Ceremonial Cacao FAQs

What makes your cacao ceremonial grade?

Over more than a decade of asking the Ceremonial Cacao question ourselves, we’ve made it our mission to discover, define and refine our understanding of what differentiates Ceremonial Cacao from the standard stuff.

Are there any contraindications to consuming Ceremonial Cacao?

The following guidelines are suggestions only. We do not offer medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your personal health and the use of cacao, please consult a doctor.

Is there Lead & Cadmium in SEM Ceremonial Cacao?

We test every batch of Ceremonial Cacao for heavy metal toxicity - including lead, cadmium and all kinds of mycotoxins. The result? All clear! Lab results inside...

My Cacao has arrived in a melted / heat affected state, is it still good to consume?

Oh no! This can happen sometimes during the hotter months of the year. It has simply melted in transport. It is neither off, nor bad nor mouldy. Your Cacao is still good!

What bean variety is your cacao?

We source a rare and award-winning variety of cacao native to Southern Peru

Is our cacao raw?

Our cacao is not raw and there’s an important reason for this.

What dosage do you recommend?

Start with a test dose of 25g to check your sensitivity and build up over time.

Can you drink too much cacao and too often?

There’s a line you can cross with drinking too much cacao and drinking it too often.

Does your cacao contain caffeine?

Most cacao contains high amounts of caffeine, but our ceremonial grade cacao comes from the chuncho criollo bean which is known to be low in caffeine. A ceremonial dose of our cacao has the equivalent levels of caffeine that you’d find in one cup of green tea.

How do I store my cacao?

Sacred Earth Medicine cacao is best stored in an air-tight, dry container, in a cool place away from the sun.

How long does your cacao last?

Our cacao is lab-tested to last over two years.

What is the difference between cacao paste, cacao butter and cacao powder?

Cacao paste is a complete, whole bean form of cacao. It retains all the nutritional goodness and spiritual integrity. In contrast, cacao butter and cacao powder are not whole bean products.

Is our cacao Fair Trade?

Our ethos is to ensure everyone involved with our business, at any stage of the supply chain, is looked after and shares in the abundance.

My cacao is crumbly and whitish, is there something wrong with it? (Cacao Bloom)

Rest assured, there’s nothing wrong with your cacao. If you’ve opened your fresh block from Sacred Earth Medicine and it looks whitish and crumbly, don’t worry! This is a totally normal effect known as bloom.

Tell me more about Pregnancy, Birth & Breastfeeding and Ceremonial Cacao

The following guidelines are suggestions only. We do not offer medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your personal health and the use of cacao, please consult a doctor.

I have a sample pack of SEM Ceremonial Cacao, how do I use it?

The best thing to do with your sample pack is to make it into a Sacred Hot Chocolate. Its simple to make, all you need is some just boiled water and your favourite sweetener. We believe honey works best with SEM Ceremonial Cacao. Read on for how to prepare a delicious hot chocolate like no other!