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For a circle of ten, a traditional ceremonial serve calls for around 250–300g of cacao and 1.25 litres of water — roughly 25–30g and 125ml per person. Below, we walk through exact ratios for lighter and more potent doses, the equipment you'll need, and the unhurried preparation ritual that turns a group brew into a shared ceremony.
There is something deeply nourishing about preparing cacao for a gathering. Before a single cup is even poured, there is the sweet, intentional ritual of preparation. The grating, stirring, tasting, tending and tweaking become an offering in themselves - a way of weaving presence, care and love into every cup.
It can be daunting preparing Ceremonial Cacao for a group for the very first time. So, we are here to make that as easy for you as we can, to ensure you can stay relaxed and in your heart!
We’ve done all the planning for you, and listed all the simple steps, so that creating a nice warm pot of Ceremonial Cacao for your group feels easy and rewarding.
Before reaching for the ingredients or boiling the kettle, we invite you to pause, take a few slow breaths, and feel your feet grounded on the earth beneath you.
Take a moment to acknowledge the journey that brought this cacao to you. You may wish to offer a silent prayer, express gratitude to the land and people who have tended the cacao, and/or hold an intention for the gathering ahead.
This simple pause can transform the preparation from a task into a ritual.
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The amount of cacao you use will depend on the experience you wish to create. A simple guide might be:
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We don’t recommend serves above 45g as this is a strong dose for almost everyone. If your group would like more cacao than 45g, start with a 35g dose and offer them a second cup one hour into the ceremony.
In short: 200-250g for a gentle evening circle, 250–300g for a traditional ceremonial serve, or 350–450g for an experienced group seeking a deeper dose.
The amount of water you use will shape the richness, texture, and overall experience of your cacao.
For a more concentrated serve, suitable for smaller cups, we recommend approximately 100ml of water per person. Works best for 20-25g serves. Otherwise the cacao can become too thick.
For a balanced ceremonial mug, 125ml per person creates a smooth, nourishing consistency that many people find ideal for circles and gatherings.
For a lighter, more spacious drink, 150ml per person allows the cacao to feel gentle and easy to sip throughout a longer ceremony. Also better for larger doses.
If you are preparing a larger ceremonial dose of 35g+ of cacao per person, you may wish to increase the water to around 2 litres to give participants a larger drink that lasts for longer ceremonies.
There is no single "correct" ratio. Rather, we invite you to consider the intention of your gathering, your participants' familiarity with ceremonial cacao, and the experience you wish to create. Over time, you will develop a feel for the consistency that best supports your intention.
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A delicious poit of Ceremoinal Cacao just prior to being served in ceremony.
Take your time with this process, noticing the rich aroma rising from the pot. Let this too become part of the ceremony as your prepare the perfect Ceremonial Cacao for your group.
*The reason we prefer this order, rather than starting with the cacao in the pot first and gradually adding water is to avoid the cacao sticking to the bottom or burning.
Add your chosen sweetener gradually, tasting as you go.
As a starting point, we recommend using a sweetener at a little less than half the weight of the cacao used. For example, if preparing 300g of cacao, you may begin with around 130-140g of coconut sugar or rapadura and adjust according to taste.
It’s better to start with adding around 80% of the sweetener & whisk / blend. Then add to taste. It’s easy to add more sweetener to get the right taste. It’s much more difficult to adjust if it’s too sweet! The only way to do this is add more cacao, and usually more than you may think.
Mix with the stick blender, adding a small pinch of mineral-rich salt if desired. This helps bring out the richness of the cacao and balance the flavours beautifully. At this stage, mix in any essential oils if using. Taste a few times to make sure it is delicious!
As the temperature will have most likely dropped, gently warm the cacao before serving. Reheat on lowest setting and be sure not to let the cacao boil directly.
This helps preserve ceremonial properties, nutrients and delicate flavour while creating a silky, smooth consistency.
Before serving, we invite you to take a moment to sit with the cacao.
Notice its sweet scent, warmth and the intention you have woven into its preparation. The way we prepare the cacao truly does carry its own medicine. Every stir, every breath, every moment of attention becomes part of the experience that is shared with your circle.
You may even have your group circle around the cacao pot and place their energy into the cacao through intention, song, mantra or simply by their presence.
Preparing Ceremonial Cacao for a group is more than just making a drink. It is an act of love! And by bringing your loving presence into every step of the creation, they will taste the difference. True nourishment soulfully created, ready for you to share with love!
For a light ceremonial serve, plan on 25–30g of cacao per person, around 250–300g in total for a circle of ten. A gentler evening gathering can work with 20-25g per person (200-259g total), while an experienced group seeking a deeper journey may use 35–45g per person (350–450g total).
As a starting point, use 100–150ml of water per person depending on the strength you're after. 100ml for a concentrated serve, 125ml for a balanced ceremonial mug, or 150ml for a lighter, more spacious drink. For ten people, that's roughly 1–1.5 litres of water in total.
For larger cacao doses of 40g, you may even want to use up to 200ml of water per person, making a larger drink for longer ceremonies. There is no single 'correct' ratio.
Yes! Cacao can be prepared ahead of time and gently rewarmed before serving, For instance, if you have an early morning ceremony, you could prepare your Ceremonial Cacao the night before and keep it overnight in the fridge.
Avoid boiling it directly, as this can affect the ceremonial properties, flavour and the delicate nutrients within the cacao.
A large saucepan or pot, a kettle for hot water, a stick blender or whisk, a wooden spoon, a measuring jug and enough serving cups for your circle. A stick blender is particularly helpful at this scale, it creates a smooth, lightly frothy consistency far more easily than whisking by hand.
It can be daunting preparing Ceremonial Cacao for a group for the very first time. So, we are here to make that as easy for you as we can.
What might feel mundane and ordinary, the making of a cup of cacao, can become magical, when you slow down and bring your full presence into it.
While the answer is yes, our beans are hand selected, we want to highlight the importance of when that selection happens, and why we believe starting at the source makes all the difference!
The journey of womanhood is a series of profound initiations, and perhaps none is as misunderstood or as shrouded in mystery as the transition from the Mother archetype into the season of the Wise Woman.
