Greetings from the Santa Barbara coast
Ceremonial Cacao in Carpinteria
Small pieces of ceremonial cacao paste, whisked warm for a Carpinteria morning and shipped from California.
- 4.95 from 22 reviews
- Order by 2 PM PT, ships same day
- 30-day money-back (unopened)
A small beach town, a slow cup
Carpinteria sits on the south coast of Santa Barbara County, where Linden Avenue runs straight down to the city beach and Palm Avenue ends at the state beach. In 1769 soldiers of the Portolá expedition watched Chumash people building wooden plank canoes here and named the place "the carpenter shop."
Mornings in town are quiet, and the bluff trail is a flat walk, which suits a warm cup. Alma Cacao is ceremonial cacao paste in small pieces, and it ships from California to your door.
- 1ingredient, nothing added
- ~1minto whisk a cup
- 4.95from 22 reviews
- 2%of every sale to For the Love of Mateo
Alma Ceremonial Cacao
Pure ceremonial cacao paste, single-origin from native communities of the Peruvian Amazon. Melt it into a warm cup on a slow morning, or pour it over ice on a hot afternoon. One ingredient, nothing added.
- 30-day money-back guarantee (unopened)
- Order by 2 PM Pacific, ships same day (Mon to Fri)
- Lab tested for heavy metals (ISO 17025 lab)
- 2% of every sale to For the Love of Mateo
Morning in Carpinteria
A Carpinteria morning, cup in hand
Average January lows sit near 43°F, so the first cup is a warm one, whisked at the counter and carried out to the porch. By August the average low is about 58°F and the average high about 74°F, which is iced cacao weather. In early summer a marine layer can sit over town until late morning, a fine reason to stay in with a mug while the sky clears.
Then walk. Carpinteria City Beach is at the foot of Linden Avenue and the state beach is at the foot of Palm Avenue, with tide pools at its western end and natural tar seeps at Tar Pits Park on the bluff. The Carpinteria Coastal Vista Trail leads to the bluff above the harbor seal rookery. The beach below is closed from December 1 to May 31 to protect the pups, so the bluff is the place to stand, quietly, with dogs on a leash. Pour your cup into a lidded mug and bring it along.
The cacao
What Alma Cacao is
Start with the ½ lb Starter pouch, or keep a 1 lb canister on the shelf. Both are on the Alma Cacao page.
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One ingredient
100% ceremonial cacao paste, shaved into small rock-like pieces. Nothing is added and the cacao butter stays in, so it melts into hot water or milk in about a minute with nothing to chop.
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From Peru
Single-origin, from native communities of the Peruvian Amazon. Traditionally fermented, sun-dried and stone ground in small batches.
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Tested
Tested for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury) by an ISO 17025 accredited lab, and made in a GMP certified facility.
At home
Make a cup
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Measure 10 to 20 g, which is 1 to 2 tablespoons of pieces.
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Heat 6 to 8 oz of water or milk to about 180°F (82°C). Never boiling.
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Whisk the pieces in for about a minute, until smooth, and sip it warm.
Cool mornings
Warm the mug first, then carry the cup to the window or the bluff. Winter is the rainy season here, with rain peaking in January and February, so a cup by the window is its own plan.
Warm afternoons
Melt the pieces in a little hot water first, then pour over ice and cold milk. The iced cacao recipe has the details.
Full steps are in how to prepare ceremonial cacao, and a slower sit-down is covered in cacao ceremony at home.
Reviews
Notes sent back
Rated 4.95 out of 5 across 22 reviews.
“This is the best cacao So warm and heart opening and when I say the packaging is perfection… I mean PERFECT Well done team- excited to order more”
“Smooth great taste, love the clean ingredients.”
“It's replaced my morning coffee. It's become a slow, naturally caffeinated, delicious start to my day.”
Our promise
Giving, shipping and a promise
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2%
Giving back
The co-op that Alma Cacao sources from gives 2% to the producer communities, and Alma gives another 2% of every sale to For the Love of Mateo.
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2 PM
Shipping and guarantee
Orders ship from California. Order by 2 PM Pacific, Monday to Friday, and it ships the same day. Orders over $99 ship free. A 30-day money-back guarantee covers a product that is unopened.
FAQ
Questions from the coast
What should I do with a cup of cacao on a foggy early-summer morning in Carpinteria?
Keep it warm and unhurried. Early summer can bring a marine layer that lingers until late morning, so whisk a cup at about 180°F, pour it into a lidded mug and sip it on the porch while the fog thins. The beach and the bluff trail will both still be there at 11.
Can I make iced cacao for a warm Carpinteria afternoon?
Yes. Melt 10 to 20 g of pieces in a little hot water, then pour it over ice and cold milk. Average highs reach about 74°F in August and September, so a tall iced cup suits an afternoon after the beach.
Can I bring a cup to the Carpinteria Coastal Vista Trail or the salt marsh trails?
Yes, in a lidded mug. Near the seal bluff the city asks you to keep dogs on a leash and to watch the seals quietly from above, and the rookery beach below is closed from December 1 to May 31. The Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park has walking trails and is good for birdwatching.
Where can I get ceremonial cacao in Carpinteria?
Alma Cacao is sold online and ships from California, so a ½ lb Starter pouch or a 1 lb canister can come straight to your door. Everything about ordering is on the where to buy ceremonial cacao page.
How much caffeine is in a cup before a walk along the Carpinteria bluffs?
Cacao is low in caffeine, but it does contain some: a 20 g cup has about 16 to 32 mg. The low figure is USDA's; published lab data for baking chocolate run about twice as high, because cacao varies from bean to bean. Theobromine is a mild stimulant, so people sensitive to caffeine or other stimulants may feel it. If you are pregnant or nursing, take medication or manage a health condition, check with your healthcare provider first. Cacao and chocolate are toxic to dogs, so keep your cup out of reach.
Send yourself a slow Carpinteria morning
Small pieces, one ingredient, shipped from California.
