Cacao from Ecuador, especially from the Manabi province, is globally renowned for its high quality. Manabi province has cacao plantations along the coast and in mountainous areas. The climate, soil, and topography are favourable for the growth of cacao with an intense flavour and aroma.

Cacao from the Manabi province belongs to the Nacional variety, which is one of the oldest and rarest types of cacao in the world. It is characterized by a bitter taste, floral aroma, and nutty undertones. The cacao fruit from this province is also smaller than those from other regions and have an intense red or purple colour.

Due to its unique flavour and aroma, Manabi cacao is often used in the production of high-quality chocolate, as well as other products such as cacao powder and cacao paste.
Cacao from Ecuador, including the province of Manabi, is also becoming increasingly popular with consumers interested in sustainable agriculture and ethical food production. Many cacao plantations in Ecuador are certified by organizations such as the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade International, ensuring that cacao is produced with respect for the environment and human rights.

Our cacao is 100% natural, unprocessed, kosher, halal, no sugar, no additives, no preservatives, handmade. Cacao is gluten free and can also be consumed by vegans.

What is cacao paste?

Cacao paste is the dried, shelled and then ground cacao beans, which take the form of a hard, yet brittle block or lump.

Properties of cacao

Cacao contains more antioxidants than red wine and 3 times more than green tea.

Cacao is an important source of tryptophan, which affects the formation of serotonin, and phenylethylamine, which supports the synthesis of dopamine and a number of vitamins B, C and E.

In addition, cacao contains a number of mineral salts such as magnesium, iron, chromium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur, zinc, potassium and selenium.

Furthermore, the high content of healthy cacao fat, theobromine and anandamide makes cacao a natural, mild stimulant.

All this makes cacao a natural, powerful antidepressant, mood enhancer and energiser.

How to prepare cacao?

Mix about 10-20 grams of crushed cacao with water, vegetable or animal milk (200 ml) and spices such as chilli, vanilla, cinnamon or cardamom. If desired, sweeten with honey or other healthy sugar. The spices and honey should be added at the end of the process.

There are several methods for preparing cacao. We advise you to try them all, because each of them slightly changes the final taste of the drink. In this article you will find a recipe for ceremonial cacao and a lot of additional information.

1. Mix the cacao with hot (about 90 degrees) water or milk using a blender. For about one minute. This is the fastest method of preparation. cacao prepared this way has a silky texture and a taste similar to milk chocolate.
2. Dissolve the cacao in a pot with hot water at 70-80 degrees. Take care not to let the mixture boil. Too high a temperature will affect the properties and taste of the drink. The cacao will be thicker and more intense in flavour than the previous method. This is how the cacao is prepared during the ceremony.
3. Boil the water or milk together with the cacao for about 5 minutes.
4. Boil the water or milk with the cacao for about half an hour. This method will bring out the maximum flavour at the expense of vitamins, some of which will be lost as a result of long cooking.

The question of using vegetable or animal milk is individual and does not significantly affect the properties of the cacao drink. Nevertheless, we recommend using water or vegetable milk.

Daily amount of cacao

Approximately 10-20 grams. This may occasionally be increased to 50 grams.

Application

Genuine and 100% cacao paste (ceremonial cacao) is excellent for:

• daily consumption as a drink
• cacao ceremonies in doses of about 40 grams per person
• meditation or yoga practice
• baked goods such as brownie or chocolate chip cookies
• the production of chocolates or pralines
• as an accompaniment to a cheese board
• as a snack during wine tasting
• as a high-calorie snack during mountain expeditions

Classification of ceremonial cacao

All natural cacao in the form of paste, beans, nibs (ground cacao beans) or powder is bitter, however we can make a classification into less bitter or dry.

Our scale of cacao flavours is:

• sweet
• semi-sweet
• slightly dry
• semi-dry
• dry
• bitter