Ecuadorian Ceremonial Cacao
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Our newest cacao comes from the banks of the Misahuallí River in Ecuador’s Napo Province, where the Amazon meets the Andes. The region is renowned for its fino de aroma cacao: indigenous varietals known for their sweetness, floral aroma and long history of winning international awards. Among them, the heirloom Nacional lineage is the most treasured.
This cacao is a Nacional hybrid grown by small-hold farmers near the confluence of the Misahuallí and Napo Rivers, around 600m altitude. Cacao has been cultivated here for thousands of years, and Quechua legend tells of gold buried in the riverbed rising through the sap of the cacao trees, giving their fruits their golden hue.
We waited a long time for something genuinely special, and this was the cacao that stood out: rich roasted-banana flavour, jasmine blossom and liquorice notes, and an exceptionally silky, buttery mouthfeel. True to its Nacional roots, it is naturally sweet with very low acidity and bitterness.
Our cacao is processed and shipped by a small family business in Quito, who have worked with the same local farmers for generations. We are thrilled to partner with them as they expand access for small Ecuadorian growers and protect the unique character of single-origin, non-homogenised cacao.
CACAO CONTAINS CAFFEINE
Soma Cacao contains between 17 - 45mg caffeine per standard 25g serve (the equivalent of a cup of weak black tea). For more info, visit this page.
The Mayans called cacao “the food of the gods”. Along with its rich history of ritualistic and medicinal use, cacao’s crown jewel is theobromine: a gentle, long lasting stimulant that energises us like caffeine, without punishing us with brain-fog and jittery hands later in the day. It’s also rich in essential minerals and produces mood-boosting bioactive compounds - dopamine, serotonin, anandamide (the 'bliss molecule') and P.E.A, an antidepressant also known as the 'love drug'.
For more health benefits including scientific sources, visit our cacao benefits page.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2-3 Tbs Soma Cacao
- 110 mL hot water
- 50 mL milk (we like oat milk)
- 1-2 tsps sweetener (honey, coconut sugar, or maple syrup work great)
METHOD:
Blend all ingredients together using a blender, milk-frother, or whisk. Inhale, sip slowly, and savour!
Cacao powder (or cocoa powder) has undergone intensive processing to extract cacao butter from the paste. This leaves the cacao chalkier and more insipid, and also reduces the fat content, which is vital for the transmission of the neuro-active substances. Studies have proven the widely used method to produce cocoa powder (dutch-processing) significantly decreases the levels of compounds with positive physiological effects.
Our cacao contains the entire cacao bean (excluding the husk/shell). We add nothing, we take nothing away, maintaining the highest concentration of antioxidants, essential minerals, and bliss-inducing compounds.
As an energy source cacao feels more gentle, long-lasting and smooth, while coffee is intense, fast-acting and short-lived. This is because caffeine is a nervous system stimulant, and it produces cortisol, the stress hormone, which can lead to the jitters and anxiety. By contrast, cacao's active ingredient, theobromine, reduces cortisol. This helps us to relax. Cacao also stimulates the cardiovascular system, and opens our blood vessels. This helps blood flow more freely, sends more oxygen through the body, and lowers our blood pressure. We’ve elaborated on this in a recent blog post.
Ceremonial Cacao refers to a premium, pure cacao that is ethically sourced from small family-run sustainable farms.
Ceremonial cacao is made from a single ingredient, whole cacao beans, with nothing added or removed. This is what distinguishes is from cacao powder: a product that has the highly prized cacao butter removed.
Our cacao is minimally processed to retain the highest concentration of antioxidants, bliss-inducing compounds and essential minerals.
Our sourcing methods disrupt the commodity cacao supply chain, which notoriously cuts corners and is notoriously corrupt.
We offer 30-day returns and exchanges on unopened items — you’ll cover return postage for change of mind, and we’ll cover it if we made a mistake. Full details here: Returns & Exchanges Policy
Our cacao contains just one incredient: 100% pure cacao paste. Nothing added, nothing removed.
Allergen Declaration: This product may contain traces of nuts, soy, and dairy as it is processed in facilities that also handles these allergens.
PREMIUM CACAO: SEASONAL BY NATURE
Nothing in nature is standardised, and no batch of cacao is the same.
Like vintage wine or local honey, our cacao changes slightly from batch to batch shaped by season, farm & terroir, fermentation, and roasting profiles. These variations are the hallmark of premium, small-batch cacao.
Read more about why no two cups of Soma Cacao is the same here.
*There's a small chance your cacao may melt and resolidify during transit. Rest assured, it's still perfectly fine—just let it fully solidify at room temperature and chop it up. Many brands sell cacao this way - in a block - we simply shave it for a little added convenience.