Extend the ritual
Three plants that have walked with cacao since Mesoamerica.
Roses
Rose petal powder: it softens the heart and lets it open, petal after petal, in the wake of the cacao.
Imphepho
The ceremonial resin of the sangomas: burned to purify the circle's space before opening.
Bobinsana
The Shipibo heart mistress: she accompanies what moves in the chest once the cacao has opened it.
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✦ Ceremonial Cacao · in one breath ✦
A slow warmth that descends from the sternum to the belly and reopens the chest — the body remembers it is a living parliament, and the circle gathers.
⊹ The path of the plant
⊹ Community voices
What the community murmurs.
Average · 11 reviews
Breakdown
Really beautiful smell. Very chocolaty of course but also a floral smell which I was surprised. It’s hard to get 100% cacao seed oil. Happy I found somewhere. Thank you ☺️
Indianna
Ritual · 30 January 2026
Ask the Forest about Ceremonial Cacao
276 books digested, 90,000 indexed passages. She answers on lineages, synergies, cautions, ritual variations.
The community space of Ceremonial Cacao.
Voices, circles, practitioners, offerings — gathered around this plant.
Enter the Temple →⊹ FREQUENT QUESTIONS ⊹
We answer.
What exactly is ceremonial cacao?
Ceremonial cacao is 100% pure raw cacao paste (Theobroma cacao), obtained by simple grinding of the beans, without high-temperature roasting — which distinguishes her from industrial chocolate. At INFUSE, she comes from Madagascar. We grate her and whisk her in warm water (never boiling, under 60°C) for a bitter, warm drink, sipped slowly, often in circle.
Is the cacao ceremony a real Maya tradition?
No, not the "cacao ceremony" as known in the West: it is a modern format born around 2003. The ritual use of cacao in Mesoamerica, however, is real and about four thousand years old (Olmecs, Mayas, Aztecs). INFUSE honours this ancient relation without pretending to reproduce an uninterrupted Maya ceremony that does not exist.
How much ceremonial cacao per cup?
In circle, tradition uses a generous dose — typically around 30 g of paste per cup. Daily, in place of coffee, 20 to 30 g is enough. Grate the tablet, whisk in simmering water under 60°C until frothy. Starting lighter is wise for a first time.
Why non-boiling water for raw cacao?
Because excessive heat damages the raw bean. Raw cacao keeps the bean as close as possible to her natural state; above about 60°C, the earthy and creamy profile that makes her quality is lost. Heat the water, let it simmer, and stay under 60°C — never boiling.
What's the difference between ceremonial cacao and hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate contains sugar, milk and cacao often roasted at high temperature. Ceremonial cacao is 100% pure raw cacao paste — naturally composed of about 55% cacao butter — without added sugar or milk. It is the raw bitterness of the bean, not a confection.
Which plants pair with ceremonial cacao?
Historically grounded pairings are vanilla, cinnamon and chilli, already present in the Mesoamerican drink. Mexican Tarragon (Yauthli) is traditionally linked to the Aztec recipe of Xocoatl. INFUSE also offers rose, imphepho for the circle's space, and bobinsana in a cross-tradition heart accord.
Is ceremonial cacao dangerous? Is there a risk of overdose?
To this day, no case of cacao overdose is known in ethnobotanical literature. Cacao does however contain natural stimulants: moderation during pregnancy, caution in case of sensitivity (heart rate, sleep), and she is toxic to dogs and cats — to keep out of their reach.
Where can I buy raw ceremonial cacao?
INFUSE offers 100% pure raw ceremonial cacao from Madagascar — in tablet (~8 sticks, 1080 g) and as pure essential oil — with shipping to France and the European Union. Traceability (named origin, raw processing) is what distinguishes an honest cacao from a marketing story.
⊹ Chapter · Questions ⊹
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« Every plant is a door. Ceremonial Cacao opens onto a long companionship — listen to it more than you measure it. »