Many of us are searching for ways to reconnect with ourselves, reduce stress, and enhance our overall well-being. Despite the plethora of modern wellness products available, there’s a growing interest in returning to ancient, natural remedies that have stood the test of time. One such remedy is ceremonial cacao, but with so much misinformation and low-quality products on the market, it’s hard to know where to start
You’re likely familiar with chocolate, but did you know that the highly processed chocolate we commonly consume is far removed from its ancient roots? The ceremonial cacao used by the Maya, Aztecs, and Olmecs was a sacred plant medicine, revered for its ability to heal the physical, emotional, and spiritual body. Unfortunately, most of the cacao on the market today is grown in conditions that exploit workers and harm the environment. Moreover, without proper knowledge, one might miss out on the profound benefits that true ceremonial cacao offers.
Mijn naam is Sharon Fernie en ik ben de oprichter van Herbal Cacao, dat de wereld voorziet van hoogwaardige medicinale ceremoniële cacaomelanges. Onze missie is om onze gemeenschap te ondersteunen in hun reis van zelf- en spirituele ontdekking. Ik heb een diepe passie voor holistisch welzijn en oude tradities. Door middel van Herbal Cacao, wil ik het bewustzijn verspreiden over de diepgaande voordelen van ceremoniële cacao en andere geneeskrachtige kruiden en paddenstoelen. Ik streef ernaar een ruimte te creëren waar individuen zich op een dieper niveau met zichzelf en elkaar kunnen verbinden, om de liefde te zijn, de liefde te delen en de liefde te verspreiden.
Vergezel me hier in de "Herbal Cacao Journaal" als we de fascinerende wereld van onze actieve medicinale ingrediënten, cacao rituelen, oude genezingspraktijken en moderne wellness-technieken verkennen. Of je nu een doorgewinterde beoefenaar bent of net begint met je reis, deze blogpost in het "Herbal Cacao Journal" is jouw uitnodiging om je begrip van deze heilige plant en haar diepgaande invloed op lichaam, geest en ziel te verdiepen. Laten we samen aan deze reis beginnen en een gemeenschap cultiveren die geworteld is in liefde, genezing en spiritueel onderzoek.
Ontvang nu je gratis e-book
So, What is Ceremonial Cacao Exactly?
Ceremonial Grade Cacao is a sacred beverage from the ancient Maya lands. Cacao is native to Meso-America and has been used by ancient civilizations like the Olmecs, Aztecs, and Maya for thousands of years as a profound plant medicine to heal the physical, emotional, and spiritual body.
The Ancient Maya and Cacao
Today, we know cacao more as the main ingredient in chocolate, but our ancestors from the ancient Maya lands didn’t use cacao for chocolates. The Maya didn’t even know what chocolate was! It was actually the Dutch who invented that, and cacao and chocolate are definitely not the same thing. But that’s a whole other blog post. To understand what Ceremonial Grade Cacao actually is, we need to delve into the Maya culture and history.
The ancient Maya are native to the regions we know today as Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. They have a fascinating history of using cacao. Evidence and stories reveal that the Maya used cacao as a sacred beverage in most, if not all, of their rituals and ceremonies.
“Food of the Gods”
The Maya believed cacao was gifted by their feathered serpent god to humans—a gift to feel our hearts’ energy more profoundly. The cacao grows natively on their lands from the original strain, on a tree known as the “Theobroma Cacao Tree.” This tree remains sacred to most indigenous people in the ancient Maya lands. The scientific name is Theobroma (Theo=God, Broma=Food). The Theobroma Cacao tree bears fruits known as cacao pods. Inside these pods are seeds, which are the actual cacao beans.
The Maya have been consuming this “food of the gods” for thousands of years by grinding the cacao beans and mixing them with water, creating the sacred (slightly bitter) beverage we refer to as 100% pure ceremonial grade cacao. Sometimes, spices were added to enhance the flavor or to augment other healing properties depending on the use.
This sacred cacao drink was shared in the community for all sorts of ceremonies and rituals. They deeply believed in the plant spirit “Espiritu Cacao” (also referred to as mother cacao) to help heal the physical, emotional, and spiritual body. From weddings and baptisms to warriors before heading to war, to shamanistic ceremonies for the elite—this sacred cacao beverage was used extensively. Medicine women used it to help with upset stomachs or provided it after childbirth for extra nutrition for the mother.
One thing is for sure: the Maya loved cacao and worshipped it highly for its nourishing, heart-opening, and bliss-inducing properties.
The Difference Between Ceremonial Grade Cacao and Regular Chocolate
Ceremonial Grade Cacao is not to be confused with 100% pure chocolate you can find in the supermarket. Chocolate is the highly processed form of cacao. But the difference between regular cacao and ceremonial grade goes further. Ceremonial cacao is made from the whole cacao bean. These beans undergo a fermentation process necessary for cultivating their flavor profile and activating certain natural compounds. The beans are then cracked and stone-ground by traditional means. No further processing, temperature rises, or tempering—just 100% natural cacao beans. Read this blog post in the Herbal Cacao Journal to learn more about the diffrence.
The Dark Side of Cacao Production
There is a very dark side to cacao production in our world. Cacao grows natively and in perfect harmony in biodiversity in the ancient Maya lands. To meet the demand for chocolate, cacao has been taken to West Africa, where almost 90% of the world’s cacao comes from. Here, the plant spirit is not honored and grown on large farms with low quality, depleting our Mother Earth. The cacao farmers here are underpaid, and much child labor is involved.
Herbal Cacao has made it a mission to provide products with an extremely high nutritional value of the highest quality from what Mother Nature can provide us while supporting organic, sustainable agroforestry and the indigenous life of the Maya cacao farmers. We collaborate only with sustainable companies that have a dedication to the environment, stand 100% behind the purity of the ingredients, and honor the plant spirit, thus creating a positive social and environmental impact.
By going beyond fair trade (Transparent-Trade) and paying the farmers above market value for their precious cacao, we can protect the indigenous lifestyle of the Maya people and the high-quality, fine-flavored cacao industry, ensuring a positive effect throughout the supply chain.
Teruggeven
Know where your cacao comes from. Ensure you are buying from someone that is transparent and honors sustainable, organic farming. By showing your respect for the sacred beverage, you honor the plant spirit, Mother Earth, and indigenous cacao farmers.
Through Herbal Cacao, we invite you to join us in this movement. By choosing ceremonial grade cacao, you not only support your own wellness journey but also contribute to a more sustainable and ethical world. Let’s honor the ancient wisdom of the Maya and transform our lives with the heart-opening power of ceremonial cacao.
Bedankt voor het lezen van mijn blogpost in ons Herbal Cacao Journal.
Voel je vrij om dit bericht te delen met iedereen van wie je denkt dat hij of zij er baat bij kan hebben om dit te lezen.
Met liefde,
Sharon Fernie,– Oprichter Herbal Cacao
NL 
EN 
DE 
IT 
ES