What To Do When Your Cacao Has Melted?!

“Even in her softness, cacao remains potent medicine.”

If you’ve ever opened your Herbal Cacao package during the warmer months, especially if you live in southern Europe, you may find your Ceremonial Cacao has melted, softened, or returned to a block form.

If that happens… first, take a deep breath.....
Everything is okay.
Your cacao is still magical, medicinal, and perfectly safe to use.

I’ve created this article to serve as a guide, to help you understand why this happens, how to lovingly care for your melted cacao, and what to do next to keep your cacao rituals flowing.

My name is Sharon Fernie, and I am the Founder of Herbal Cacao, providing the world with high-quality Herbal Cacao Blends. I have a deep passion for holistic wellness and ancient traditions, and at Herbal Cacao, it's our mission to support our community on their journey of self and spiritual discovery, spreading awareness about the profound benefits of ceremonial cacao and other medicinal adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms.

Here in the "Herbal Cacao Journal" I explore the fascinating world of not just our active medicinal ingredients, but also dive into the world of rituals, ancient healing practices, and modern wellness techniques combined with experiences out of my own life.

So, whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your holistic wellness journey, this blog post in the “Herbal Cacao Journal” is your invitation to deepen your understanding of sacred herb & plants and their profound impact on our mind, body, and spirit.

Why Does Cacao Melt?

Cacao is one of the most sensitive plant medicines on Earth. She softens easily when exposed to warmth, especially when temperatures rise above 26°C. This is a natural quality of real, pure cacao. Unlike processed chocolate, ceremonial cacao contains no preservatives or stabilisers to keep her form.

At Herbal Cacao, our cacao is stone-ground into a fine paste and then gently blended with powerful herbs, mushrooms, or kept pure. We often break it into smaller pieces for ease of use, but cacao’s natural oils (cacao butter) are highly responsive to heat.

So when she melts, it simply means:
she’s returning to her original, whole, and sacred form.

In the Netherlands, this almost never happens due to our cooler climate. But for those ordering from warmer regions, like Spain, Portugal, southern France, Italy, or Greece, it’s important to know how to lovingly handle Ceremonial Cacao in summertime.

What to Do if Your Cacao Arrives Melted  💌

1. Do not open the bag immediately
   If your cacao feels soft, liquidy, or partially melted inside, avoid opening it. Opening the bag can lead to spills or loss of product. Instead, place the unopened package directly in the refrigerator (or freezer) and allow it to re-harden completely.
   

2. Let her re-solidify fully
   After 1–2 hours in the fridge or 30–60 minutes in the freezer, your cacao should become solid again. Now it’s ready to be brought back into usable form.
   

3. Re-cut or shave (Optional)
    Once solid, use a sharp knife on a cutting board to shave the cacao into flakes. Some people prefer to store it in this form, it’s easier to measure and melt.
   
   For quicker processing, you can also use a food processor. Just pulse in short bursts to avoid re-melting from heat buildup.
   

4. Mix well for balance
   When cacao melts, the natural cacao butter may separate. After you shave or break it up, give it a good mix to ensure the herbs, mushrooms, and oils are evenly distributed. This ensures balanced taste, texture, and effect in every serving.
   

5. Use a scale (Optional but helpful)
    For precision, we recommend weighing your cacao. A heart-opening ceremonial dose is around 30–40 grams. Using a scale gives you more consistency, especially if you’re serving for groups or ceremony.
   
   

But Is It Still Good? 🍫

Yes, absolutely!!!

Your cacao is still fresh, safe, and potent. Melting does not affect its nutritional value, medicinal properties, or ceremonial energy, as long as it hasn't been exposed to prolonged, high heat for many hours (like being left in a hot car).

If your cacao smells rich, earthy, and chocolatey, it’s good to go. If it’s rock solid, shiny, and natural in color, you’re in good hands. Trust the spirit of this plant. She is resilient, just like you.

The Deeper Medicine: When Cacao Invites You to Slow Down

Sometimes, the melting of cacao is a reminder in itself. A soft nudge from the plant spirit:
"Slow down.
Breathe.
 This is not a product, it’s a practice."

The return to block form gives us a chance to be more intentional. As you slice, cut, and re-shape the cacao, you’re already in ceremony. Your hands are in sacred preparation. You’re communing with the plant.

Even this process can become a meditation. A ritual of reconnection.

Why We Don’t Ship With Ice Packs (and Why That’s Okay)

You may wonder why we don’t add cooling packs or thermal liners to each package. Here’s why:

1. It’s unsustainable. Ice packs and extra insulation increase plastic use and waste.
2. It’s expensive. Eco-friendly cooling shipping adds €20–30 or more per parcel.
3. It’s rarely needed. Most of our customers, especially in the Netherlands, receive their cacao in perfect form year-round.
   

Instead, we prioritize:

• Ethical sourcing and farmer support
  
• Wildcrafted, organic ingredients
• Herbal infusions crafted with intention
  
• Conscious packaging wherever possible
  
  

We’d rather put love into the quality of your cacao than create unnecessary shipping waste.

Let the Plant Lead the Way

Cacao is alive. She teaches us to stay soft, to adjust with the seasons, to honor her form in all its shapes, flakes, blocks, or softened bundles of love.

So if she arrives melted, know this:
you’re still receiving her medicine.
All of it.

Treat her with reverence. Return her to form. And sip with intention.

Quick Steps: 🛠️ What to Do If My Cacao Arrives Melted…

❄️ Put it in the fridge or freezer immediately (still sealed!)

🔪 Once hardened, shave or break into smaller pieces

🌀 Mix to redistribute oils and herbs evenly

⚖️ Use a kitchen scale for precise servings

☕ Prepare and sip with intention, your ritual begins now

If this ever happens to you and you’re unsure, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We’re always here to support your cacao journey.