Cacao ceremonies: the connective power of raw cacao

Have you ever heard of cacao ceremonies? They are a spiritual ritual based on raw cacao, first practiced by the Mayas and Aztecs. They believed in the healing and medicinal properties of this pure product, which they called 'the food of the gods'. But is raw cacao equally divine for ordinary mortals like you and me? Of course it is! Discover why and much more in this blog.

Cacao was honoured as 'the food of the gods' by the Mayas and Aztecs

Raw cacao versus chocolate

Did you know that raw cacao contains more than 300 components that have a positive influence on our health? But let's be clear: we are talking here about the pure end product derived from ripe cacao pods. This is not the same as the bar of chocolate that you sometimes treat yourself to! Ceremonial cacao is a 100% natural product. This is in stark contrast to the westernised and highly processed form that contains an excess of sugars and fats, as a result of which many of the beneficial properties of the original cacao are lost.

Cacao as a natural medicine

Let's briefly look at the origins of cacao. The ripe cacao pods are obtained from Theobroma cacao, a tree that grows in the fertile soils of the forests in South America. For ceremonial cacao, these pods are picked by hand and then opened to remove the beans and pulp inside. These are fermented together, following which the beans are dried, roasted and peeled. The resulting cacao nibs are finely ground using mill stones, to create an ultra-fine paste known as the cacao mass. The cacao butter contained in the beans remains intact, which gives our ceremonial cacao a more bitter flavour.

What makes this raw cacao so healthy? The answer lies in its many natural phytonutrients: anti-oxidants, magnesium and B vitamins, to name just a few. In addition, raw cacao is also rich in theobromine. More about this later.

Cacao opens your heart and connects you with others

A cacao ceremony is the ultimate heart-opener. Do that sound just a bit too 'mellow'? Even so, it is true. Firstly, the original meaning of the word 'chocola' is 'drinking chocolate together'. This is, quite literally, the purpose of the cacao ceremony. Once again: not lashings of hot chocolate milk, but the pure end product that has hardly been processed at all and to which no sugar is added.

Secondly, raw cacao contains the same seductive components as ordinary chocolate. Why do you think that you so desperately crave a bar of chocolate whenever you need a pick-me-up? Because cacao contains numerous substances that give you a warm, loving and euphoric feeling. For example, theobromine stimulates the heart and widens the blood vessels. Which brings us back, of course, to the expression 'heart-opener'. That is why this drink helps to connect people during cacao ceremonies.

Do you want to enjoy chocolate the carefree way? You do? Then you must try the pure taste of Biotona Raw Cacao Bio.
If you prefer a fuller and crunchier chocolate experience, Biotona Raw Cacao Nibs is the thing for you.

Timeless cacao ceremonies

Even though their origins date back many centuries, cacao ceremonies are still performed today. Their ritual nature adds an extra dimension to drinking chocolate together, raising the experience above the level of the ordinary. This is only possible, however, if you drink the cacao consciously and mindfully, so that you can be present in the moment and feel what is going on inside you. The ceremony is only complete if you link the experience to a particular good intention or objective. In this way, you not only open your heart to yourself, but also connect with others in the group.

A mini-cacao ceremony as a ritual for yourself.

This mini-ceremony does not replace the real cacao ceremony, but you can regard it as a kind of gift to yourself; a relaxing ritual to provide a gentle and mellow end to your day.

Prepare your warm cacao with Biotona Cacao Raw Bio.Do this with your full attention. If you want, you can link this to a good intention. For example: 'From now on, I will choose what I eat with greater awareness and will include less meat in my diet.'

Drink the cup of cacao mindfully: taste it, smell it, feel it… Allow all your senses to absorb everything that is happening in your entire being, sip by sip.
You want an even stronger connection with what the cacao is doing to you? If so, you can meditate, do some yoga or even dance as part of your ritual. Let yourself be transported on a journey that will bring you closer to yourself.

A little something extra for your warm cacao?

These recipes with Biotona Cacao Raw Bio can offer you plenty of inspiration: Chai Hot Chocolate, Maca Hot Chocolate, Protein Hot Chocolate, Reishi Hot Chocolate.

Or perhaps you prefer a healthy sweet treat with the unadulterated flavour of pure cacao? Then why not try our Ferrero Rocher’ raw chocolate balls or chocolate-almond truffles?