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June 26, 2023In recent years, cacao ceremonies have gained popularity as powerful rituals for spiritual and emotional transformation. The ancient practice of using cacao as sacred plant medicine has been passed down through generations, offering a doorway to heart-opening experiences and inner exploration. If you’re ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and deep connection, preparing for a cacao ceremony is essential. In this article, we will guide you through the steps of preparing cacao for a blissful and meaningful ceremony.
When you are preparing the cacao for a ceremony, we highly recommend using a block or saucer of ceremonial cacao paste. This will be a high quality and it is the most recommended for ceremony.
You can also use cacao nibs or cacao powder, but it may not give the same effect as the cacao paste.
The quantity of cacao to utilize will be influenced by your familiarity with cacao, your sensitivity to stimulants, and the timing of your cacao ceremony (it’s advisable to avoid consuming excessive cacao at night to ensure a good night’s sleep).
Once the cacao is chopped up, you can now add hot water to it. The water “should not” be boiling because the cacao would lose nutrients. It just needs to be approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit or 50 degrees Celsius.
You can experiment with the cacao to see how much water you would like to add to the cacao. If you would like it to be thicker, you wouldn’t add as much water.
You could add 3 ounces, 100 millilitres, or ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons of water if you want less liquid. It is recommended to use this amount of water at a ceremony. This way it is thicker and less watered down.
If you want more liquid, you could add 10 ounces, 295 millilitres, or 1.25 cups of water. This is all up to you and how diluted you want the cacao to be.
Some people might want to use vegan milk instead of water, choose your best option!
You can infuse the hot water with spices if you would like to. Examples of spices are:
When you mix the water with the cacao, you can use a hand blender or a regular blender. This can make it a bit frothy. After blending it, you can pour it into a cup.
Another mixing option is using a whisk and adding the hot water slowly, little bits of water at a time. You would mix it, and then once it is mixed, add a bit more water.
You can sing or pray while mixing it, as a part of the intention setting and ceremony. For example, you can give thanks to the Indigenous people of South America who first began using cacao. You can give thanks for all of the work that went into processing the cacao for you to be able to drink it and share it with others.
You can use cacao nibs which are crushed beans. Cacao nibs may not melt and could remain chewy inside of the cacao drink.
If you do use cacao nibs for a ceremony at home, it is better to blend them with water. They will not melt by using a whisk. Even after blending them, there will still be parts that need to be chewed. Even if cacao nibs are not the greatest for a ceremony, they are still very healthy. They can also be used for smoothies, baking, or in granola.
There is not as much preparation needed with cacao powder since you do not need to chop it. You can whisk it with hot water or blend it. This is up to you and your preference.
Just as with cacao nibs, even if the powder is not recommended for a ceremony, it is still very healthy and can be used in smoothies or teas.
Cacao paste is the best to use for a ceremony. This is because it will mix well with water. Cacao paste also maintains the integrity and wholeness of the cacao ceremony experience.
Cacao butter is usually used for skin products or to be made into chocolate, so it is not really used for cacao ceremonies.
If you have a deep desire to learn more about Cacao Ceremonies and facilitate transformative ceremonies, we invite you to join our Cacao Ceremony Facilitator Training. Designed for those seeking to guide others on a journey of heart-opening experiences, our course provides the knowledge, skills, and guidance needed to become a skilled cacao ceremony facilitator.
