Cacao & Kanna Chronicles

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

A split cacao pod, dried cacao beans and a dish of whole cacao paste pieces in front of the Alma Cacao canister
ceremonial cacao

Cacao Powder Nutrition Facts: What the Label Shows and What Gets Pressed Out

Alma Cacao10 min read
Cacao powder nutrition facts per 100g: calories, fat, protein, fiber, magnesium and iron, plus the flavanols and cacao...
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Alma Cacao canister with a bowl of small whole cacao paste pieces and a mug of ceremonial cacao on a kitchen counter
baking

Can You Use Cacao Powder Instead of Cocoa Powder?

Alma Cacao8 min read
Can you use cacao powder instead of cocoa powder? Yes, one for one by weight, unless your recipe...
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Hands holding a clear cup lined with a cracked cacao shell filled with iced matcha latte, beside the Alma Cacao canister, a bowl of matcha and a bamboo whisk
ceremonial cacao

Cracking Cacao Matcha Latte (The Viral Shell, Made with 100% Cacao)

Alma Cacao6 min read
The viral cracking chocolate matcha latte, made with whole cacao paste instead of white chocolate. A cleaner snap,...
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A mug of mushroom cacao beside a spoon of mushroom extract powder, dried reishi and lion's mane and whole cacao paste pieces
ceremonial cacao

Mushroom Cacao: How to Make It Without the Clumps

Alma Cacao5 min read
Mushroom cacao made with whole cacao paste, which carries the fat soluble compounds and hides the bitterness. Plus...
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Hand rolled cacao truffles coated in nibs, coconut and cacao powder on a plate beside a bowl of whole cacao paste pieces
ceremonial cacao

Two-Ingredient Cacao Truffles (No Chocolate Bar Needed)

Alma Cacao5 min read
Cacao truffles made from whole cacao paste and cream. No melted chocolate bar, no added coconut oil, no...
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A tall glass of iced ceremonial cacao over ice beside a jug of cacao base and small pieces of whole cacao paste
ceremonial cacao

Iced Ceremonial Cacao (Without the Grit)

Alma Cacao4 min read
Iced cacao made properly with whole cacao paste. Melt it first, emulsify, then chill, so the cacao butter...
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Cinnamon ceremonial cacao frothed in a clay jarrito mug with a molinillo, cinnamon sticks and whole cacao paste pieces
ceremonial cacao

Mexican Cinnamon Ceremonial Cacao (Traditional Water Method)

Alma Cacao5 min read
Cinnamon cacao made the traditional way with whole cacao paste, hot water, cinnamon and salt. Five minutes, one...
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A mug of pumpkin spice ceremonial cacao dusted with cinnamon beside a bowl of pumpkin puree and whole cacao paste pieces
ceremonial cacao

Pumpkin Spice Ceremonial Cacao (Made with Whole Cacao Paste)

Alma Cacao5 min read
Pumpkin spice cacao built on whole cacao paste and real pumpkin puree, not cocoa powder. Silkier, barely sweet,...
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A stoneware mug of freshly whisked ceremonial cacao beside the Alma Cacao canister and a wooden spoon of whole cacao paste pieces
ceremonial cacao

Ceremonial Cacao vs Matcha: Which Morning Ritual Actually Fits You?

Alma Cacao10 min read
Ceremonial cacao vs matcha: theobromine is fat soluble and slow, caffeine with L-theanine is fast. What the research...
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Alma Cacao canister with a steaming cup of ceremonial cacao
founder story

Alma Cacao in The Argonaut: From the Peruvian Amazon to the Westside

Alma Cacao1 min read
The Argonaut, the Westside's community paper, profiled Alma Cacao: the Mount Shasta retreat where it began, the women...
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Dr. Erika Siegel in her kitchen, fresh herbs and greens on the counter, the kitchen as a healing space
community voices

Community Voices: Dr. Erika Siegel and the Kitchen as a Healing Space

Alma Cacao6 min read
A profile of Dr. Erika Siegel, the Portland naturopathic physician, mother and author behind the Nourish Me Kitchen...
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Whole cacao paste pieces melting in a stoneware bowl over a water bath beside the Alma Cacao canister, making chocolate without cacao powder
ceremonial cacao

How to Make Chocolate from Cacao Powder (and Why Whole Paste Works Better)

Alma Cacao9 min read
How to make chocolate from cacao powder: exact ratios, tempering temperatures, and why whole cacao paste skips the...
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