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Ceremonial Cacao in New York
A slow cup of ceremonial cacao for a fast city morning.
- 4.95 from 22 reviews
- Order by 2 PM PT, ships same day
- 30-day money-back (unopened)
Ceremonial cacao is a warm drink made from pure cacao paste, whisked into hot water or milk and sipped slowly. In New York that can mean ten quiet minutes before the day gets loud: a mug at the window, a seat on the stoop, a walk to the park with something warm in your hands.
Alma Cacao comes as small rock-like pieces that melt in about a minute. It fits a Brooklyn walk-up or a Queens apartment as easily as a house in Garden City on Long Island or a place up the Hudson in Beacon.
- 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 New York
A New York morning, slowed down
The city wakes early. In January the radiator knocks. In July a window unit hums. Before long there is a line at the corner coffee counter, and a cup of cacao offers something different: a few minutes, one mug, and nowhere to be yet.
Put the water on while you look for your keys. Whisk, then carry the mug to the stoop, the fire escape window or the nearest bench. Some mornings call for the Reservoir path in Central Park or the Long Meadow in Prospect Park. Others suit the piers at Brooklyn Bridge Park or the waterfront path in Hudson River Park.
Two farmers markets make an easy excuse for a slow walk with a warm mug.
SatThe Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket sits at Prospect Park West and Flatbush Avenue, by the park's northwest entrance. It runs year-round, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and hours can shorten in bad weather.
Mon Wed Fri SatThe Union Square Greenmarket fills the north and west plazas of Union Square Park, all year.
Through the year
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Spring
Windows open and the mornings turn mild. A warm cup still fits, and the park paths are quiet before the crowds arrive.
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Summer
July afternoons average about 85°F, with humid air and late-day thunderstorms. Make it iced, and drink it early on the stoop or by the water.
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Fall
Crisp air and leaves on the park paths. A warm cup on a bench by the Reservoir fits right in.
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Winter
January highs average about 40°F and lows sit near 28°F, with roughly 30 inches of snow in an average year. The radiator is on, the windows fog, and a hot cup is the whole plan.
The cacao
What Alma Cacao is
Alma Cacao is 100% ceremonial cacao paste, shaved into small rock-like pieces. It is not a powder and not a block. Nothing is added, and the cacao butter stays in, so a cup is rich and a little thick.
New to it? Start with what ceremonial cacao is, then see the sizes on the Alma Cacao page. The ½ lb Starter pouch makes about 20 daily cups, and the 1 lb canister about 40.
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One ingredient
100% cacao paste, nothing added.
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Single-origin
From native communities of the Peruvian Amazon.
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Made slowly
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
How to make a cup in a New York kitchen
Nothing fancy: a mug, hot water and a whisk or handheld frother.
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Put 10 to 20 g (1 to 2 tablespoons) of pieces in 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 it over the pieces and whisk for about a minute, until smooth.
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Sip slowly, somewhere with a view, even if the view is a brick wall.
Humid July
Melt the pieces in a little hot water first, then pour over ice and cold milk. Our iced ceremonial cacao recipe shows how.
Cold January
Warm the mug with hot water, heat milk instead of water and add a pinch of cinnamon. Try our cinnamon ceremonial cacao recipe.
Tight counter
Nothing to chop or grate, since the pieces are already small. Measure, whisk and sip from one mug, so there is only one thing to wash.
Want every detail? Read how to prepare ceremonial cacao.
Good to know. 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.
Reviews
What people say
Rated 4.95 out of 5 across 22 reviews
“This product is definitely the best. I started off with another brand but your product is much better and would recommend it to everyone.”
“This product is everything it is promised to be!”
“I love this cacao so much! You can truly feel and sense the quality of it.”
Our promise
Good to know before you order
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2%
Giving
The co-op we source from gives 2% to the producer communities. Alma gives 2% of every sale to For the Love of Mateo.
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2 PM
Shipping
Orders ship from California. Orders placed by 2 PM Pacific, Monday to Friday, ship the same day. Orders over $99 ship free.
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30 days
Guarantee
A 30-day money-back guarantee, if the product is unopened.
FAQ
New York questions, answered
How do I make iced cacao for a humid New York summer?
Melt 10 to 20 g of pieces (1 to 2 tablespoons) in a little hot water and whisk until smooth. Pour it over a glass of ice, then add cold milk. July afternoons in the city average about 85°F, so it is nicest made early in the day, before the heat and humidity settle in.
What do I need to make a cup in a small New York kitchen?
A mug, a kettle or small saucepan, a tablespoon for measuring and a small whisk or handheld frother. The pieces are already small, so there is nothing to chop or grate, and they melt in about a minute. It all fits on one corner of the counter.
Is there a cacao ceremony near me in New York, or can I hold one at home?
Cacao circles and workshops are listed around the city, each led by its own host. Alma Cacao ships from California, so see where to buy ceremonial cacao for how ordering works. To hold your own, our cacao ceremony at home guide is the place to start.
How do I keep a cup hot on a freezing New York morning?
Warm the mug with hot water first, then whisk the pieces into water or milk heated to about 180°F (82°C), never boiling. January lows in the city average near 28°F, so a travel mug warmed the same way keeps your cup hot on the walk to the train.
Does Alma Cacao ship to New York, and what is the cutoff in New York time?
Yes. Orders ship from California within the United States, so the five boroughs, Long Island and the Hudson Valley are all covered. Orders placed by 2 PM Pacific, Monday to Friday, ship the same day. That is 5 PM in New York. Orders over $99 ship free, and delivery times depend on the carrier, so order a little ahead of any plans.
Make the next New York morning a slow one
Pieces in a mug, water on the stove, and a window or a park bench. Your next cup is a few minutes away.
Want to read first? Start with the guide to ceremonial cacao, or see Alma Cacao.
