Cacao holds a special place in indigenous cultures and has been taken for its healing benefits for thousands of years. It is entwined with shamanic practices, where it is seen as a conduit to the spirit world and is often referred to as the “Food of the Gods” for its dual nature.

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Cacao is rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. It increases blood flow to the brain which helps to strengthen awareness and focus. It can improve your mood and support heart health. It helps the body to heal, detoxify, and to give your immune system a good boost. I have personally found that it helps to regulate the nervous system and bring you into balance.

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Since my introduction to cacao at a Cacao Ceremony I attended in September 2022, I have started almost every day since with a cup of ceremonial cacao. This sacred practice has helped me more than I could ever have imagined.

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Cacao's spiritual properties are believed to open the heart and facilitate introspection, connecting individuals with their inner selves.

Indigenous communities throughout the Americas hold Cacao in high esteem, respecting it as a sacred gift from nature. This deep reverence extends to the way Cacao is harvested, prepared and consumed.​

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The most well known varieties of cacao are Criollo, Trinitario and Forastero. I use the lesser known, but highly revered variety that is the Chuncho strand. This is native to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest and is the strand that was such a sacred part of my friend and mentor Erika's family lineage. The Chuncho strand is generally celebrated for its pure and ancient lineage, preserving the essence of Cacao’s natural habitat in the Cusco region of Peru where Erika was born and raised.

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It is extremely important when purchasing cacao that you do this from a reputable seller as a lot of the cacao on the market has been mixed with other lower-grade, genetically altered, or hybridized cacao. The cacao that I work with  is harvested from a small farm who have held on to the sacred indigenous traditions which make cacao such a powerful healing medicine.