Cacao & Kanna Chronicles

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

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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A block of whole ceremonial cacao paste with shavings beside a bowl of defatted cacao powder, the two starting points for making chocolate from 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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A warm mug of ceremonial cacao beside an Alma Cacao canister and shaved whole cacao paste pieces, the brewed cacao alternative to coffee
ceremonial cacao

Brewed Cacao vs Coffee: What Theobromine Actually Does

Alma Cacao8 min read
Brewed cacao vs coffee: theobromine peaks slower and lasts near 10 hours while caffeine spikes and clears. What...
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An open Alma Cacao canister with a measuring spoon, a dish of shaved cacao paste pieces and a warm mug, showing a single ceremonial cacao serving
ceremonial cacao

How Much Ceremonial Cacao to Take: Dosing by Intention

Alma Cacao8 min read
Your ceremonial cacao dose depends on intention: 10 to 20g for a daily cup, about 42g for a...
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A block of whole cacao paste with shavings beside a bowl of defatted raw cacao powder
ceremonial cacao

Where to Buy Raw Cacao Powder: What to Check Before You Buy

Alma Cacao10 min read
Where to buy raw cacao powder: the six checks that matter, from non-alkalized processing and named origin to...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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 Cacao10 min read
Does cacao powder go bad? It rarely spoils, but it fades. Here is what degrades, how to store...
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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 and ground in lots small enough to trace. Here is how that...
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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...
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