Today, I want to take a moment to share something that has been weighing on my heart—a topic that is deeply intertwined with the sacred cacao we cherish at Herbal Cacao. You may have seen recent headlines about rising cacao prices, but beyond the numbers, there’s a much bigger story—one that directly impacts our farmers, our mission, and the community we’re building together. In this post, I’ll take you through the deeper reasons behind these changes and what they mean for our shared journey with cacao.
My name is Sharon Fernie, and I am the Founder of Herbal Cacao. I am dedicated to providing the world with high-quality Ceremonial Cacao Blends while supporting our community on their journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. I have a deep passion for holistic wellness and ancient traditions.
Through Herbal Cacao, I aim to spread awareness about the profound benefits of ceremonial cacao and other adaptogenic herbs & mushrooms. I strive to create a space where individuals can connect with themselves and each other on a deeper level, to be the love, share the love, and spread the love.
Join me here in the “Herbal Cacao Journal” as we explore the fascinating world of our active herbal ingredients, cacao rituals, ancient healing practices, and modern wellness techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your journey, this blog post in the “Herbal Cacao Journal” is your invitation to deepen your understanding of this sacred plant and its profound impact on mind, body, and spirit.
The cacao market is shifting in ways that many of us are beginning to feel. If you've noticed rising prices, you're not alone. The global cacao industry is undergoing major changes, and while many articles try to explain the complexity of it all, I want to break it down in a way that makes sense — so you can truly understand what’s happening and why. Grab a delicious cup of cacao and let's delve into this important topic together!
Navigating the Changing Cacao Market & Our Commitment to Reciprocity & Reconciliation
At Herbal Cacao, our mission has always been deeply intertwined with the sacred traditions of the indigenous Maya people. This beautiful heart medicine has been revered for millennia. We honour this lineage through reciprocity, ensuring that the benefits of ceremonial cacao flow back to the source, and reconciliation, acknowledging and addressing historical injustices faced by indigenous communities.
However, the global cacao market is facing unprecedented challenges. These shifts directly impact our sourcing, pricing, and the communities we work with. At Herbal Cacao, we believe in transparency and we want you to feel connected not only to the sacred plant medicine in your cup but also to the people and land from which it comes. So, let’s explore the key reasons behind these price increases and what they mean for the future of ceremonial cacao.
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Climate Change & Crop Losses: Cacao is deeply sensitive to its environment—it thrives in delicate ecosystems that are now under threat. Climate change has intensified unpredictable weather patterns, from prolonged droughts to excessive rainfall, creating a challenging reality for farmers. When crops fail due to extreme weather, yields drop, pushing global prices even higher. Additionally, wildfires, shifting temperatures, and deforestation have all contributed to the loss of biodiversity, affecting the health of cacao trees. For indigenous farmers who grow cacao in harmony with nature, these environmental shifts are deeply concerning. Their traditional, regenerative farming practices help mitigate some of these challenges, but the larger industry-wide crisis still affects the entire supply chain. As many of you may remember, I spoke about this a lot last year—our main cacao origin, Maya Mountain in Belize, has been struggling with severe wildfires and climate disruptions, significantly impacting harvests. The challenges are real, and as we continue to grow here in Europe, the demand for high-quality ceremonial cacao is rising, yet the available supply is becoming increasingly limited. This means we are now facing a notable shortage for the second quarter of the year, with very low stock availability. We are working closely with our farming partners to navigate this, ensuring we honour the cacao, the land, and the communities who cultivate it with so much care. While we are adapting to these challenges, we deeply appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to source only the most ethical and heart-aligned cacao for our community.
