Sacred cacao: health benefits and ceremonies unwrapped

Sacred Cacao. It sounds just as enticing as its flavours. We're used to enjoying the cacao fruit seed in various forms of chocolate treats and drinks but you might be surprised to learn that it also has deep-rooted spiritual origins. Cacao's sacred place within ceremonies and rituals is worth knowing if you'd like to truly experience all that the cacao fruit has to offer, as well as its health benefits.

What is sacred cacao?

The story of the sacred cacao fruit begins with the Theobroma cacao tree in the Amazonian rainforest. Archaeological evidence of cacao dates back to around 3,900 years ago, and its given name translates to 'Food of the Gods'. Our appreciation for the ingredient has even given rise to our 'Ice Cream of the Gods' - our cacao-infused frozen delight.

In Eastern cultures, sacred cacao was, and continues to be, provided as an offering to the gods. This still rings true for a few cacao ceremonies in Western culture, but the focus of the cacao offering has been directed towards the attendee in an effort to practise self care and self love.

Sacred cacao refers to cacao's spiritual, health, and wellness benefits that can aid the connection of communities - all of which we will go on to explore later.

This oval-shaped delicacy can be red or yellow in colour, and it packs a nutritious punch despite being only 15-30 centimetres long. With over 40 antioxidants present within cacao in its unprocessed form, sacred cacao is deemed to have extensive healing properties with a variety of health benefits. Due to this, sacred cacao has been used as a transformative tool in ceremonies, meditations, and rituals since its discovery.

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Health and wellness benefits of cacao

It's easy to think of cacao as chocolate, and associate this as being an 'unhealthy' food. Instead, you'll be intrigued to know that cacao is actually impressively nutritious in a variety of ways.

Due to its unprocessed nature, there are many different nutrients present within cacao for you to receive and experience its wellness benefits. To experience cacao in its purest form, we've created a low sugar selection. Made with 100% cacao, our Rare and Vintage Batons showcase the nuanced flavours and all the nutrition the humble pod has to offer.

Cacao solids

Cacao solids are the components of the cacao bean. This part of the cacao fruit is impressively nutrient-dense and contains plant chemicals called flavanols.

Flavanols are naturally-occurring compounds and they have a practical function within the cacao fruit, as well as providing benefits for consumption. Flavanols are essential for protecting the cacao fruit from UV radiation. They also release an unpleasant flavour to deter herbivores from eating the delicious fruit in its raw form - meaning there's more cacao out there for us humans to enjoy.

Blood vessel function

When consumed, cacao flavanols signal the body to produce nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels, making blood circulation easier.

Memory and brain health

With flavanols improving blood circulation, this has a knock on effect on our memory and brain health. Flavanols can accumulate in regions of the brain such as the hippocampus, which has shown to improve mood and stress levels.

Cacao juice

Cacao juice is formed from the pulp of the cacao fruit. Whilst you may initially think that cacao juice is similar to a chocolate milkshake, cacao juice has more nutty and floral tasting notes. It's the best of both worlds - it tastes good, and it makes you feel good.

Antioxidants

Cacao fruit is classed as a 'superfruit', meaning it is one of the most nutrient-dense fruits available. Cacao fruit actually has more antioxidant activity than any other superfruits, and by quite the margin, too.

Antioxidants are compounds within food that work hard to protect your cells from damage. This damage is usually caused by free radicals - unstable molecules that can harm your body's healthy tissues.

Hydration

Electrolytes, such as magnesium and potassium, are rife within the cacao fruit. These minerals help to regulate healthy nerve and muscle function, as well as hydrating the body.

Cacao butter

You don't have to just eat cacao, you can wear it, too! From mellowing cacao hand creams and body butters to deep-cleansing soaps, there's a place for cacao on everyone's skincare essentials list.

Omega 6 fatty acids

Omega 6 is a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid, and it aids skin, hair and bone growth, acting as a line of defence to keep your skin feeling fresh and replenished.

Nourishment

With the nutritious makeup of omega 6, vitamin C, vitamin E and magnesium, cacao is excellent for promoting cellular healing. It's a brilliant hydrator and nourisher for the skin by increasing blood flow to give you that natural, dewy glow.

Oleic acid

Cacao butter contains oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat that can decrease your risk of heart disease due to its cardiovascular benefits. Researchers have discovered a direct link between the dietary intake of oleic acid and a reduction in blood pressure.

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From roots to wrapper

As well as discussing the health and wellness benefits of cacao, there's also a lot to be said about the benefits of cacao as a societal tool.

Cacao farming and production takes expertise, skill, passion, and time. To show appreciation for this process, we provide chocolate that's nourishing for the soul, tantalising for the tastebuds, and beneficial for all workers involved in the timeless process of cacao production.

