Specimen sheet · Fort Myers, Florida
Ceremonial Cacao in Fort Myers
Theobroma cacao, collected for the City of Palms
One slow cup of Alma Cacao for the river walk, the royal palms and the long wet-season heat.
- 4.95 from 22 reviews
- Order by 2 PM PT, ships same day
- 30-day money-back (unopened)
Field note
Fort Myers rewards an early start. From June to September the average high sits near 92°F, so the best hour of the day is the first one. Alma Cacao was made for that hour: ceremonial cacao paste, shaved into small rock-like pieces that melt into a hot cup in about a minute.
It ships from California. This page is a short field guide to drinking it the Fort Myers way, from a cool January morning at the river to an iced cup in August.
- 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 Fort Myers
A morning in Fort Myers
January's average low is 54°F, cool enough to want something warm in your hands. Head to Centennial Park, ten acres on the banks of the Caloosahatchee in historic downtown, where shaded paths look across the water to North Fort Myers and Cape Coral. Thursday is farmers market day in the River District, a good reason to be out early.
Fort Myers is known as the City of Palms, and the royal palms along McGregor Boulevard, planted at Edison's expense starting in 1907, now stretch about eight miles. At the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, beside the same river, Edison ran a botanical laboratory and tested more than 17,000 plant samples while hunting for a source of rubber. He found it in goldenrod. A plant-minded city is a good home for a cup of cacao.
For something wilder, the 1.2-mile boardwalk at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve winds through a cypress swamp where alligators, otters and wading birds live year-round. Lakes Park, 279 acres in south Fort Myers, has freshwater lakes and trails for walkers and cyclists. And on the cooler days of winter, when the Gulf falls below 68°F, manatees come for the warm water at Manatee Park on the Orange River.
Dry season, November to AprilHighs from 75 to 85°F, lows from 54 to 63°F, and under 3 inches of rain a month. Warm cups and long river walks.
Wet season, June to SeptemberHighs near 92°F, lows near 74°F, and 8 to 10 inches of rain a month. Iced cups and early starts.
Averages are Fort Myers climate normals for 1991 to 2020.
The cacao
What is in the canister
Alma Cacao is 100% ceremonial cacao paste, shaved into small rock-like pieces. Nothing is added and the cacao butter stays in, so the cup is rich. Read more on what ceremonial cacao is, or go straight to the Alma Cacao product page for the ½ lb Starter pouch, the 1 lb canister and the larger sizes.
- Species
- Theobroma cacao
- Form
- Small rock-like pieces of cacao paste
- Added
- Nothing
- Origin
- Single-origin, from native communities of the Peruvian Amazon
- Handling
- Traditionally fermented, sun-dried and stone ground in small batches
- Checks
- Tested for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury) by an ISO 17025 accredited lab. Made in a GMP certified facility.
At home
Method for one cup
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Measure 10 to 20 g (1 to 2 tablespoons of pieces) into your mug.
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Heat 6 to 8 oz of water or milk to about 180°F (82°C). Steaming is right, boiling is too hot.
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Pour over the pieces and whisk for about a minute, until smooth.
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Sit somewhere pleasant and sip slowly.
Cool morning. Around January's 54°F average low, make it with milk and carry the mug out to the lanai.
Wet-season morning. Melt the pieces in a little hot water first, then pour over ice and cold milk. Do the hot part early, before the 92°F highs arrive.
The full walkthrough is in how to prepare ceremonial cacao. For a longer ritual, see cacao ceremony at home.
In Fort Myers
Herbarium: three Fort Myers mornings
Reviews
Collector's notes
Rated 4.95 out of 5 across 22 reviews.
“Alma Cacao is the only cacao I purchase. Whether performing cacao + sound bath + meditation or having a delicious cup in the evening it is amazing! Delicious and pure.”
“I love this cacao so much! You can truly feel and sense the quality of it.”
“This is hands down one of the best cacao products I have had.”
Our promise
Giving, shipping and the guarantee
-
2%
Giving
The co-op we source from gives 2% to the producer communities. Alma gives another 2% of every sale to For the Love of Mateo.
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2 PM
Shipping
Orders ship from California. Order by 2 PM Pacific, Monday to Friday, and it goes out the same day. Orders over $99 ship free.
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30 days
Guarantee
If the product is unopened, a 30-day money-back guarantee applies.
Wondering where to find it? See where to buy ceremonial cacao.
FAQ
Questions, indexed
How do I make iced ceremonial cacao for a humid Fort Myers morning?
Melt 10 to 20 g of pieces in a splash of hot water, whisk until smooth, then pour the concentrate over a glass of ice and cold milk. From June to September the average high is near 92°F and the lows stay around 74°F, so make the hot part early and drink the iced cup before the day heats up. Our iced ceremonial cacao recipe has more ideas.
Is a hot cup still right on a cool Fort Myers winter morning?
Yes. January's average low is 54°F, so a mug at about 180°F (82°C) suits the hour. Whisk 10 to 20 g of pieces into 6 to 8 oz of water or milk for about a minute, then carry it out to the lanai or down to the river.
Can I take a cup to Centennial Park or Lakes Park?
Make it at home, pour it into an insulated bottle and take it along. Centennial Park has shaded paths beside the Caloosahatchee, and Lakes Park has freshwater lakes and trails for walkers, so a bottle and a bench are all you need. See the best time of day to drink cacao for timing ideas.
How does ceremonial cacao get to Fort Myers, and when does an order ship?
Alma Cacao ships from California to Florida. Orders placed by 2 PM Pacific, Monday to Friday, ship the same day, and orders over $99 ship free. Transit time depends on the carrier, so no delivery day is promised.
What should I know before I try ceremonial cacao?
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. That includes the dog on your morning walk.
Take it to the river
Pick a size, make a cup, and let a Fort Myers morning do the rest.
Elsewhere on the Gulf coast: Bonita Springs · Naples