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Rising Costs of Ethical Cacao: Unlike mass-market cacao buyers, we walk a different path—one rooted in reciprocity, respect, and long-term commitment. We source our cacao directly from indigenous Maya farmers who cultivate their land with deep reverence, ensuring that the sacred medicine is honoured at every step. However, in recent years, large industry players have begun entering regions like Belize and Guatemala, disrupting the balance. Known locally as “coyotes,” these opportunistic buyers offer fluctuating prices without any real commitment to the farmers or their traditions. While this may provide short-term financial relief, it ultimately undermines the long-term sustainability of the cacao supply chain. When I visited our some of the cacao farmers In Belize last year, I saw firsthand how these challenges are affecting their livelihoods. The farmers we work with have chosen to stand strong in their ancestral ways, despite external pressures. Their dedication to cultivating cacao through regenerative, organic methods comes with higher costs—but it is essential for preserving both the land and the spirit of cacao.
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The Growing Demand for Ceremonial Cacao: On a positive note, we are witnessing a beautiful global awakening—one where cacao is being recognized not just as an ingredient, but as a sacred plant medicine. More people are turning to ceremonial-grade cacao for heart-opening rituals, self-love practices, and deep connection to themselves and their communities. As this awareness spreads, the demand for high-quality, ethically sourced cacao has risen too. This is a wonderful shift, but it also means that sourcing the finest cacao has become more competitive. The sacred cacao that once remained within indigenous communities is now being sought after by people worldwide, adding further pressure to an already delicate market.
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A Broken Global Trading System: For decades, the global cacao market has been controlled by an unjust system—one that prioritizes corporate profits over the well-being of the farmers and the land. The vast majority of the world’s cacao (80-90%) comes from West Africa, specifically Ivory Coast and Ghana, where large-scale, industrial farming dominates. In these regions, cacao is often grown as a monocrop, depleting the soil of nutrients and forcing farmers into a cycle of dependency, unable to earn a fair wage. The reality is that cacao prices are dictated by the New York and London stock exchanges, far removed from the hands that tend the trees. While large corporations reap the benefits, small-scale farmers—who dedicate their lives to cultivating this sacred plant—are left struggling to reinvest in their land and communities. This imbalance is no longer sustainable, and the effects are rippling across the world, leading to scarcity and rising global price
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Market Speculation & The Future of Cacao Prices: Beyond the forces of climate, ethics, and demand, there is another unseen factor affecting cacao prices: financial speculation. Large hedge funds and institutional investors often trade cacao futures—treating it as a commodity rather than a sacred plant. This speculation can create artificial price spikes, making it even harder for small-scale producers and ethical businesses to navigate.
So what does the future hold? Prices may continue to fluctuate, but one thing remains clear: the conventional system is broken, and more people are seeking ethical alternatives. The way forward lies in our personal trade relationships, fair compensation for farmers, and a commitment to honouring cacao’s sacred origins.
Despite these challenges, we at Herbal Cacao remain dedicated to our mission: To ensure that our cacao not only supports the health of our community, but also empowers the Maya farmers who have been cultivating and safeguarded this sacred plant for generations. To ensure that cacao is cultivated with respect for the land, through regenerative and sustainable farming. And to provide our community with the highest-quality ceremonial cacao, offering a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern self-care practices.
The price of ceremonial cacao may be rising, but our commitment to ethical sourcing, sustainability, and heart-centered business will never waver. Every sip of Herbal Cacao is an act of connection. Connection to the farmers, the earth, the ancestors, and your own heart. Together, we can honour cacao’s sacred journey and ensure that it remains a source of nourishment, love, and healing for generations to come.
And we have good news! While the past season has brought challenges, the current harvest is looking promising, and we are actively working to secure enough cacao to bring back our full collection this summer. This means that soon, you’ll once again have access to all of your favourite blends, crafted with lots of love and intention.
Not only that, but we will also have some extra limited editions on the way—infused with special active ingredients that I know many of you have been eagerly waiting for. These unique blends will bring even more depth to your cacao rituals, supporting you in ways that align with both ancient plant wisdom and modern well-being.
