’s role in blood flow, Cacao is believed to "open the heart” therefore deepening the connection you feel to oneself and others.
Cacao is drunk in groups to foster a sense of connection, bring people together for prayers and meditations.
It awakens your creativity, sensuality, and femininity. The plant is believed to be a teacher of inner-wisdom and energy activation.
There’s no doubt that these spiritual beliefs have some truth to them, afterall - this tradition of drinking Cacao has been around for thousands of years. It has stood the test of time. But let’s just debunk a few myths quickly:
Cacao tastes like Cocoa:
Not quite, although I said early it tastes “most similar to”, they are definitely not the same flavour profile. Cacao is a plant medicine, it’s not a “sweet treat”.
2. Cacao is a stimulant, like coffee:
Nope, although there is theobromine in Cacao - it doesn’t work the same as coffee. It provides more gentle and steady energy, without the caffeine jitters.
3. Cacao ceremonies are just wellness-hype
As I said earlier, Cacao and the ceremonies around it have been around forever. These ceremonies are not just “woowoo hippie stuff”, they are reclamation of ancient wisdom.
How do you make Cacao?
So now you know how great Cacao can be, let's talk about how you can try it out.
It should be noted that, Cacao is best drunk as a ritual, ideally in a group but if you’re on your own - make sure to savour it, be present in the moment when making it and sip with intention in mind…
You want to make sure you buy CEREMONIAL GRADE CACAO - this makes sure it is of the highest possible quality. To achieve all the benefits, try to get your hands on this good stuff.
You can mix it (amount depends on package suggestion) with warm milk or even hot water (my preferred choice). Stir slowly and be mindful of clumps.
You can add sweetner such as honey if needed, or maybe a touch of cinammon or sea salt (be creative and remember it’s a ritual, not a quick drink!)
Try to drink it with no distractions, slowly and mindfully.
Other than making it a special, romantic occasion for yourself - there are no real “rules” for making Cacao. You should give it a try and see if you like it!🩷
Hope this post helps - happy drinking ☕️
