The Heart of it: How do you prepare Ceremonial Cacao for a group ceremony?
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.
Begin with Intention
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.
Ingredients for 10
- Cacao: see suggested amounts / dosages below
- Hot water: see suggested water ratios below
- Coconut sugar or Rapadura: our suggested choices for a large batch). You could also use maple syrup or honey to taste (this can become expensive
- Salt: a generous pinch of mineral-rich salt
- Optional spices: such as cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, cayenne, chilli or your flavours of choice
Equipment Needed
- Kettle
- Large saucepan or pot
- Wooden spoon
- Stick blender or whisk
- Measuring jug
- Serving cups or mugs
How Much Cacao do you Need for a Group?
The amount of cacao you use will depend on the experience you wish to create. A simple guide might be:
- Mild evening gathering: about 20-25g of cacao per person = 200-250g total
- Light Ceremonial serve: about 25–30g per person = 250–300g total
- Ceremoinal Serve: abount 35-45g per person = 350-450g total (recommended only for groups experienced with cacao who want a deeper ceremonial or shamanic experience)
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.
Choosing Your Water Ratio
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.
For a group of 10 people try
- 1 litre of water for a rich, concentrated serve
- 1.25 litres of water for a balanced ceremonial serve
- 1.5 litres of water for a lighter consistency
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.
A delicious poit of Ceremoinal Cacao just prior to being served in ceremony.
Preparing the Cacao
- Begin by finely chopping or grating your cacao.
- If you are using spices, combine them with the cacao before adding any liquid. This helps create a beautifully even blend and allows the flavours to unfold as the cacao melts.
- Measure out the water you require and bring to boil in a large saucepan or pot. Once boiled turn off heat and leave for a moment.
- Add the cacao + spice mixture, to the water. *
- Whisk right away, or the method we prefer for large serves, is to simply mix with a stick blender to incorporate, as the cacao becomes creamy and lightly frothy
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.
Sweetening and Balancing Flavour
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.
A Moment of Presence
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 and Sharing the Love
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!
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