Cacao & Kanna Chronicles

Soulful insights on ceremonial cacao, kanna and mindful living. Rituals, plant wisdom and slow mornings.

Alma Cacao canister and a steaming cup of ceremonial cacao beside a vintage podcast microphone and headphones
founder story

Sourced with Soul: Gonzalo on the Born or Made Podcast

Gonzalo Dieguez2 min read
Larry G. Dix II had Gonzalo on the Born or Made podcast to talk about rebuilding after the...
Read more
Ceremonial cacao being poured into ceramic cups beside two Alma Cacao canisters at The KINN elixir bar in Venice

Best Coworking Space in Venice Beach? Inside The KINN’s Community and Energy

GONZALO DIEGUEZ1 min read
The KINN: Where Work Becomes Energy There are coworking spaces… and then there are places that completely redefine...
Read more
Hands cradling a small ceramic bowl of thick, steaming ceremonial cacao on a rustic wooden table
ceremonial cacao

Theobromine Side Effects: What the Research Actually Shows

Alma Cacao9 min read
Theobromine side effects are dose dependent and mostly mild. What controlled human research shows about heart rate, mood,...
Read more
Whole cacao paste pieces beside a warm cup of ceremonial cacao and an airtight canister
ceremonial cacao

Does Cacao Powder Go Bad? Shelf Life, Storage, and What Actually Degrades

Alma Cacao9 min read
Does cacao powder go bad? It rarely spoils, but it fades. Here is what degrades, how to store...
Read more
Cacao beans drying on wooden beds at a small batch ceremonial cacao farm in Peru
ceremonial cacao

Small Batch vs Mass Produced Ceremonial Cacao: Why It Changes the Felt Effect

Alma Cacao9 min read
Small batch ceremonial cacao is fermented, ground, and lab tested lot by lot. Here is how that changes...
Read more
Two hands cupping shaved whole cacao paste pieces beside an Alma Cacao canister, the natural source of theobromine
ceremonial cacao

What Is Theobromine? Cacao's Gentle Stimulant, Explained

Alma Cacao8 min read
What is theobromine? Cacao's gentle, caffeine-like compound explained: how it differs from coffee, why it feels calm and...
Read more
Ripe red cacao pods hanging on trees in a sunlit Peruvian rainforest grove at sunrise
ceremonial cacao

Why Peruvian Ceremonial Cacao: Terroir, Varietal, and Fermentation

Alma Cacao8 min read
Why Peruvian ceremonial cacao stands apart: single-origin terroir, native criollo varietals, and traditional fermentation that shapes its smooth,...
Read more
A steaming ceramic mug of thick, opaque ceremonial cacao beside an Alma Cacao canister on a warm wooden table
beginners guide

What is Ceremonial Cacao? A Beginner's Guide

Alma Cacao8 min read
What is ceremonial cacao? It's the whole cacao bean ground to a paste with the cacao butter kept...
Read more
Cacao powder in a bowl next to whole cacao paste curls and nibs
cacao education

Cacao Paste vs Powder: What's the Real Difference?

Gonzalo Dieguez2 min read
If you've been comparing cacao paste and cacao powder, here's the short version. Paste is the whole cacao...
Read more
Cacao nibs vs cacao powder vs whole cacao paste shown side by side on a rustic wooden table
ceremonial cacao

Cacao Nibs vs Cacao Powder (vs Whole Paste): Which Is Better for You?

Alma Cacao7 min read
Cacao nibs vs cacao powder, and why whole cacao paste beats both. A clear look at fat, flavanols,...
Read more
The Wolf Moon bakery storefront in Bonita Springs, Florida
bonita springs

Wolf Moon Bakery: The Story of Clara Fasciglione

Alma Cacao4 min read
Meet Clara Fasciglione, the Argentine master baker behind Wolf Moon, the Naples and Bonita Springs bakery loved for...
Read more
How to Prepare Ceremonial Cacao: Traditional and Modern Methods
ceremonial cacao

How to Prepare Ceremonial Cacao: Traditional and Modern Methods

Alma Cacao7 min read
How to prepare ceremonial cacao at home: traditional and modern methods, the right dose, water temperature, and why...
Read more