Cacao is the foundation of all chocolates. But the history of cacao is far ancient than that of chocolate. As cacao ceremonies gain popularity across the world, lets understand them in the context of cacao’s unique history and chemistry.
The heart of all existence
The cultivation and use of Cacao can be traced back to more than 4000 years in the Mesoamerican cultures comprising of the Olmec, Mayan and Aztec civilizations. These civilizations existed and thrived in regions of modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvadore and Belize. The ancient Mayan word of Cacao was Kakawa and it was considered a precious gift from the Gods. There are many Mayan legends around cacao. In one, it was believed that the Gods created humanity and then gifted them with cacao. In another one, Gods used cacao to create humanity itself. Then there is one in which it was believed that Gods bled into cacao, making it sacred. All these legends clearly link human existence to cacao, making cacao an intrinsic part of these ancient civilizations.
Bitter Water
The Aztecs had a word “xocolatl” pronounced as “sh-oc-alatl” which means “bitter water” in the Nahuatl language. This word is important because it tells us how cacao was consumed in these ancient cultures. It was by mixing ground cacao with water. It was also common to add maize to it as well as other ingredients like flowers and spices depending on the occasion. Cacao was an essential part of all ceremonies, be it birth, funerals, weddings, festivals, feasts etc. It was offered to the Gods and consumed by the elite for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. But it was not just an ancient version of a superfood. Cacao was sacred, holy, magical and was believed to lift spirits. It is possible that these ancient people observed certain after-effects of cacao that coincided with/ confirmed its sacred status. Today with the help of science we can explain all that happens to our brain and body after we consume cacao. But these ancient people learnt about all the qualities of cacao from experience.
Ancient Cacao Ceremonies
So, what was a cacao ceremony? Well, these ancient cultures did not have any one specific cacao ceremony, for the simple reason that cacao was by its very nature a part of all important ceremonies and with the kind of stature it was assigned, these ancient people did not require to categorise cacao as “ordinary” and “ceremonial” because cacao was never ordinary. It was always special and sacred – a gift from the Gods. There were many ways to prepare cacao, but it was always in a liquid form. In religious ceremonies, cacao preparation was presided over by priests and shamans. For especial occasions involving the uppermost echelons of the society, there are accounts of a special frothy cacao drink which was prepared by pouring cacao mixed with water multiple times, from one vessel into the other from a height, creating froth in the drink. This was done right before serving the drink so that it was frothy and bubbly at the right time. There are many such accounts of preparation and consumption of cacao during ceremonies and important events. But, there never was any one single cacao ceremony.
Modern day Cacao Ceremonies and Ceremonial Cacao
In modern times, cacao ceremonies have become quite popular. But when there are no accounts of any one specific cacao ceremony in the ancient texts, where do these modern cacao ceremonies originate from? The use of cacao evolved over time. The world underwent a tremendous change over these thousands of years. But some of the descendants of these ancient people continued their connection with cacao and performing ceremonies using it as a medium to connect with their roots, gods and ancestors. These descendants also shared their ways and ceremonies with people from other parts of the world who added their own touches and interpretations to them.
The modern day cacao ceremonies have very little resemblance to the ceremonies performed by the ancient Mesoamericans. While consumption of cacao is central to these ceremonies, they do not involve worship of any specific Gods or deities and are more secular and spiritual in nature. They often involve bonfire, meditation, breathwork, music, sound bath, grounding, mindfulness, dance etc. The purposes of these ceremonies could depend on the preferences and intentions of the participants. But typically, these ceremonies are conducted to help participants go deeper within themselves, reach a meditative state, recognize and understand feelings, remove mental or energy blocks and overall create a safe space for self expression.
Even though these ceremonies are nothing like the ancient ceremonies, they definitely stem from the faith in the restorative powers of cacao. Often conducted with a group of people, a typical cacao ceremony would involve consuming cacao in the form of a warm drink made out of cacao and water. A natural sweetener like honey or raw sugar could be added to balance the flavours. The idea of a cacao ceremony is not to have a “chocolate drink”, but to consume cacao for all its natural goodness and hence the drinks are kept as simple as possible. This drink of cacao and water is bitter, fruity, acidic and will have numerous other notes of cacao in all their glory.
What is Ceremonial Cacao and how to choose?
There are many sellers that label their cacao as “Ceremonial Grade”, but there are no specific legal guidelines of certification for ceremonial grade cacao. So, this label could be deceptive. However, there are still certain criterion that you could keep in mind before purchasing cacao for a ceremony.
