So good!!
100% Arriba Nacional Ceremonial-Grade Cacao Paste, Organic
Regular price
$100.00
($2.84
/
oz)
Size
Flavor Notes | Tropical Fruits, Flowers
Best For | Daily rituals, ceremonies, coffee replacement
Our original 100% ceremonial-grade cacao, perfect for any mood or moment. Sourced directly from smallholder farms in the pristine highlands of Manabí, Ecuador, this cacao is made with 100% heirloom beans that have grown on the land for over a century. The beans are farmed using traditional methods and fermented meticulously to develop the exquisite floral and fruit notes that the Arriba Nacional variety is so prized for. They are then toasted at low heat to maintain their nutritional value and impart a satisfying richness. Simply the finest cacao we have ever tasted—we think you’ll agree.
Certified organic and low in heavy metals verified by 3rd-party testing
100% cacao paste that retains all of its natural, healthy fats. Traditionally fermented and low-roasted to maintain antioxidant and mineral potency
Your first purchase includes 7-day trial access to our online cacao community. Subscribers get lifetime access. Join twice-weekly virtual cacao circles led by our co-founder, Florencia
Direct relationships with small family farms practicing traditional agroforestry
Regular price
$100.00
($2.84
/
oz)
Size
Flavor Notes | Tropical Fruits, Flowers
Best For | Daily rituals, ceremonies, coffee replacement
Our original 100% ceremonial-grade cacao, perfect for any mood or moment. Sourced directly from smallholder farms in the pristine highlands of Manabí, Ecuador, this cacao is made with 100% heirloom beans that have grown on the land for over a century. The beans are farmed using traditional methods and fermented meticulously to develop the exquisite floral and fruit notes that the Arriba Nacional variety is so prized for. They are then toasted at low heat to maintain their nutritional value and impart a satisfying richness. Simply the finest cacao we have ever tasted—we think you’ll agree.
Certified organic and low in heavy metals verified by 3rd-party testing
100% cacao paste that retains all of its natural, healthy fats. Traditionally fermented and low-roasted to maintain antioxidant and mineral potency
Your first purchase includes 7-day trial access to our online cacao community. Subscribers get lifetime access. Join twice-weekly virtual cacao circles led by our co-founder, Florencia
Direct relationships with small family farms practicing traditional agroforestry
What is Arriba Nacional Cacao?
Arriba Nacional is the heirloom variety of Ecuadorian Cacao. Known for its delicious floral flavors and pungent aromas, it is but 1% of Ecuador’s Cacao production. This exquisite variety with its complex flavor profile is being replaced by GMO Cacao varieties, which are more homogeneous and higher-yielding but less flavorful and nutritious. Our Cacao is made with what remains of the old-growth Cacao trees still present in the province of Manabí, along the banks of the Portoviejo river.
The Details
Unlike cocoa powder, ceremonial Cacao has not been defatted and requires warm water and thorough blending for it to mix well.
1. Heat up water to just under boiling
2. While heating up water, begin to chop or grate the cacao. If cacao is already granulated, you can skip this step.
3. Mix chopped/granulated cacao thoroughly with either a tea infusion or hot water using a frother, blender, or whisk.
Quality of water is an important component: filtered water is preferred.
For more thorough preparation instructions, ideas for superfood boosts, and recipes, please visit our Preparing Your Cacao page.
Attention: We do not add emulsifiers to our cacao. This may lead to the naturally occurring fats in the cacao to separate from the solids and create white spots or a thin white layer on your cacao. This is called blooming and is normal. The properties of the cacao remain intact and its quality does not change.
A meditation serving is about 1 ounce (28 grams). This can also be measured with about 2 heaping tablespoons of chopped or granulated cacao.
A ceremonial serving is about 1.25 ounces (36 grams). This can also be measured with about 3 tablespoons of chopped or granulated cacao.
An 8 oz tin of granulated cacao will make about 8 meditation servings; a 1 pound bag of granulated cacao will make about 16 meditation servings; while the 1 kilo (2.2 lb) block will make about 35 meditation servings.
Our whole ceremonial-grade cacao is an incredibly healthy food. Read more about it on our Cacao and Your Health page.
Some highlights include:
- High theobromine content and very low caffeine content. Theobromine is a cousin to caffeine, but it works completely differently. It works primarily on your cardiovascular system rather than your brain, giving you a gentle, long-lasting lift without the jitters and caffeine crash.
- Incredible antioxidant potency. Ceremonial-grade cacao has over 40x the antioxidants of blueberries and is one of the most antioxidant-dense foods in the world.
- One of the best vegan sources of magnesium, which helps relax the body and maintain muscle health.
- The best vegan source of iron.
- Vital source of vitamins A, C,and D and B-complex vitamins B1, B2, and B3.
- Whole cacao contains high levels of the amino acids l-tryptophan and l-tyrosine, which are the building blocks of the mood-moderating neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.
- It contains phenylethylamine, known as the love drug. PEA works by slowing the reuptake of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, leading to an increased concentration of “happy chemicals” in the brain. This may lead to a natural anti-depressive state over time.
- Cacao is one of the only food sources of the endocannabinoid anandamide, known as the bliss molecule. The anandamide in cacao works in concert with the body's internal cannabinoid system, moderating stress, pain, and mood responses. CBD supplements act similarly by attaching to endocannabinoid receptors in the body, rather than the brain.
- The very high levels of antioxidants in ceremonial-grade cacao have been shown to be neuroprotective. And while cacao is not a psychedelic, it is a psychoactive compound—meaning that it may play a vital role in improving your mental space.
Ceremonial-grade is not a certification, but rather an intentional process of bringing to market the very best cacao available.
These are our core tenets of ceremonial-grade cacao:
The source matters. Cacao plants are not all created equal, and seeking the best cacao is the first step to ensuring an excellent experience. This is why we harvest heirloom cacao from some of the oldest and least-modified plantings in the world.
The land matters. The raising of said cacao must be in harmony with the land and regenerate it over time. All of our cacao is raised in agroforestry systems that maintain the forest, rather than destroy it.
Respect matters. Every person, from the farmer to the team member who packs your shipment, must be compensated fairly and treated with respect. That's why we pay above-fair-trade prices at origin and include all employees and partner farms in profit-sharing plans.
Intention matters. This cacao is meant to hold a special place in your life—a ritual, a refuge, a teacher. As such, every member of the process treats the production of your cacao with the intention that it plays a valuable role in your day, and we hope you enjoy it with the same respect.
You can read more about our commitment to bringing you the best cacao at our What Is Ceremonial-Grade Cacao? page.
All orders are sent within 1-3 business days from sale via USPS or UPS, depending on the location. For the summer months, all packages are shipped with express service and cold packs to avoid melting cacao. Orders are shipped Monday-Wednesday only for the summer months.
We ship to the US, Canada, and some other select locations on a case-by-case basis. All international orders require duties and taxes to be paid by the receiver, as we cannot collect taxes on behalf of governments outside the US.
Shipping on all orders over $120 is free!
Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns because cacao is a food.
However, we do stand behind our products and will work with you to issue a refund if the product is not to your liking.
Please visit our refund policy page for further information.