Ceremonial Cacao for Facilitators and Groups

Serving cacao to a room is different from making a cup for yourself. You need to know how much to make, how to keep it warm, and what to tell people about what is in the cup. This guide covers all three. Use the calculator above to work out how much cacao your group needs.

How much cacao per person

Match the dose to the session:

• Opening cup before yoga or a sound bath: 10 to 15 g per person, about 1 tablespoon of pieces.
• Breathwork or a guided circle: 15 to 25 g per person.
• Full cacao ceremony: about 40 g per person, about 4 tablespoons of pieces.

One pound (454 g) serves about 30 people at 15 g, or 11 people at a full 40 g ceremonial dose. Plan about 6 oz (180 ml) of hot water per serving.

How to prepare cacao for a group

1. Heat the water to about 180°F, hot but not boiling. Plan 6 oz per person.
2. Add the cacao off the boil and whisk until smooth. Alma Cacao comes in small pieces, so there is nothing to chop or grate for twenty people.
3. Blend for the best texture. An immersion blender gives a thick, frothy cup in under a minute.
4. Keep it warm in a large thermos, a slow cooker on low, or a pot on the lowest heat. Avoid boiling it again.
5. Season to the room: cinnamon, a pinch of cayenne or vanilla, with honey or maple on the side so people can sweeten their own cup.

Alma Ceremonial Cacao100% cacao paste in small pieces, single-origin Peru. From $33.

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What to tell your circle

People will ask what they are drinking. With Alma Cacao you can answer plainly:

• 100% cacao paste in small pieces. Nothing added, nothing pressed out.
• Single-origin, grown by native communities of the Peruvian Amazon.
• Lab tested for heavy metals by an ISO 17025 accredited lab.
• Giving that goes both ways: the co-op we source from gives 2% back to the producer communities, and we give another 2% of every sale to For the Love of Mateo.

Remind your group that cacao contains theobromine and a little caffeine. Anyone who is pregnant or nursing, takes medication, or is sensitive to caffeine should check with their doctor first, and can always take a smaller cup.

Bulk sizes and wholesale

The 3 lb bag is our best value for circles: 1,362 g, enough for about 90 opening cups or 34 full ceremonies. The 2 lb serves about 60 opening cups. Choose Subscribe & Save on any size and your cacao arrives on schedule, before every month of sessions.

Studios, retreats and cafes that serve cacao every week can apply for wholesale pricing. Want to go deeper into the tradition and the craft of serving? See The Way of Cacao certification class.