Organic / organically grown - It is important to buy cacao that is certified as “organic”. However, there are many farms that grow their produce organically, without actually obtaining an organic certification for a variety of reasons including that these certifications are expensive. So, if you are aware that the cacao is grown organically then that should be sufficient too.
No additives and sweeteners – Make sure that the cacao is absolutely clean of any additives and preservatives like lecithin, sweeteners, artificial flavours etc.
Grown ethically – While we understand that this may not be an information easily available to you when you are making purchases, but you could always reach out to your seller and ask questions to gain better insight into the growing of cacao.
The chemistry of cacao
Now, let us explore some of the prominent compounds / chemicals available in cacao and that will explain why people engage in these ceremonies in the first place. Apart from being a food dense in nutrition, specifically minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, cacao also contains numerous compounds that aid in achieving relaxation and focus.
One of the most well-known compounds present in cacao is Theobromine which also lends cacao its scientific name – Theobroma Cacao. Theobromine is a stimulant of the nervous system and provides gentle alertness for a sustained period of time. In addition, to this, cacao also contains a minute quantity of caffeine that further enhances the stimulating effect. Theobromine widens the blood vessels which aids better circulation of blood. This also leads to one feeling relaxed, open and expansive – a state conducive to deeper inner work / state.
Cacao also contains Tyrosine and Tryptophan which trigger production of dopamine and serotonin respectively. These happy hormones are responsible for inducing feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, wellbeing and help regulate anxiety. Cacao is rich in magnesium, which yet again aids the muscle and nerve functions , calms the nervous system and reduces stress levels.
Another substance present in Cacao– “Anandamide” is a neurotransmitter and derives its name from the Sanskrit word “Ananda”, which means bliss. Anandamide has the function of binding with cannabinoid receptors in our brain and generate feelings of happiness and joy. Interestingly, our brain also produces anandamide, which however is broken down rather quickly by an enzyme known as hydrolase. Cacao also contains substances that slow the process of breaking down of Anandamide, thereby prolonging its effect.
All these components of cacao working together give an overall effect focussed and aware relaxation, joyfulness, feelings of bliss, love and a sense of opening up.
It is however, to be borne in mind that the effects of cacao will vary from person to person and it ought to be consumed in moderation like any other food to to draw its complete benefits and avoid any harmful effects.
How to prepare Ceremonial Cacao?
A ceremonial dose of cacao is typically about 35-40 grams of cacao and the quantity of water will depend on your preferred consistency of the drink. We use one of our 40 gram cacao per cup for our cacao experiences.
The most basic way of preparing ceremonial cacao is to take the cacao of your choice in the desired quantity, pour hot water over it and use a whisk or a wooden churner (the one used to make buttermilk in Indian kitchens) to mix the cacao and water. Depending on the kind of cacao product you are using one or two more steps could be added to the procedure. For instance, if the cacao you are using comes in a bigger single block (like ours which comes in a disc shape), you would be required to cut the required quantity of cacao and chop it finely before you add the water. You could add a small quantity of jaggery / raw sugar / honey to this drink.
Some tips for making the cacao drink:
- Do not boil the water. Let it heat up till you see bubbles forming at the bottom of the pan. At this stage the temperature of water is about 70 degrees Celsius . Boiling water will make the cacao drink bitter and will also destroy some of the nutrients.
- Wooden churner as mentioned above works better than a whisk. The churner helps the cacao to completely dissolve in the water and also makes a frothy drink.
Make cacao a part of your routine
Chocolate is often linked closely with feeling good, being in love and an overall feeling of wellbeing. When it comes to commercial chocolates, a lot of it is fluffy marketing. But most of it is true for pure cacao or pure cacao based products. While participating in cacao ceremonies is a matter of personal choice, we believe that one can always create their own little routines which can be their personal ceremonies and rituals. It could be anything – a short meditation, journaling, practicing affirmations and gratitude, yoga, breathing exercises, relaxing bath etc. Similarly, one could have a cacao ceremony right at home as their own little ritual. It could just involve preparing a cup of warm, nourishing drink of cacao with care and attention and sipping it in silence while tasting all its glorious flavours and notes and feeling it running down your throat and filling you up with its warmth and goodness.
A ritual or not, cacao makes for a great addition to your diet as it is known to positively impact physical and mental health. So be it overwhelming deadlines or a slump in your energy, try a drink made out of pure cacao. It will soothe your stressed mind and body yet giving you the focus you need.
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