OUR Cacao
Indigenous Maya family farmers
Our Ceremonial Cacao is ethically sourced from Indigenous Maya families in southern Belize and the highlands of Guatemala. These families preserve sacred farming practices, passed down through generations for thousands of years, rooted in the profound traditions and wisdom of the Maya people.
With deep reverence and love, this cacao is shared within their communities and offered in ceremonies to honor the energies of creation. Since ancestral times, the medicine of cacao has been used to express gratitude to the universe and remains an integral part of Maya culture. It continues to sustain the interconnected layers of human development, embodying a legacy of connection, spirituality, and cultural resilience.
CEREMONIAL GRADE CACAO
Ceremonial Cacao holds profound importance for the Maya people, who believe it was a sacred gift from the gods to infuse spirit and essence into the human body. Considered a symbol of life and fertility, cacao nurtures physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. With gratitude to Mother Earth for its nourishment and reverence for the cosmos, ceremonial cacao has long connected the Maya to the divine.
In their sacred rituals, cacao was first offered back to the Earth, honoring the energy that sustains existence. It was then consumed as a sacred elixir to deepen connections to the heart, foster unity with ancestors, and strengthen bonds with the cosmos. For the Maya, cacao is also a powerful tool for healing and fostering social and communal ties, a tradition that continues to this day.
With this same love and respect, ceremonial cacao is shared in communities and offered in ceremonies to honor the energies of creation, carrying forward its role as a sacred bridge between humanity, nature, and the divine. Click here to read more about Cacao Ceremonies.
MAYA MOUNTAIN - BELIZE
Our cacao from Belize is sourced from around 400 indigenous Maya family farmers, representing two Maya nations: Mopan and Q’eqchi. These farmers come from the Maya Mountains, the least-developed and most rural region of Belize. Here, the ancient native criollo variety of cacao thrives naturally on sacred lands, where 100% pure ceremonial-grade cacao has been farmed for generations.
The cacao tree is considered sacred by the Maya and is locally known as “Cucu” in the Q’eqchi Nation. Cacao flourishes in the rich biodiversity of the Maya Mountains, growing harmoniously alongside banana, avocado, coconut, cashew, and vanilla trees. When a new cacao tree is planted, a ceremony is held, and the local spiritual leader seeks permission from the energies of existence for the prosperity and abundance of high-quality cacao beans.
The harvest season spans from January to June, and again around October and November, when temperatures are cooler. Freshly harvested, unfermented cacao beans are collected by a 100% Belizean Maya team and taken to the centralized fermentation center in the Toledo District. The beans undergo a careful three-stage sun-drying process, after which they are hand-sorted to ensure the highest quality and flavor consistency.
Maya Mountain Cacao is a social enterprise run by a small, dedicated Belizean Maya team. It was the first of its kind in the country to purchase unfermented cacao directly from indigenous family farmers. The team focuses on quality at every stage—starting from the raw beans through fermentation and drying. This commitment enables them to pay farmers much better than the local market rate, providing consistent and fair compensation throughout the year. The enterprise aims to support the flourishing of Maya communities, empower women farmers toward financial independence, and create a positive environmental and social impact in the underdeveloped southern region of Belize.
Lachua - Guatemala
Our cacao from Guatemala is sourced from indigenous Q’eqchi’ Maya families, many of whom live off the grid in the highlands around Laguna Lachuá, a pristine cenote lake. This region has been home to native cacao trees for thousands of years, growing in perfect harmony with other local crops such as honey, cardamom, and corn, which subtly enhance the flavor of this rare and fine cacao bean. Everything on their lands is grown sustainably and in high biodiversity, creating the ideal conditions for cacao to thrive.
The Q’eqchi’ communities have long been the guardians of the sacredness of cacao, preserving their ceremonial practices despite centuries of suppression. These communities, in collaboration with organizations like the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), FUNDALACHUA, and FundaSistemas, have worked tirelessly to protect the sacred land around Laguna Lachuá and defend it from the encroachment of industries like palm oil. Their shared goal is to safeguard the lagoon and improve the quality of life for their people.
Generations of Maya family farmers pass down their knowledge of sacred plants, honoring “La Madre Tierra” in their farming practices. They uphold sustainable farming on highly biodiverse lands throughout their community, ensuring that the cacao remains a vital part of their cultural and ecological heritage.
Criollo & HEIRLOOM
Criollo cacao is an heirloom variety, often referred to as the “Queen of Cacao” and only makes up around 5% of the world’s cacao production. Heirloom cacao beans are truly the diamonds of the cacao tree, producing the finest and best of the best of the world’s cacao. For cacao to be designated Heirloom they have to be endowed with a combination of historic, cultural, botanical, geographical and flavour value. In 2015Maya Mountain cacao was designated Heirloom Cacao by the Heirloom Preservation Project (HCP) for a set of farms in the villages of San Antonio, Santa Elena, and Pueblo Viejo, in the Toledo District of Belize. It also has the distinction of being one of the top 20 cacaos in the world!
giving back
We at Herbal Cacao believe in more than just profit. We believe in the power of giving back and strengthening the communities that inspire our journey. That’s why, in addition to creating exceptional products, we are committed to making a positive impact on the world around us.
Our commitment to fairness surpasses traditional Fairtrade standards. We believe in doing more, and we’ve taken clear steps to ensure that our practices reflect this. Our pricing structure exceeds the standard market price, ensuring that on average, we pay 125% more than the West African commodity price for the cacao we source.
But our efforts don’t stop there. We are dedicated to creating a ripple effect of positive change through our Reciprocity program. When we visit the Maya communities, we personally donate a portion of our profits and actively support programs that focus on cacao farming in high biodiversity, land preservation, and the safeguarding of Maya traditions and culture.
Replantation
We also run an initiative where, for every order, you have the option to purchase a baby cacao tree, which we will personally plant during our visits to Belize’s indigenous Maya communities. These communities have suffered land losses due to wildfires, and we are committed to helping restore their sacred lands.
Our visits strengthen our connection with the indigenous Maya farmers, who, through mutual support, uphold the ancient sustainable cacao farming practices. Together, we work to sustain these practices, ensuring that every part of the supply chain is linked in a circle of community empowerment and environmental sustainability.
By choosing our products, you are not only enjoying high-quality Ceremonial Cacao but also actively contributing to positive change. Together, we can surpass the traditional Fairtrade model and make a meaningful difference in the lives of the Maya communities we cherish.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
