Field notes · Goleta, California
Ceremonial Cacao in Goleta
100% ceremonial cacao in small rock-like pieces, for gray beach mornings and eucalyptus walks. Ships from California.
- 4.95 from 22 reviews
- Order by 2 PM PT, ships same day
- 30-day money-back (unopened)
Entry 01The short version
Cacao for a coastal town
Looking for ceremonial cacao in Goleta? Alma Cacao is 100% ceremonial cacao paste, shaved into small rock-like pieces and shipped from California. You whisk a spoonful or two into hot water or milk and sit with one slow cup.
Goleta sits on a coastal plain about three miles wide, between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific, roughly eight miles west of Santa Barbara. Late spring mornings start gray, winter mornings start cool, and both are good reasons to hold something warm. These notes are for Old Town, Noleta, Isla Vista and every street in between.
- 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
Entry 02Observations
A Goleta morning, in five notes
Where a warm cup fits the day, by season and by place.
-
Late May and June: the gray start
Along the California coast, May and June are usually the cloudiest months, and the gray tends to lift by late morning. A hot cup on the porch fits that slow first hour.
-
November to February: the monarchs
Monarch butterflies gather in the eucalyptus at the Goleta Butterfly Grove on Ellwood Mesa. Entry is free, and the walk from the parking lot is a little over half a mile on natural paths, so wear sturdy shoes and stay on the trail. Dogs stay on a leash.
-
Any day: the pier
Goleta Beach Park, at the edge of town, has a pier made for an easy stroll with the sound of the waves. Finish your cup first, then walk out and back. Lake Los Carneros has a one-mile nature walk of its own.
-
Sundays: the market and the lemons
Goleta has a weekly Sunday farmers market. The valley was a prominent lemon-growing region in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and Rancho La Patera and the Stow House, an 1872 historic site, were once the center of that trade.
-
Warm spells: the sundowners
Sundowner winds blow through Goleta and Santa Barbara, and brief spells of winds from the interior have pushed the record high to 109°F. On days like that, make the cup iced.
- January
- High about 64°F, low about 41°F
- August
- High about 75°F, low about 58°F
- Rain
- Mostly November to March
- Summer
- Nearly dry
Typical figures from Santa Barbara Airport climate normals, 1991 to 2020.
Entry 03The specimen
What Alma Cacao is
One ingredient. Alma Cacao is ceremonial cacao paste, shaved into small rock-like pieces, so there is nothing to chop or grate. The cacao butter stays in and nothing else goes in.
The ½ lb Starter pouch makes about 20 daily cups and the 1 lb canister about 40. See both on the Alma Cacao product page.
- Plant
- Theobroma cacao
- Form
- 100% cacao paste, in small rock-like pieces
- Added
- Nothing. Cacao butter left in.
- Origin
- Single-origin, from native communities of the Peruvian Amazon
- Method
- Traditionally fermented, sun-dried, stone ground in small batches
- Lab
- Tested for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury) by an ISO 17025 accredited lab
- Made in
- A GMP certified facility
- Sizes
- ½ lb Starter pouch, 1 lb canister
Entry 04Method
Making a cup
-
Put 10 to 20 g of pieces (1 to 2 tablespoons) in your cup.
-
Heat 6 to 8 oz of water or milk to about 180°F (82°C). Never boiling.
-
Pour it over the pieces and whisk for about a minute, until smooth.
-
Sip it slowly.
On a gray or cool morningWarm the cup with hot water first, and try milk for a softer, creamier cup. Our step by step guide to preparing ceremonial cacao covers the details.
On a warm spellMelt the pieces in a little hot water first, then pour over ice and cold milk. Here is an iced ceremonial cacao recipe for the hot days.
Caution. 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.
Entry 05Margin notes
What people write about their cups
Rated 4.95 out of 5 across 22 reviews
“Seriously the best cacao I've ever had! I find that most cacao doesn't hit the spot, it's not creamy and thick, but I love that this cacao really builds on itself, and the flavor is so robust and just truly the best I've ever had in(or outside) my own home--and I'd consider myself a cacao aficionado!”
“This product is everything it is promised to be!”
“This product is definitely the best. I started off with another brand but your product is much better and would recommend it to everyone.”
Entry 06Supply notes
Giving, shipping and the guarantee
-
2%
Giving
The co-op we source from gives 2% to the producer communities, and Alma gives another 2% of every sale to For the Love of Mateo.
-
2 PM
Shipping
Orders ship from California, including to Goleta, Noleta and Isla Vista. Order by 2 PM Pacific, Monday to Friday, and it ships the same day. Orders over $99 ship free.
-
30 days
Guarantee
A 30-day money-back guarantee if the product is unopened.
Entry 07Questions
Questions from Goleta
Can I take a cup of ceremonial cacao to the Ellwood Mesa butterfly grove?
Yes, in an insulated flask. Whisk the cup at home, pour it in and carry it along: the grove is a little over half a mile from the parking lot on natural paths, and the monarchs are usually there from roughly November to February. Stay on the trail, keep dogs on a leash, and keep your cup away from them, since cacao is toxic to dogs.
What should I make on a gray Goleta morning in May or June?
Make it hot. Warm your mug with hot water, then whisk 10 to 20 g of pieces into 6 to 8 oz of water or milk at about 180°F (82°C) for about a minute. May and June are usually the cloudiest months on the coast, and the gray tends to lift by late morning, so a hot cup suits the slow first hour.
How do I make iced cacao for a warm Goleta afternoon?
Melt 10 to 20 g of pieces in a little hot water first, then pour it over ice and cold milk and stir. It suits the warm spells that arrive with sundowner winds or winds from the interior, and a tall glass is a good way to cool down after a walk at Lake Los Carneros or the beach.
Can I order Alma Cacao to a Goleta address?
Yes. Alma Cacao ships from California to Goleta, Noleta and Isla Vista, and orders placed by 2 PM Pacific, Monday to Friday, ship the same day. If you were hoping to find it on a shelf nearby, our where to buy ceremonial cacao page explains how Alma Cacao is sold.
Which size should I start with for Goleta mornings?
The ½ lb Starter pouch makes about 20 daily cups, a simple way to try it through a stretch of Goleta mornings. The 1 lb canister makes about 40 daily cups. Both hold the same small rock-like pieces of cacao paste, so each cup takes about a minute to whisk.
Last page
Start the next Goleta morning slowly
Whisk a cup, find a bench, a trail or your own porch, and let the gray lift on its own. Alma Cacao ships from California, and the 30-day guarantee covers an unopened order.
