This Ceremonial Cacao comes from the jungles of Ecuador and is harvested responsibly and with reverence by the natives and then traded through respectful hands en route to us here in the US. What makes this cacao so special though is not only the reverence and fair-trade principles which encompass its trade, but also the unique genetic (and energetic!) characteristics! The alkaloid content is significantly different than that of 'modernized' cacao because ceremonial cacao is an Heirloom plant with unique genetics. 

This Cacao comes in the form of a paste which has been dried and naturally re-hardened.

Cacao as an Entheogen....

Cacao has a rich history of use by natives throughout central and south america, and the use of this plant was primarily in that of ritual and ceremony! I was always fascinated with the stories I'd heard that Mayan Priests would drink Cacao daily to stay in tune with the spirit realm...but it never made sense to me exactly why they chose this ally, considering my limited experience with 'Cocoa' (processed hybridized low quality cacao). Now that we've had the honor of working with this Ceremonial grade Cacao, shipped fresh from Guatemala, I am starting to understand how and why this plant was utilized for spirit work and held in such high reverence...!

We consider this Cacao to be of an entheogenic nature, providing strong vibrations, increasing awareness of consciousness, and even being capable of providing insight and wisdom if used with respect. Common cacao varieties tend to have a stimulating effect. Our Ceremonial Cacao on the other hand, has a very perceptual and meditative effect, with energy flow increasing particularly at the Heart and Mind/Awareness. One is very 'Awake' and 'Invigorated' with this cacao undoubtedly, but the effect is so much deeper, providing an almost magnetic-feeling connection to the life around you and the spiritual essences we are a part of.

The common dosage for an experience is 1 oz of Cacao, for stronger experiences 2 oz-4oz+ can be used. We recommend starting slow with this cacao so that you can measure how your biochemistry reacts with the plant.

Cacao can also be combined with other healthy herbs and supplements.

Some more general information about Cacao...

Theobroma Cacao is a type of tree native to Central and South America. These trees are very well-known in that their beans are the source of Cacao Butter, Cacao Liquor, Cacao Powder and Cacao Nibs. These Cacao products are commonly used in the production of Chocolate treats and Candy bars in modern America.   Cacao, though always popular, is becoming especially well-known recently due to the increase in interest in Superfoods. Cacao beans (as well as all the other Cacao products) are extremely rich in Antioxidants, Polyphenols, Omega Fatty Acids, Minerals and Vitamins. The more that these beans are studied from a nutritional and health perspective, the more it is becoming understood how amazing they are.

The spelling of Cacao may seem incorrect as well to those of us who grew up in modern commercial product-ridden cities, Cocoa is what we are familiar with. There's a big difference between our Raw Organic Cacao products and those nasty sugary chocolate bars you remember from childhood (or this morning ha). Cocoa is usually used to describe processed and cooked Cacao products, whereas the term Cacao describes the Raw products from this amazing tree. While a chocolate bar or Cocoa product will serve some benefit to the body, and still contain some amount of the healthy cacao components, the value of processed cacao is not nearly the same as that of Raw Organic Cacao. Like most foods, applying heat to Cacao beans is sure to reduce the overall nutritional value by diminishing the fatty acids and mineral content.

Why Eternity in a Box Cacao products are superior...

Firstly and foremost, our Cacao Beans and Nibs are all Certified Organic! We strive to carry only the most powerfully 'restoring' foods in our Restorative Foods section, so Organic was the only way to go with Cacao! 

Why you should have Organic Cacao in your pantry...

It seems in today's modern world that just about everybody is nutritionally deficient in some manner. Cacao as well as other Superfoods are great to have available for ourselves as well as our loved ones because they can help us to 'catch up' to nutritional balance. These wonderful beans are rich in Magnesium, Iron, Chromium, Manganese, Zinc, Vitamin C and they also contain powerful brain-effecting compounds such as Tryptophan, Phenethylamine and Serotonin. Cacao is a particularly fun superfood to have handy, because it can be used in a wide range of culinary preparations. There has also been research done to show the benefits of Cacao for the heart, regulation of blood pressure, stress and depression.

What do I do with these Cacao products...just eat them?

Our Cacao products are certainly ready to eat as is! But that doesn't mean that you should be limited to this...Cacao products can be added to Trail Mixes, Cookies, Energy Bars, Protein Shakes, Nut Milks (to make Raw Chocolate Milk yum!) and more. The possibilities are truly endless with Cacao when it comes to culinary preparations. You can also add some warm-hot water to our powdered cacao or ceremonial cacao paste and blend/stir until it is uniform....add some vanilla bean powder,cayenne pepper, maybe some sweetener or nut milk and you've got some profound and tasty hot chocolate!

***These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ***