I’m excited to share the story of our cacao with you. As I began piecing together its journey, I realised it needed to be told in three parts. Whilst this is the condense version, this story is more than just about the cacao itself; it encompasses my personal journey with it, the lessons I've learned along the way, and the careful selection of our provider to honour its rich traditions.
Enjoy & Stay Grounded,
Toni-Marie xxPart One: How Cacao Came Into My Life:
In around 2020, I joined an online art class where the teacher often recommendedstarting with cacao during her meditations. Since I wasn’t familiar with it, I ignored the suggestion and brought along herbal tea instead. That was the first nudge I received. A few months later, I attended a spiritual healing session that began with a cacao meditation and card reading. Finally, cacao was able to enter my life. The healer, without knowing anything about me, said I was at the "beginning of a plant medicine journey". I wondered what this meant, and the open and grounded feeling cacao gave me lingered. It wasn’t until about a year later that I truly began to realise just how sacred this drink was and what she meant by plant medicine.
Read more on my personal journey here.
Part Two: Exploring Peruvian Cacao Traditions:
As my interest deepened, I moved beyond casual research and decided to study ceremonial cacao, immersing myself in its history, industry, and science. While cacao is found across Mesoamerica, my study focused on Peruvian culture, history, and its sacred cacao rituals. These lessons helped me understand how to respectfully incorporate traditions while creating my own unique ceremonies and offerings. While the stories were fascinating, I also uncovered the darker side of cacao production—the environmental destruction it can cause, which made sustainability a crucial factor when choosing our cacao.
Part Three: Finding Our Perfect Provider
Respecting the sacredness of cacao meant finding a provider that upheld traditional and sustainable values. The cacao needed to be hand-picked, naturally fermented, sun-dried, and blessed by indigenous caretakers. It had to be from the Criollo variety, 100% organic, and shade-grown. I wanted a partner who shared a deep respect for the earth and prioritized sustainable practices. This led me to an artisan based in the Amazonian region of Peru, who not only honors the rich traditions of ceremonial cacao but also partners with the Rainforest Alliance, ensuring they meet rigorous environmental, social, and economic standards.
Read more on the seed to shelf process of our cacao here.