Engaged ethics

We think it's important to get stuck in with the processes behind cacao production to show our appreciation for our passionate cacao farmers in Ghana and St Lucia.

By getting our boots on, getting our hands dirty, and building relationships with cacao farmers rather than writing a cheque, our engaged ethics approach is at the core of everything we do.

With over 20 years experience, we're striving to become market leaders in ethical business practices and sustainability - because it's the right thing to do.

For our products, for our workers, and for you.

More cacao, less sugar

There's no denying that cacao is our number one ingredient. After all, what would chocolate be without it?

We're all for the bean-to-bar mentality when it comes to chocolate, but we're more passionate about the intricate processes of cacao production. This is what we highlight with our roots to wrapper approach to chocolate.

In our eyes, the more cacao, the better. You've already seen the host of benefits that cacao gives for body, mind, and spirit - and also, life's truly too short for low-quality chocolate.

What is a cacao ceremony?

As we've previously mentioned, many people prefer to indulge in the health benefits of cacao by attending or organising a cacao ceremony.

Cacao ceremonies can be conducted alone in the comfort of your own home or in communal group settings. Regardless of how many people attend, these ceremonies always have one element in common: they all follow the ancient ritual of drinking, and offering, a cacao beverage - the rawest form of chocolate.

Known as an ancient heart healing ritual, cacao ceremonies usually involve other wellness activities such as yoga, meditation, and breathwork to enhance the cacao's revitalising health benefits.

With the combination of other heart-opening activities, cacao ceremonies celebrate shamanism - one of the oldest spiritual practices in the book. Shamanism encourages ceremony attendees to celebrate interconnectedness, within themselves and in connection with others.

Feelings of interconnectedness resonate with cacao ceremonies in a variety of different ways. For instance, the very purpose of a cacao ceremony is to feel connected, whole and rejuvenated in body, mind and spirit. Some ceremony attendees also resonate with shamanism's ethos through the makeup of the cacao seed itself - full of history, nutrients and unprocessed goodness.

Cacao ritual activities

Every cacao ceremony is different depending on what your intentions are for the practice. The beauty of a cacao ceremony is that you can tailor it to your specific needs through a variety of ritual activities.

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Intention setting

By establishing a clear intention for the duration of the cacao ceremony, attendees find that it's easier to reach a higher level of connection and understanding within themselves. When intention setting in a cacao ceremony, it's encouraged to redirect any wavering thoughts or worries towards a clear intention to make your ceremony goal achievable.

Mantra chanting

The ancient practice of chanting has proved beneficial for communities since its origins in India's Vedic period. A mantra is an utterance used as a tool to soothe and calm the mind, so this practice is very popular within cacao ceremonies.

Sound work

Similar to mantra chanting, sound work (also known as sound therapy, or sound healing) utilises sound, music, and a range of soothing instrumentals. You can use sound work in ceremonial practices to help guide self-reflection techniques and rituals.

Meditation

Meditation is perhaps the most commonly known, spiritually-guided self care activity. The act of meditation is perfect for cacao ceremonies as it encourages you to stay 'in the moment' and connect your breathing with your thoughts.

Dancing

Dancing is another excellent and creative way to create a sense of connectedness - within yourself or as part of a group. Studies have shown that moving in sync with music can ignite a sense of freedom and self-reflection.

Breathwork

Similar to meditation, breathwork is a more advanced practice of deep, diaphragmatic breathing to diminish stress and anxiety. The act of breathing with purpose helps to redirect any negative energy that the attendee may be experiencing to help them feel clarity throughout the cacao ceremony.

Cacao ceremonies in Western culture

Due to the rise in curiosity surrounding spirituality and self care, many Western communities have begun to appreciate all that cacao ceremonies have to offer. With the recent years of imbalance and uncertainty, cacao ceremonies have become a focused and intentional practice for Western societies to realign their values and beliefs.

In a world where life can be far too fast-paced and frantic, cacao ceremonies offer a period of tranquillity, rest and reflection for attendees; and this has bountiful wellness benefits.

Cacao ceremonies have become standard within the wellness industry, with many workshops and ceremonies being hosted across the country for attendees to experience the gifts of cacao.

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Feel at one with cacao

With cacao's engrained roots in spirituality, culture and divine taste, its wellness benefits should be experienced by every chocolate lover out there.

The best way to experience all that cacao has to offer is through our dark chocolate selection. With deep, balmy, and satisfying tasting notes, our rare single-origin chocolate bars are filled with 70-100% dark chocolate depending on your preference.

So, bask in the sensation of snapping a 100% dark chocolate baton, or feel whole and connected holding a warm cup of cacao between your hands, made with gossamer-fine flakes. Whenever you're ready to taste and experience what pure cacao has to offer, we'll be ready and waiting with a selection of divine chocolate treats for you to indulge in.

Shop our chocolate collection today to find your perfect, velvety chocolate match.

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