World-famous women's collective artisanal ceremonial cacao from Lake Atitlán, Guatemala.
100% Cacao. 100% Kaakao. 100% Kakao.
Smooth & creamy, *farmed with zero pesticides. Produced in San Marcos de la Laguna, Guatemala - by a women’s collective owned by indigenous mother & entrepreneur Cecilia Mendoza Chiyal. Your purchase helps support 11 women with full-time work, in a gentle & pleasant environment where individual needs are lovingly considered.
To prepare as a beverage, the cacao is chopped into small pieces so that it becomes easier to melt.
Can also be used for other recipes or to make your own healthy, sugar-free chocolates. To make your own chocolate: using a double boiler, mix 1 part cacao + 1 part cacao butter + 1/3 sweetener (we recommend maple syrup).
*Better than organic, this cacao is grown on biodiverse farms without the use of pesticides; however, to lower the cost for consumers - the collective does not pay for organic certification.
Ceremonial cacao is not only safe during pregnancy & while breastfeeding, it is used by Mayan midwives! Cacao is also a great plant ally for menstruating humans.
Every block purchased comes with an informational postcard explaining: suggested dosing & how to prepare your own cup of cacao. Choose from English, Finnish or Swedish.
What is Mayan ceremonial Cacao
Ceremonial cacao products are produced in the most ethical, sustainable & regenerative ways possible - with respect & reciprocity to the earth.
Theobroma cacao is the tree - native to Central & South America - from which all cacao, cocoa & chocolate products originate. Theobroma is Latin for ‘food of the gods.’ Cacao is an Olmec term meaning ‘bitter’ and ‘water.’
Ceremonial cacao is made by indigenous Mayan communities, following ancient methods of harvesting & preserving the seeds collected from the fruit of the Theobroma cacao tree.
After farming - according to ancient methods of planting that follow the cycles of the earth, moon and sun; the cacao is harvested from mature trees - twice a year. From inside the cacao fruits, cacao seeds are collected, fermented & sun-dried at the farm. From there they are transported to the women's collective, where the cacao seeds are roasted over wood fire, peeled & grinded. The resulting liquified paste is poured into molds where it hardens into circular cacao blocks or “tortillas.” To prepare as a beverage, the cacao is chopped into small pieces so that it becomes easier to melt.
A SUPERFOOD & SACRED PLANT OF THE MAYA NATIONS: Packed with nutrients that boost mood, ease stress & help fight disease, this gentle & sacred heart-opening plant has been a central component of Mayan culture, midwifery & community life for thousands of years. Today it is celebrated in the Western world as a “Superfood.” Notable vitamins & nutrients include high levels of B vitamins, calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, zinc; anandamide - the bliss chemical; as well as chemicals that help the body make serotonin & dopamine.
Some of Health Benefits of Cacao:
🤎 Natural antidepressant: helps make dopamine & serotonin!
🤎 Flavonoid antioxidants: anti-inflammatory; prevent blood clots; support kidney function; offer neuroprotection; improve circulation; lower blood pressure; anticarcinogenic
🤎 Boosts energy while reducing anxiety. High in magnesium & theobromine; extremely low in caffeine.
🤎 Essential minerals: Calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, zinc.
🤎 Rich in vitamins: A, C, E, K1, B1 (thiamine), B2, B3 (niacin), B5, B6, B9 (folate)
🤎 Safe in pregnancy!
