TUQTUQUILAL CEREMONIAL CACAO BLOCKS

Grown, harvested, and prepared in the original Q'eqchi  Maya way by the Red Ratzum Cacao Collective from the Lanquín–Cahabón corridor of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. 

100% Cacao. 100% Kaakao. 100% Kakao.

Vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, sugar-free, Kosher-certified.

TUQTUQUILAL SPECIFICS:

🤎No additives, just 100% cacao, means more variety in appearance & taste. It is normal for cacao blocks to vary in taste from batch to batch due to factors such as humidity, rain, soil conditions, etc. that vary from year to year, tree to tree & season to season. It as also normal for the appearance & shape of blocks to vary slightly. The appearance of white circles, called ‘cacao bloom’ 🌸 is typical on some blocks - indicating the presence of untempered natural fats within the cacao. 

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.

☕️ 🍫 HOW TO USE:
To prepare as a beverage, the cacao is chopped into small pieces so that it becomes easier to melt. The most basic recipe 👉🏼 Pre-boil water (or plant milk) & add on top of cacao only so much to barely cover the cacao chunks, then blend with a wood spoon until smooth. Add a bit more hot water little by little until the paste becomes liquidy. Then add as much more water as you like for your preferred thickness. To sweeten, we recommend natural allies like agave, honey, maple & date syrup. Spice it up as you like - our favorites are our Utz K’aslemal Mayan Cardamom; Cinnamon, Chili, Ginger & Turmeric  sourced from Tuqtuquilal; as well as Nutmeg, Sea Salt & Vanilla. 

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).  

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. Next the cacao seeds are toasted in small batches over a clay comal, heated by firewood. This step requires presence and precision to ensure a consistent, toasty flavor. After toasting, seeds are hand-peeled & then grinded. The resulting liquified paste is poured into molds where it hardens into circular cacao blocks or “tortillas.” The circular blocks are then packaged, first with a butter paper, and then with kraft paper. Fun fact: the folds in the kraft packaging match the pleats in the Q’eqchi women’s traditional skirts.

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; caffeine content is balanced by high theobromine levels to give a stable, more calm & time-released stimulant effect. 

🤎  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!

ABOUT THE RED RATZUM NETWORK & TUQTUQUILAL:

The Red Ratzum Cacao Collective consists of of 109 Q’eqchi families across four communities: San Juan Chivite, Chicanchiu, Saquija', and Chivail, in the Lanquín–Cahabón corridor of Alta Verapaz. Tuqtuquilal cooperates with this network to support community well-being through mutually beneficial economic, social, and cultural relationships. 

By integrating the cultivation, procurement, processing, and sale of regeneratively grown, value-added cacao with educational spaces for personal, cultural, and ecological healing—for both its family network and international visitors—Tuqtuquilal works in partnership with the Red Ratzum Cacao Collective to establish an impactful, resilient, and profitable business model.

Tuqtuquilal (tuuk-tuuk-iyl-lahl) is a Maya Q'eqchi word that best translates to "harmony" or "peace." Tuqtuquilal is a living model of regeneration, a place where traditional knowledge, intercultural collaboration, and earth-based living come together to demonstrate what a regenerative future can look like.

Located in the abundant territory of Lanquin, Guatemala, Tuqtuquilal works in partnership with local Q’eqchi communities to protect and restore biocultural heritage. The mission of Tuqtuquilal is to create an ecosystem that uplifts people, regenerates land, and shares the spirit of the region with the world.