Thank you for walking this journey with us, for your patience, and for your unwavering trust in the heart and integrity behind every sip of Herbal Cacao. We can’t wait to share what’s coming next!
Our Continued Commitment to the Maya Communities
Despite these challenges, we remain committed in our mission to support the indigenous communities that cultivate our cacao. We go beyond fair trade by ensuring that Maya family farmers are always paid well above-market prices, sustaining their livelihoods and preserving the ancestral traditions that make this cacao so special and unique. We are so grateful for all their hard work, love and dedication for the plant medicine.
To support the farmers at the source, we at Herbal Cacao decided to actively give back through our 2% for the Farmers Program, where a portion of every Herbal Cacao purchase directly supports our Maya communities. As we are growing so is the expansion of our 2% for the Farmers Program.
- Baby Cacao Tree Project:
This initiative project was launched last year in response to the devastating wildfires in Belize that severely impacted many of the indigenous communities we work with, destroying their sacred lands. To help these indigenous Maya families restore their lands, we initiated a call for support by inviting our community to purchase a baby cacao tree during checkout of your ceremonial cacao order at Herbal Cacao. For each tree purchased, Herbal Cacao will match it by purchasing one more, effectively doubling the impact. Each year, during my visits to the cacao farming communities, I personally donate these trees, and I will continue this effort in the years to come. (Currently, this option is unavailable at checkout, but we are actively working with our developers to restore it.)
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Tool Bank Initiative:
After my recent visit to Belize, it became clear that access to proper farming tools is a major challenge. We are committed to launching this initiative as soon as possible to equip farmers with essential tools that enhance efficiency and sustainability. More on this will follow soon. Stay tuned !
We are 100% committed to build long-term relationships with our farmers, providing stability and security, unlike large industry players who engage in short-term opportunistic purchases. This module allows our cacao farmers to invest in their land, families, and communities, ensuring the continued cultivation of high-quality, ethically grown ceremonial cacao that aligns with our shared vision in creating a conscious new world of heart-centred living.
Why We Are Adjusting Our Prices
As a company deeply rooted in ethical sourcing, we have absorbed these rising costs for as long as possible. However, in order to sustain our commitment to the farmers, maintain the high quality of our ceremonial cacao, and continue our reciprocity efforts, a price adjustment has become necessary.
Starting March 17, 2025, we will be implementing a price increase to reflect the rising costs within the supply chain. This will allow us to stay true to our values while keeping our products accessible. We have done everything possible to delay this increase, but absorbing all rising costs alone is no longer sustainable for us.
We at Herbal Cacao feel this is more than just a price change, this represents a necessary shift toward supporting small-scale farmers in a way that ensures long-term sustainability for the entire future cacao industry.
How You Can Support This Movement
We believe that cacao is a sacred plant medicine meant to be honoured and shared with intention. Here’s how you can help us continue this mission:
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Mindful Consumption: Understand the deeper story behind each sip of cacao and the impact your purchase has on the indigenous farmers from bean to cup.
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Join Our Inner Circle: Our premium membership offers access to educational resources, community events, and live cacao ceremonies while directly contributing to the Maya communities through our 2% for the Farmers Program.
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Plant a Cacao Tree: For just €4.50, you can add a Baby Cacao Tree to your order, which will be planted by us during our visits to Belize, helping to regenerate the land and support local families.
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Share the Message: The more people who understand the importance of ethically sourced cacao, the bigger the impact we can make together.
A Future Rooted in Love, Reciprocity & Reconciliation
At Herbal Cacao, reciprocity and reconciliation are more than just words—they are a way of life. They guide our actions, shape our relationships, and inspire us to create a positive social and environmental impact that transcends generations
By choosing Herbal Cacao, you are joining a global movement that empowers indigenous communities, nurtures the Earth, and honours the sacred traditions of cacao. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Together, we are creating a conscious new world of heart centred living making a meaningful difference—one tree, one cup, and one sip at a time.
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