What is ceremonial cocoa?

Ceremonial cocoa is characterized by purity and respectful cultivation. Here we explain which cocoa should be used for a cocoa ceremony.

Yogalehrerin aus Berlin trinkt zeremoniellen Kakao von Moruga

How is ceremonial cocoa made?

In chocolate jargon, the basic ingredient is called cocoa mass or cocoa liqueur. The cocoa mass consists of 100% ground cocoa beans. I will use another example to explain to you what ceremonial cocoa is and how it is made.ird.

Cocoa mass production similar to almond butter or peanut butter

You certainly know almond butter. Almond butter is made by shelling almonds and then grinding them in stone rollers. Almonds consist of about half fat (like all nuts). This almond fat becomes liquid when ground. The result is a viscous, creamy mass: the almond butter.

Cocoa liquor is created by grinding cocoa nibs

Cocoa liquor is made in the same way as almond butter and peanut butter. Like a nut, the cacao bean consists half of fat, the cacao butter. For production, the cocoa beans are first roasted, then broken into small pieces, and then the cocoa shells are separated from the cocoa nibs. The slivers of the cocoa bean are then ground into small pieces in stone rollers for three days. We add a pinch of salt for a round taste - done.

Cocoa liquor melts at body temperature

The only difference to the nut butter: the fat contained in the cocoa mass, the cocoa butter, hardens below 38C. That's why we only know chocolate in the best case as a bar, not as a mush (unless the chocolate has been in the sun for too long)..

Learn more aboutProduction of our ceremonial cocoa.

Herstellung von zeremoniellem Kakao indem Kakaobohnen zwischen Granit gemahlen werden

Ceremony cocoa preparation

Ceremonial cocoa is most often prepared with hot water and spices. Some prefer to use oat milk or almond milk instead of water for the preparation. However, the basic ingredient is always 100% cocoa mass without any sugar, without sweeteners, without lecithins and without artificial flavors.

Cocoa can be sweetened afterwards for ceremonies

If you like it sweet, you can sweeten your ceremonial cocoa afterwards with honey or agave syrup. Sometimes the cocoa mass is also mixed with dates in smoothie blenders to make the drink sweeter. Above all, many appreciate the tart, bitter taste of pure cocoa without any additives.

Here we write in more detail about thePreparation of ceremonial cocoa.

The cocoa ritual in the indigenous tradition of South America

The natives of South America have been drinking their cocoa in a spiritual context for centuries. The word chocolate probably comes from the Aztecn “Xokolatl”, which is often translated as bitter brown drink. Cacao was revered as a medicinal plant and served on special occasions. The bitter, brown drink was usually mixed with chilies, cinnamon and honey and whipped together with cornmeal until fluffy. To this day, ritual cocoa is said to have healing effects.n.

TheMedicinal plant cocoa

Many people who are looking for ritual cocoa or who work with ritual cocoa in a spiritual context attribute a spirit to cocoa, the cocoa spirit. Most indigenous traditions and native religions believe that plants are conscious, and of course cacao is no exception.

Intentions when enjoying ritual cocoa

That is why many people who have their first experiences with ritual cocoa fully engage in this encounter. They think in advance what their intention is for this cocoa session. Even if ritual cocoa is a very gentle medicinal plant, it is worth approaching it consciously and with an open mind. Of course, the intentions do not have to be expressed or formulated. A conscious and open mindset is enough to get a positive experience from the cocoa journey.

Zeremonieller Kakao von Moruga wird nach Yoga getrunken

Ceremonial cocoa cultivation

The terms "ceremonial cocoa", "ritual cocoa" or "ceremony cocoa" are not official designations. Even the term "raw cacao" is often used in the context of cacao ceremonies, although it is actually incorrect. Because in the indigenous traditions of Central America, cocoa is always roasted to elicit special aromas and its spiritual effect. MoreYou can find information about raw cocoa here.

Cocoa for spiritual purposes must be sustainably sourced

Anyone who wants to drink cocoa in a spiritual context should source it from ethical and sustainable sources. When purchasing ritual cocoa, care should therefore be taken to ensure a transparent supply chain. In addition, the cocoa trees shouldmixed forests be planted, because this is the most sustainable way of growing cocoa.

How much does sustainable ceremonial cocoa cost?

Ceremonial cocoa from sustainable sources costs at least 50 per kilogram. High-quality raw cocoa beans are traded in Europe for 6 to 14 per kilogram. After peeling you lose up to 30% weight, so that the pure material value is already 10 - 20 per kilogram. In addition, the production, packaging and transport must be paid for. Cheap cocoa powders from Amazon & Co are by no means fully-fledged medicinal plants and are not recommended for cocoa ceremonies.hlen.

Anbau von zeremoniellem Kakao

This is where the high-quality fine flavor cocoa growsPorcelana on the finca "La Rioja" in Mexico.

Ceremonial cocoa for creativity and inspiration.

The first Europeans who got to know cocoa were also enthusiastic about the positive effects it had on body and mind. The poet Goethe and the discoverer Humboldt, for example, were big fans. Goethe drank his cocoa every morning and often wrote in letters and in his diary how much he helped him to write.

Cocoa used to be more popular than coffee

There were chocolate houses all over Europe even before coffee houses became popular. Back then, the drink made from pure cocoa mass and water was called chocolate, because the bars to eat didn't even exist yet.t.

Chocolate as we know it is an industrial product

Only later, in the course of industrialization, was chocolate increasingly diluted with milk powder and sugar in order to be able to cover the high demand and make it accessible to ordinary citizens. The cocoa powder and drinking chocolate powders that we find on supermarket shelves today are the pinnacle of food industrialization. The cocoa powder is a by-product of cocoa butter production and is therefore sold so cheaply.

In this blog article we write howGoethe and many other creative geniuses Kakao for inspiration and for writing used.

Zeremonieller Kakao von Moruga wird aus einer Schale getrunken

Moruga Cacao produces sustainable, high-quality cocoa mass.

We are now turning the tables and taking away all the bad things that industrialization has given us.

Moruga trades cocoa beans fairly and as directly as possible.
We only use fine flavor cocoapermaculture or agroforestry systems (no monocultures).
We don't add sugar, sweeteners, chemicals or any other nonsense to cocoa.
We gently roast the cocoa beans and pack them airtight so that the wonderful flavors of the fine flavor cocoa are preserved.

We learned a lot from our friends in the specialty coffee scene. With our cocoa you will not only be inspired at your cocoa ceremony or during your meditation, but you will also be able to celebrate a culinary experience.

You would like to try ceremonial cocoa, for example for a cocoa ceremony or as a small cocoa ritual in addition to breathing exercises, yoga or meditation?

Here you canof our bars made from 100% ceremonial cocoa buy.