FAQs
General
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The difference between cacao powder and ceremonial grade cacao is the way it has been processed and prepared. For ceremonial cacao, the processing is kept as minimal and pure as possible.
The cacao is always prepared with care, love, devotion, respect all while weaved with wisdom and prayer.
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A ceremonial dose is 20-45 grams, or approx. 1-1.5oz. It is not recommended to consume more than 45 grams of cacao per person. Please take note that the dose can vary, and many customers report that they consume anywhere from 20-45g per serving. I recommend starting with a smaller portion and observing how your body responds.
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Yes! The founder of Maman Cacao, Nicole Jones offers cacao ceremonies held locally at Akasha Yoga, Montreal.
Each offering is creatively designed to get you to explore your inner world. The journey will be supported by elements of ceremony, intuitive movement, energetic medicine music, introspection, relaxation and stillness. No two ceremonies are the same, each one holds a different intention, direction and energy. When we create space in our lives to listen deeply to our own hearts, our true essence starts to pop through. These unique journeys will allow you space to create harmony within, ultimately shortening the gap between your heart and mind.
Visit Nicole’s website to learn more about these offerings and register.
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Yes.
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Yes, cacao is a 100% vegan, non-animal product.
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Cacao is made from the seed of the cacao fruit, it does not contain nuts and our cacao is processed in a nut-free kitchen, however there may be traces of nuts in our kitchen.
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Ceremonial cacao is very low in caffeine, a small amount compared to what is found in a cup of coffee. Cacao contains a chemical compound called theobromine, which is a naturally occurring stimulant, but one that is said to create greater focus and creativity, without the jittery aftereffects of caffeine. Each person is different therefore has a unique experience when consuming cacao. I recommend starting with a smaller dose to start as all of our bodies are different and respond uniquely to Cacao.
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Cacao has a long very long shelf life and will last for up to several years in a cool, dry room and airtight place. However, we recommend consuming your cacao within 2 years of purchasing it.
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What you are experiencing is called "bloom." Bloom is the natural separation of the cacao butter from the cacao mass that occurs in all non-tempered chocolate or cacao. The blooming process begins immediately after the cacao cools. Tempering is the repeated heating and cooling of Cacao to produce a smooth, glossy finish. The blooming texture is harmless, it also produces beautiful designs in your cacao block which makes it unique. Know that if your block of cacao is crumbling, in this Bloom state, it does not affect flavor or the nutritional properties of the cacao.
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One of the primary reasons for the higher cost of ceremonial cacao is ethical sourcing. Producers of ceremonial cacao prioritize direct relationships with cacao farmers and communities, ensuring fair wages and sustainable farming practices. Importing Cacao from both Guatemala and Indonesia have costly shipping and custom prices. To continue to honour the workers, farmers, ethical processing and truly respect the value of this plant medicine, a monetary value that reflects the worth is important.
Cacao from “Heart of the Earth”, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
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“We source our single-origin, organic cacao beans from a small family farm in Alta-Verapaz, Coban, Guatemala.“ Ruk’u’x’Ulew
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“Our cacao is processed in San Marcos La Laguna, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Here, we lightly toast the beans over wood fire, hand peel each bean while overseeing quality control of every bean, then we bring the cacao beans to a mill and form the milled paste into molds.”
- Ruk’u’x’Ulew
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“We understand that cacao is a sacred plant spirit with the ability to open the heart. The powerful effects of drinking pure cacao is becoming globally recognized. We respect the spirit of this plant and we are guided by the cacao spirit. Our ancestors have been working with cacao ceremoniously and we carry forth their wisdom into the process. When you experience our cacao, you will taste more than cacao, there is love and spirit.”
- Ruk’u’x’Ulew
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To ensure the freshness of the product we keep the Cacao is the vacuumed sealed package that the Cacao arrives in. There are plans in the future to create a more environmentally friendly packaging but for now I have opted to not repackage but rather keep it in its original format to meet food security requirements here in Canada.
Cacao from “Ubud Raw”, Bali, Indonesia
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We source from Bali, Berau (Kalimantan), Papua and Musi (Sumatra).
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“Our cacao is processed in in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.”
Cacao Sourcing:
We source our cacao from various regions across Indonesia, including:
Bali
Kalimantan
Sumatra
Papua
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“What makes UBUD RAW cacao ceremonial grade is the way the partner cooperative farmers treat cacao from the planting of the seeds all the way through to harvesting, the Balinese cacao farmers offer daily prayers, offerings, and ceremonies at each stage. Each farm has a “pelinggih” or shrine, where they can offer devotion to Mother Earth and to their Hindu gods. This extraordinary level of devotion is unique to Balinese culture and is why they have found that the ceremonial cacao is a unique and powerful plant medicine. UBUD RAW preserves the quality of the ceremonial grade cacao by doing minimal processing, this preserves the maximum amount of beneficial compounds.” Ubud Raw
Cacao from “Kaukawa”, Cusco, Peru
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“Ceremonial cacao is known for its ability to promote relaxation, arouse joy within our bodies and create a deep connection with our hearts. Ceremonial cacao is intended to be used in special rituals, ceremonies and offerings.
With our personal investigations and work inside the lands of cacao and our visits to archeological ancient temples where cacao was offered in the past, we believe that a ceremonial cacao paste should have the following characteristics:
1. To be made from an original genotype of cacao.
2. To look for a high quality of the cacao beans.
3. The energetic approach to the cacao paste.”
“Kaukawa seeks to establish a new approach so Cacao is seen as a sacred plant in our lives, which is a complete different vibration than what regular chocolate represent in the modern times. Our cacao paste is intended to invite you into a journey of deep heart connection along the vibration of the Peruvian energy and unique wisdom of the Andean and Amazon worlds. “
Shipping and Returns
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We offer standard shipping to most provinces across Canada: Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Newfoundland & Labrador.
For other locations in Canada please send us a message and we’ll get you a special quote.
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For orders more than 3lbs please reach out to inquire about shipping fees.
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Please carefully review your order before your purchase. All sales are final and we do not offer refunds or exchanges for any products sold through Maman Cacao website. Kindly do let me know through the contact section if your package arrived damaged or open.