How to Make the Perfect Ceremonial Cacao

Preparing the Perfect Ceremonial Cacao

There’s nothing quite like the velvety warmth of a freshly prepared Ceremonial Cacao…. earthy, rich, and alive with magic.

The ritualistic preparation of ceremonial cacao is a sacred practice rooted in ancient tradition. Honoured for its heart-opening nature, it serves as the cornerstone of any effective meditation, yoga practice, or creative session.

In this journal we share our top tips for up-leveling your preparation, and walk you through making the most heavenly sacred hot chocolate - the perfect ceremonial cacao, from selecting the best cacao to perfecting the process….

Choosing the Right Cacao

Making the perfect Ceremonial Cacao is not as difficult as it seems.

First, it is essential to use only the highest-vibration ceremonial-grade cacao for your sacred hot chocolate. If it isn’t ceremonial grade, you’ll miss out on the heart expansion and vibrational lift that a truly great ceremonial hot chocolate provides. If you haven’t yet experienced Sacred Earth Medicine Ceremonial Cacao, we invite you to taste the profound difference for yourself!

Our chuncho cacao has an award winning flavour profile and can be relished on its own. However this more traditional recipe with added spices is great for a ceremonial tonic.

Preparing Ceremonial Cacao is simple. But a few lesser-known tips can elevate it into the silkiest, most energetically uplifting hot chocolate you’ve ever tasted!

Traditional Ceremonial Cacao Recipe

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons ground Sacred Earth Medicine Ceremonial Cacao (28g - 35g)
• Traditional Spices:
  • Small pinch Chilli / Cayenne
  • Pinch Vanilla Powder
  • 1  ⁄4 teaspoon Cinnamon Powder (Ceylon or Verum, not cassia) *
• 150ml Water
• 1 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon Sweetener (eg Honey, Rapadura, Coconut Sugar, or Maple)
• Reverence and ritual

* Note: While cinnamon wasn’t part of the original Mesoamerican cacao tradition, it was introduced early in the Spanish colonial period. We love to include it for its complementary flavour and warming nature. Sweetening cacao is also a later tradition introduced by the Spanish.

How to Prepare Your Ceremonial Cacao

As this is a sacred drink, ensure you use the highest-quality organic ingredients and clean, pure water. The matrix in organic food can hold a much higher vibration than conventional food, and we recommend avoiding toxins that dull your vibration.

🤎 Step 1 - Grind Your Cacao

Firstly chopping, grinding, shaving or grating the cacao block into granulated powder is essential - the finer the better. Try:
 

• Grating with a food grater
• Shaving with a sharp knife or
• For bulk: Rough chop, then grind in a food processor

We always keep a good supply of ground cacao in the cupboard. It makes preparing our morning cacao quick and easy.

Add your ground cacao to your cup. Try:
 

• 28g / 2 level tablespoons for a regular dose
• 35g / 2 heaped tablespoons for a slightly stronger dose
  (See our Daily Dosage Guide for more information.)

🧡 Step 2 - Spice It

Add the spices to your cup:
 

• Chilli / cayenne is what the Cacao Shaman referred to as the “spiritual accelerator”. It activates the cacao and helps the body assimilate it faster. Effects from good quality ceremonial cacao will usually be felt within 15 minutes. Sometimes immediately, for more sensitive people, thanks to the chilli.
• Vanilla powder - we prefer vanilla bean powder though real vanilla extract or essence can also be used.
• Cinnamon powder - we recommend Ceylon or verum, aka “true cinnamon”, rather than Cassia. It's gentler and safer for daily use.

💛 Step 3 - Water Temperature and Ratios

Boil enough water. Getting the cacao-to-water ratio right is crucial.
 

• If you prefer your blend thick: use 100 ml of water
• For a thinner mix: use up to 150ml of water.

But before you add the water, read on…

💚 Step 4 - Creating Silky Smooth Texture

Sacred Earth Medicine's Ceremonial Cacao is the whole bean, ground - nothing added, nothing removed. This preserves the full nutritional goodness of the cacao butter. However, as oil and water don't combine naturally, it requires a little extra care to create a smooth, unified drink.

Ever noticed your cacao separates, into a watery drink with a thick sediment at the bottom?

Here’s the secret: add water slowly!
 

• Start by adding just a splash of boiled water (a few millilitres) to your cacao and stir gently to create a thick paste.
• Continue adding a little more hot water and stirring (repeat this 3-4 times) until your mixture becomes smooth and silky. 
• Then add the remaining water and stir to your desired texture to make the perfect silky smooth ceremonial cacao.

You’ll know it’s ready when you see a lovely sheen on top.

💙 Step 5 (Optional) - Want it even more creamy?

Instead of stirring water gradually, try using a bullet or blender to mix your cacao smooth. Not only does it save time, (especially when making multiple cups), it makes the cacao a deliciously creamy texture with a frothy top of bubbles.

Another option is to replace half the water with a warmed milk of your choice.

💜 Step 6 - Sweetening Your Blend

Unless you prefer your cacao neat (and bitter), adding sweetener is an important final step:
 

• Honey works well with Sacred Earth Medicine's Ceremonial Cacao, enhancing its delightful flavour overtones. 
• If you're vegan, try maple syrup. 
• When we stocked Sacred Mayan Cacao, we recommended rapadura. The flavour overtones of Mayan Cacao were shorter, so the treacle notes of rapadura complemented them. 
• However, SEM's Ceremonial Cacao, renowned for its award-winning taste, really flourishes with honey. While other sweeteners can also be used, we find they alter the taste of the chuncho cacao bean too much - but taste and see what resonates with you.

🩷 Step 7 - Sip and savour

Enjoy your rich, creamy, delicious elixir!

There is something deeply nourishing about making time for this ritual… preparing the perfect ceremonial cacao, so you can slow down, reconnect, and receive.

May it bless your day, in every way!

Get your very own block of Ceremonial Cacao today and create a daily practice that uplifts your spirit and opens your heart.

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