Chuncho cacao contains about 5mg of caffeine per gram of cacao paste. That makes a ceremonial dose of SEM cacao similar in caffeine levels to a cup of green tea. This is less than regular tea and far less than coffee.
The main stimulant in our cacao is Theobromine, a “sister” molecule to caffeine. Theobromine is a cardiovascular stimulant whereas caffeine is a nervous system stimulant. When you drink coffee, or highly caffeinated products, it can be difficult to concentrate because the nervous system is over-active. In comparison, when you’ve had a dose of our ceremonial cacao, your focus is enhanced.
Theobromine stimulates your cardiovascular system, producing up to 40% more blood flow around the body, to the brain and digestive system. It also activates the production of chemicals in the brain that boost concentration, including dopamine, serotonin, phenylethylamine (the love chemical) and anandamide (the bliss chemical). This makes ceremonial grade cacao a great support for focused activities like yoga, meditation and creative pursuits.