About Cacao
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What is ceremonial cacao?
Ceremonial cacao is a term that has gained popularity in the last few decades to describe relatively unprocessed products deriving from the Theobroma cacao tree native to Central & South America. According to the Mayan nations for whom Sacred Kakaw is central to their cosmovision, Criollo cacao is the original, ‘native’ cacao strain, which grows in Guatemala - from where Rakas Kakaw sources the highest quality products exclusively from indigenous-owned businesses.
Ceremonial cacao products are produced in the most ethical, sustainable & regenerative ways possible - with respect & reciprocity to the earth and following the methods of ancient Mayan culture. We believe & have learned from our indigenous teachers that the only products that should be considered genuine ceremonial cacao are those that are produced ethically - sourced from ancient, biodiverse farms & non-industrially processed.
Cocoa vs Cacao
Compared with manufactured cocoa products which go through a cheap, industrialised roasting process at high temperatures that strips the cacao beans of most of their nutritional value and antioxidants; the cacao products sold by our suppliers in Guatemala go through an ancient production process.
The cacao beans are:
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Sourced from biodiverse farms
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Fermented & sun-dried
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Lightly toasted over a wood fire
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Hand-peeled
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Grinded into a paste - either by machine or by hand, depending on the brand.
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Poured into circular molds to create the cacao ‘tortillas’ that are then shipped to us for sale to our customers.
The final product - almost, but not quite raw and warm-pressed - is full of nutrients that impart major health benefits. According to some reports, compared with highly processed cocoa products, cacao has over 100% more iron, magnesium, and potassium for example.
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PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Various substances in cacao, such as anandamide & phenylethylamine, make it a natural antidepressant, including some chemicals that help the brain to make serotonin & dopamine! Thanks to high levels of theobromine & magnesium accompanied by as much or less caffeine than tea, cacao boosts energy while helping to reduce anxiety.
Because it is so unprocessed, cacao has high levels of essential minerals, including calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium & zinc. According to some reports, the calcium content in cacao is more than in cow’s milk; and cacao is celebrated as one of the highest plant-based sources of iron. Cacao is rich in vitamins A, C, E, K1, B1(thiamine), B2, B3(niacin), B5, B6 & B9 (folate).
Cacao is also rich in powerful flavanol antioxidants, which means cacao:
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supports kidney function
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is anti-carcinogenic & anti-inflammatory
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helps prevent blood clots, lower blood pressure & improve circulation
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passes the blood brain barrier to offers neuroprotection, supporting brain function
Furthermore, flavanol antioxidants act to increase NO bioavailability and activate NO-synthase, resulting in vasodilation. All of these factors support the cardiovascular system, contributing to improvements in vascular function and decreases in blood pressure. Perhaps it is for these reasons that cacao is referred to as a “heart-opener.”
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EMOTIONAL BENEFITS
Cacao is often referred to as a heart-opener. Like other plant foods with medicinal benefits, cacao works in the opposite way of modern pharmaceutical drugs. Rather than numbing symptoms, cacao helps to bring suppressed layers of our human experience to the surface - deepening connection to our emotional body so that we can begin to feel our feelings. Thus cacao can help heal disconnection from self, improve family dynamics & help us build better relationships. That’s not to say that after a single cup of cacao everything will turn to rainbows & butterflies. The bitter taste of cacao actually helps us learn to take pleasure from bitterness, since bitter experiences are always a part of life.
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MENTAL BENEFITS
Mood Booster
Cacao contains a variety of chemicals, which give it a euphoric effect. The phenylethylamine in cacao impacts mood and pleasure, gifting a feeling similar to that of being in love as well as a stimulant effect that can result in improved mental alertness. The tryptophanand tyrosine amino acids in cacao are precursors that help the body to make serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters known for their mood-boosting effects. Cacao also contains a compound known as anandamide, whose name derives from the Sanskrit word ananda, meaning bliss or extreme happiness. This chemical, also present naturally in the brain, interacts with cannabinoid receptors to help maintain homeostasis and foster happy feelings.
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