Cacao Ceremony: What's True, What's Not, and What Cacao Actually Does

The Lie Everyone Repeats

A few years ago, when we had just transitioned from Cochoa to Oona, we were asked to do a cacao ceremony. Even then the imagery around cacao ceremony was something we weren't comfortable with. We kept saying that what we do is not a cacao ceremony. Just a question about cacao ceremony on chatgpt or claude yields the same answer: ancient Mayan or Aztec tradition or an ancient sacred ritual passed down thousands of years through indigenous lineages.

Let me address the truth right away. There is no such thing as a 'traditional' Mayan cacao ceremony. No lineage has been passed down. What exists as a cacao ceremony today - with the circle, dancing and more - did not exist in pre-Columbian times. So calling it ancient Mayan is simply false.

What the Ancients Actually Did

This doesn't mean the ancient people ignored cacao. They didn't. Cacao was consumed in ritualistic contexts by the Olmecs from as far back as 1500 BCE and it held real significance for the Maya and Aztec peoples after them. It was a part of marriages, births, burials and offerings to Gods. Similar to how coconut is a part of every small occasion in the Hindu culture. Cacao was currency. It was medicine. It was a communal drink.

But this was very different from the cacao ceremonies that are conducted today. It has no documented ancient equivalent. When the Spanish arrived in Central America in the 16th century, they brought cacao to Europe. Here it quickly became a commodity and lost the meaning it had for the ancient peoples.

Who Actually Started the Modern Cacao Ceremony

Keith Wilson was a geologist, herbalist and healer. He arrived in Guatemala and claimed the consciousness of the cacao plant spoke to him. He experimented with cacao for years to create what he called 'ceremonial grade cacao'. Mostly taken from 'ceremonial grade matcha'. He later began sharing this with people who came to his porch in San Marcos La Laguna. He called these gatherings cacao ceremonies. Again taking from tea ceremonies which the chado (the way of tea in Japanese) is known in the Western world. He slowly began being known as the chocolate shaman.

That's the actual origin. An American man in Guatemala in the early 2000s. There was no one cacao ceremony before this.

Why the "Ancient Tradition" Story Keeps Spreading

It simply sells better. Connecting a product or experience to thousands of years of ancient wisdom gives it weight, credibility and mystique. Before him, cacao was just an ingredient in their favourite dessert. No one knew and understood what cacao had stood for within indigenous communities. In some ways, he changed the meaning of cacao for the western world. It began to be associated with holiness and new age spiritualism with cacao ceremonies springing up in every part of the world.

In all my cynicism of cacao ceremonies, I still have to give him the credit for changing what cacao meant. It was not an ancient Mayan tradition and never will be no matter how much it is marketed as such. But there is an important thing that came out of all this. People are slowly beginning to see cacao for its benefits to live a better life. Beyond all the unnecessary noise, cacao is truly a drink for living.

The Cultural Appropriation Question

This matters, especially because it happens in Guatemala - a country where Maya people have faced centuries of exploitation. A western man sets up a spiritual business on their land, borrows the aesthetic of their culture, calls himself a shaman, and sells it to western tourists. Indigenous cultures have repeatedly called out not mentioning this as an ancient ceremony. Whether that is meaningful healing work or appropriation, or both, is a conversation worth having openly and honestly. Not one to sidestep or romanticise.

I often look at this like yoga. What was and what yoga is in the western world is quite different. Often because when taking something from the ancient, the west almost always only looks and takes what's on the surface. And I don't think we can blame them. A lot of these things are so deeply embedded within us because we are born and lived in these cultures that it might be very difficult for them to even get it. Especially coming from a culture that is deeply individualistic.

What Cacao Actually Does

Let's now simply look at what cacao does. Beyond ceremonies and the spiritual language, it is genuinely interesting from a biochemical standpoint.

Theobromine is the main active compound. It is a stimulant, not as strong as caffeine but longer lasting. Caffeine peaks in the blood within 30-40 minutes and has a half-life of 2.5-5 hours, while theobromine attains peak blood concentrations 2-3 hours after ingestion and has a half-life of 7-12 hours. It dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure mildly, and provides clean, sustained energy without the spike and crash of coffee.

Anandamide is sometimes called the bliss molecule. Cacao appears to inhibit the enzyme that breaks anandamide down, allowing more of it to circulate in the brain. Essentially, cacao doesn't just deliver anandamide, it protects it. The effect is subtle, not psychedelic.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) stimulates the release of norepinephrine and dopamine, and is linked to the euphoric feeling often associated with a runner's high. It is the same compound your brain produces when you fall in love. Whether the doses in cacao are high enough to cause noticeable effects is still debated.

Magnesium, flavanols and tryptophan round out the picture - supporting mood, circulation, and cognitive function in ways that are well-studied and real.

In simple terms, cacao brings a sense of balance. A state of awareness, not hyperactivity. Calm over anxiety. Bliss over worry. We look at it as a way toward long term vitality and longevity. No wonder the ancient people considered it to be so important.

The Bottom Line

Cacao has a genuine documented history of use across Mesoamerica. It also has genuine positive effects on the brain and body. A ritual around it does create mindful space for reflection and growth.

But the 'ancient Mayan ceremony' framing is completely wrong. The modern cacao ceremony has become a global wellness trend that conveniently hides truths behind borrowed cultural imagery.

We choose not to call what we do at Oona a ceremony. But if you want, call it that. Beyond the myths and marketing, simply having cacao is what is important.