Hi, friends! I’m Kris, founder of Cacao for Beings.
I’m a yoga teacher (traditional hatha yoga, yin yoga, and meridian yoga therapy) , sound healer, plant-based chef, and cacao-obsessed human deeply passionate about holistic living, sustainability, and sharing practices that bring us back into harmony — within ourselves and with the natural world.
Ceremonial cacao first came into my life during my first Yoga Teacher Training in Portugal in 2022. While I grew up drinking hot chocolate, my experience with ceremonial cacao was something entirely different. The cacao itself was rich, grounding, and deeply nourishing— but on a deeper level, I felt something shift within me. A deeper connection to myself, an opening in my heart, and a sense of aliveness and gratitude that stayed with me long after the cup was empty.
This gentle opening sparked a deep dive into the world of cacao — its incredible medicinal properties, mood-boosting compounds, and its ability to support focus, clarity, and emotional well-being. Most surprisingly, I learned that cacao has been honored for thousands of years across ancient traditions as a sacred plant that supports heart connection and emotional openness.
Cacao soon became my daily ritual, and I began to experience firsthand the benefits I had read so much about. I felt more grounded, more focused, more deeply connected to myself. Listening inward became easier, and my creativity flourished.
As cacao supported my return to harmony within my own being, my mission became clear: to share this sacred plant with others and create a space rooted in connection, nourishment, and embodied ritual.
From this intention, Cacao for Beings was born.
I traveled across cultures to learn about cacao directly from the source—from Oaxaca, to Bali, to the cacao farms surrounding Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. I saw firsthand the care, intention, and reverence that go into cultivating and crafting truly ceremonial cacao, and its powerful ability to support embodied connection and harmony.
Today, I feel deeply honored to share the ceremonial cacao of Nuevo Amanecer, a Guatemalan women’s collective devoted to cultivating and crafting heirloom Criollo cacao with intention, respect, and care—for the land, the cacao trees, and their community. Together, we bring beautifully crafted, 100% ceremonial cacao directly to you.
The mission of Cacao for Beings is to support the nourishment and well-being of all beings—from the ecosystems our cacao trees support, to the community that cultivates our cacao, to you. As you nourish your own being with cacao, this sense of nourishment ripples outward.
Based in San Diego, California, I prepare, package, and ship your cacao with care. You’ll also find me at local markets, leading cacao ceremonies and sound healings, teaching yoga — and most likely, sipping cacao.
Thank you for being here.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to nourish and support the well-being of all beings through heirloom Criollo ceremonial cacao and intentional practices that invite embodiment, slowness, and presence.
Our Values
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Reciprocity
We work with cacao not as a commodity, but as a sacred plant with deep cultural roots. We honor its origins through direct partnership, fair exchange, and deep respect for the land, lineage, and communities who cultivate it.
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Embodiment
Cacao invites us to slow down and listen inward. Through ceremonial cacao and grounding practices, we create space for embodied presence — where connection, clarity, and creativity can naturally unfold.
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Care
Care guides every step of our process — from how our cacao is cultivated and crafted, to how it’s shared and experienced. We approach cacao with intention and reverence, honoring it as a sacred plant with deep cultural roots and wisdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ceremonial cacao is thoughtfully sourced from small, ethically run farms where care for the land, the cacao trees, and the people who cultivate them comes first. Nothing is added and nothing is removed—ceremonial cacao is pure, minimally processed cacao from the heirloom Criollo bean.
While most chocolate and cocoa products are heavily processed and exposed to high temperatures that strip away the majority of cacao’s beneficial compounds, ceremonial cacao is prepared using traditional production methods, gently toasting the cacao on hot plates at low temperatures. This gentle process preserves cacao’s naturally occurring nutrients, antioxidants, and rich flavors.
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Cacao has been used for thousands of years by Indigenous cultures in Central America, particularly the Mayans and Aztecs, as part of community gatherings to welcome visitors, mark lunar cycles, honor ancestors, and connect with gratitude.
Today, we define a cacao ceremony as simply intentional time set aside to slow down and connect—with ourselves or with others. A cacao ceremony may include meditation, gentle movement, music, or setting an intention, but at its core, it is a simple, grounded ritual space that supports presence, reflection, and connection.
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Ceremonial cacao is naturally rich in antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and mood-supportive compounds that promote focus, heart health, and vitality. Cacao gently stimulates the body with Theobromine while supporting relaxation and emotional connection. See our Cacao Benefits page for more detail on cacao’s many benefits!
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We recommend starting with 15–20g (~1–2 tablespoons) and adjusting from there based on how you feel. We’ve found this to be a great starting point for everyday focus, warmth, and grounding—but truly, there’s no single “right” amount.
A helpful way to think about cacao is in ranges:
Everyday / gentle use:
15–20g — a comfortable daily amount for warmth, focus, and grounding.Creative or intentional use:
25–30g — excellent for journaling, movement, or creative work when you want a bit more depth.Ceremonial or group settings:
35–40g — typically for longer, intentional rituals
Everyone responds to cacao a little differently. Start on the lower end, listen to your body, and adjust as needed.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine or stimulants, we suggest starting with 10–15g and working up slowly, especially if you’re new to cacao.
See our How to Prepare guide for more details.
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The white marbling pattern, “bloom”, naturally forms as cacao butter separates from the cacao mass—a process that occurs in all non-tempered chocolate or cacao.
Bloom is a sign of minimal processing and maximum potency, as tempered chocolate is repeatedly heated and cooled to achieve the glossy effect (but reduces antioxidant activity). Whether your cacao has a lot of white marbling or only a little, the cacao itself is the same and does not affect the quality or flavor.
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Our 1 lb ceremonial blocks should be stored away from sunlight in an airtight container.
Our Ceremonial Cacao Blocks have a recommended shelf life of 2 years, and our pre-chopped cacao 1 year. The cacao is still completely safe to consume past 1 year, though the flavor may be slightly less potent.
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Cacao contains very small amounts of caffeine—roughly comparable to a decaf cup of coffee—but its effects tend to feel gentler and longer-lasting, as its energy comes primarily from theobromine.
Theobromine is a mild, steady stimulant that most people experience as grounding and heart-opening (rather than jittery like coffee), offering a more balanced alternative to traditional caffeine.