Preparing Your Ceremonial Cacao

Two wire mesh soap holders, one with a soap bar, on a white background.
Outline drawing of a whole cocoa pod and a section showing the interior with beans.

A daily ritual of care and presence.

There is no single right way to prepare cacao. The method you choose will depend on your intention, your time, and what feels right for you. What matters most is bringing presence to the process.

Cup of freshly prepared ceremonial cacao with frothy surface
Chopped ceremonial cacao with traditional preparation tools on a wooden surface

Preparation

Prepare your Cacao

  1. Heat 8oz of your liquid of choice just below boiling (water or plant-based milk—oat, almond, cashew, etc.)

  2. Add your cacao — see serving size guide below.

    • If using the block, finely chop or grate before adding.

  3. Add sweetener if desired — honey, maple syrup, date syrup, or coconut sugar (approx. 2 tsp)

  4. Add spices if desired — see the spice guide below.

  5. Whisk, froth, or blend until fully dissolved, and bring your attention to what you need right now — clarity, grounding, creativity, rest. Breathe your intention into your cup

  6. Pour into your cup and find a quiet place to enjoy.

Be with your Cacao

Find a quiet place and take a few deep breaths. You might light a candle, incense, or play gentle music.

Sip your cacao slowly and with awareness. You might journal, meditate, or move gently — whatever helps you stay present. (Explore our meditations and practices.) Keep a journal nearby — insights and inspiration often arise naturally.

Top-down view of warm cacao drink ready to be enjoyed
Ceremonial cacao preparation setup with spices, cups, and ritual tools

SERVING SIZE GUIDE

Gentle // Everyday — 2 tbsp | 20g Warming, mood-boosting, and grounding for daily use.

Creative // Intentional — 2–3 tbsp | 20–30g Supports focus, self-reflection, meditation, and movement.

Meditative // Ceremonial — 3–4 tbsp | 30–40g For deeper meditation, reflection, and group gatherings.

Ceremonial servings are typically enjoyed a few times a week, while everyday and creative servings can be enjoyed daily. Always listen to your body and adjust as needed.

Sensitive to caffeine or stimulants? Start with 1–2 tbsp | 10–20g and slowly increase from there.

SPICE GUIDE

Cinnamon — Warm and comforting, adds natural sweetness, supports digestion and blood sugar balance.

Cardamom — Bright and uplifting, light floral notes, supports digestion and clears stagnation.

Nutmeg — Grounding and calming, brings warmth and depth, encourages inward reflection.

Cloves — Warming and aromatic, supports digestion, circulation, and cleansing.

Ginger — Activating, adds gentle heat, supports digestion and circulation.

Cayenne — Warming and invigorating, supports circulation and digestion.

Turmeric — Grounding and anti-inflammatory, pair with a pinch of black pepper.

Vanilla — Sweet and calming, supports relaxation and mood, deepens cacao's natural richness.

Maca — Earthy and nourishing, supports stamina and balance.

Start with a pinch and adjust to taste. A few favorite combinations:

Cinnamon + cardamom + nutmeg

Cinnamon + ginger + cayenne

Cinnamon + cardamom + vanilla

A daily cacao ritual is your moment to slow down and reconnect with yourself.

Featured Products

Pure Ground Ceremonial Cacao
from $15.00

Our Pure Ground Ceremonial Cacao is rich, nourishing, and melts into a smooth, comforting cup. Pre-ground for ease — just add hot liquid and whisk, froth, or blend to enjoy.

Ingredients: 100% Guatemalan ceremonial-grade cacao

Ground from whole cacao beans — it melts fully into hot liquid.

✓ Single-origin · Suchitepéquez, Guatemala

✓ Stone-ground by women's collective Nuevo Amanecer

✓ Direct trade

✓ No chopping or prep required

✓ Packaged in 100% home compostable packaging

✓ Vegan · Non-GMO · Gluten-free · Sugar-free

From the Suchitepéquez Mountains, With Care

Our cacao is grown on small family farms in the highland mountains of Suchitepéquez — a region long considered sacred cacao country.

Every bean is fermented, sun-dried, gently toasted, hand-peeled, and stone-ground by Nuevo Amanecer — a women's collective rooted in deep respect for cacao, the land that nurtures it, and the community it sustains.

Warming Spice Cacao Blend
from $17.00

Our Warming Spice Cacao Blend is rich, nourishing, and gently sweetened — melting into a smooth, comforting cup. Pre-ground for ease, just add hot liquid and whisk, froth, or blend to enjoy.

Ingredients: 100% Guatemalan ceremonial-grade cacao, organic panela, organic Ceylon cinnamon, organic nutmeg, organic ginger, Himalayan pink salt

Ground from whole cacao paste — it melts fully into hot liquid.

✓ Single-origin · Suchitepéquez, Guatemala

✓ Stone-ground by women's collective Nuevo Amanecer

✓ Direct trade

✓ No chopping or prep required

✓ Packaged in 100% home compostable packaging

✓ Vegan · Non-GMO · Gluten-free · Refined sugar-free


From the Suchitepéquez Mountains, With Care

Our cacao is grown on small family farms in the highland mountains of Suchitepéquez — a region long considered sacred cacao country.

Every bean is fermented, sun-dried, gently toasted, hand-peeled, and stone-ground by Nuevo Amanecer — a women's collective rooted in deep respect for cacao, the land that nurtures it, and the community it sustains.

Ceremonial Cacao Block
$48.00

Our Ceremonial Cacao Block is the purest form of cacao we offer — whole, unground, and exactly as it arrives from the highlands of Guatemala.

Ingredients: 100% Guatemalan ceremonial-grade cacao

Chop, grate, or grind before adding to hot liquid — this is the whole block, unground.

✓ Single-origin · Suchitepéquez, Guatemala

✓ Stone-ground by women's collective Nuevo Amanecer

✓ Direct trade

✓ Packaged in 100% home compostable packaging

✓ Vegan · Non-GMO · Gluten-free · Sugar-free


From the Suchitepéquez Mountains, With Care

Our cacao is grown on small family farms in the highland mountains of Suchitepéquez — a region long considered sacred cacao country.

Every bean is fermented, sun-dried, gently toasted, hand-peeled, and stone-ground by Nuevo Amanecer — a women's collective rooted in deep respect for cacao, the land that nurtures it, and the community it sustains.