Frequently Asked Questions

Ceremonial Cacao is 100% Cacao paste of the highest quality. It is made from heirloom strains of Cacao native to Central and South America. Cacao ceremonies have cultural roots in indigenous communities from Central and South America, and ceremonial Cacao is intentionally created for ritual use, paying homage to traditional practices of production and consumption. Learn more here.

How much you consume depends on your intention. For a meditation, the average dose recommended is 22-30g. For a ceremonial dose, we recommend 40-50g. Beyond 50g in a serving can be too much, especially for those who are just beginning their journey with Cacao.

When you drink too much Cacao, you may experience some mild discomfort. Too much Cacao can cause headaches, nausea, and stomach disruptions due to its detoxifying effects.

When building a relationship with a new plant medicine or herb, consistency is key. One of the co-founders, Florencia, has spent the last few years drinking Cacao daily, creating what is called a “Dieta”. Her Dieta consists of avoiding for the most part dairy, meat, and gluten while drinking Cacao every morning a few hours before a meal. The amount of Cacao one consumes is important to observe. When having Cacao every day, a meditation dose is more than enough. We recommend having ceremonial doses no more than 3 times per week, especially when beginning to drink Cacao ceremonially.

Individuals currently taking any SSRI antidepressants, low blood pressure medication, or those undergoing chemotherapy treatment should not drink more than a meditation dose. The combination of medication and Cacao can cause adverse effects when consumed in higher doses. 

Women who are pregnant should not drink more than 15-20g of pure Cacao to prevent any issues.

The main stimulating ingredient in Cacao is Theobromine. Theobromine is in the same family as caffeine; however, it’s much more gentle on the adrenal glands and nervous system. It is also more alkalizing. Most strains of Cacao contain some caffeine, as well. Heirloom strains from Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize have very little caffeine, however. These types of Cacao are recommended for ceremonial experiences.

We always capitalize Cacao to give proper respect to the living entity that it is. It is a friend to us, just like any human or animal, so we prefer to treat its name as a proper noun.

No. While Cacao is psychoactive due to the various effects it has on our brain chemistry and mood, it is not considered a psychedelic. Many people do take in high doses of pure Cacao—ceremonial doses—to attain some of the transcendent or euphoric experiences attributed to psychedelics. Your experience may vary.

Ceremonial Cacao contains very low levels of caffeine, and very high levels of calming magnesium. While we wouldn't recommend drinking it within an hour of bed (we don't recommend consuming anything in that timeframe), it should be totally fine to have a meditation serving or lower a couple hours before bed. Do not drink a ceremonial serving, as this is quite a lot and may interfere with your sleep pattern.

Yes. Ceremonial grade cacao is generally safe to consume while pregnant, but we do not recommend very high servings. Like anything, moderation is key when considering the health of your baby.