Ceremonial cacao is a way to refer to the tropical fruit of cacao that is high quality, cultivated with integrity, and handled with reverence, intention, and love throughout the entire process of preparation and drinking. Ceremonial also implies that the power and energy of the plant is still intact because it has been made in a ceremonial way- as opposed to mass produced cacao that will be processed and stripped of its nutrients, thus damaging the physical properties, nutrients, and spirit of the fruit. It is a nod to how cacao was traditionally used in Mayan ceremonies for thousands of years, as well as how other communities in the past and present drink cacao for celebration, ritual, and community (just like the Sephardic Jews from Spain did). Cacao is one of the most nutrient dense live foods on the planet, with a plant name of "Theobrama cacao" meaning “Food of the Gods” because of its incredible properties. The act of drinking intentionally, centering our own energy and connecting to our hearts, our Creator, and each other holds the possibility to powerfully be in deeper relationship with our hearts, our communities, and more, ultimately gifting us opportunties to listen for lessons we may want to listen to, shaping our paths forever.

Cacao is the fruit that chocolate, or cocoa, is made from. While cacao in its purest form is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet, once it becomes chocolate or cocoa, it has been largely stripped of its nutrients and its spirit. Chocolate and cocoa are highly processed, and often contain sugars, milk fat, hydrogenated oils and artificial flavors. The name ‘cocoa’ became mandated to differentiate itself from cacao because after so much processing, it contains too little of cacao to be referred to by the same name. Most chocolate is also produced unethically, from mass production to slave labor. Therefore, cacao has what most would know as a chocolate-y taste, but it is really a cacao taste that chocolate has.

Cacao is widely regarded as one of the most nutrient dense live foods on the planet. It also has one of the highest concentrations of magnesium in any natural food. It is the highest plant-based source of iron, contains more calcium than cow’s milk, in addition to many other trace minerals (chromium, manganese, zinc, copper). Beyond just opening your heart, cacao also protects your heart as it has the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food in the world. For reference, blueberries are regarded as having a high amount of antioxidants, and cacao has 40 times the amount that blueberries do! It’s also incredibly rich in serotonin, which helps to build our "stress-defense shield." Lastly, Cacao is a superfood that activates your BLISS molecule- anandamide- which is a naturally produced endorphin by the body after exercise. Cacao is the only plant anandamide has been found naturally occurring in, and it also contains enzyme inhibitors that decrease the body's ability to break down anandamide. So when you work with cacao, natural anandamide AND cacao anandamide will stick with you for longer!

Yes! We are thrilled to offer parve kosher cacao under the supervision of Rabbi Dan Tobaly. Feel welcome to reach out to him with any questions: dantobaly@gmail.com

Drinking this cacao invites you into presence, naturally energizing you and inviting you into being with yourself and all that’s in front of you. At Bendichas Manos, we believe in tuning into the subtleties and wisdom of our bodies and our hearts, and each ingredient has been lovingly chosen to support you in doing so.

Each ingredient is chosen with ethics as our #1 priority. We believe you are working with more than just each ingredient in our blends; you are also working with the energy put into each ingredient in production. 

With cacao as our main ingredient, we source from a Mayan Women’s collective, financially supporting and honoring the soil, the women, and the ancestors who have worked with the fruit for thousands of years. Their cacao is organic and of the highest quality, from a Criollo cacao family farm.

In addition to being organic, the adaptogens and herbs have all been independently tested for heavy metals, organic purity, and biological contamination. We source from places that run on fair trade models, that are focused on values like maintaining direct, long-term relationships based on solidarity, trust, and mutual respect, and offering opportunities to everyone connected with the supply chain- from engaging directly with farmers cooperatives and their partner manufacturers, to upholding safe, healthy and empowering working conditions free of forced labor, harassment, abuse, and discrimination.

The Mayan women who steward the artisanal cacao before it is in your cup come from lineages and generations of Mayans who have tended to and stewarded this fruit. They respect the integrity of the fruit of cacao and are taking care of the beans with the utmost respect and integrity. Their ancestors have been working with and drinking cacao ceremoniously for thousands of years, and they carry forth their wisdom in their intentional and aritsanal process.

The creator of Bendichas Manos, Jessie Duke, purchases the cacao from this Guatemalan Mayan collective. Additionally, she feels the wisdom and artistry of her Ashkenazi and Sephardic ancestors through her stewarding of cacao in how her journey of drinking cacao led her to exploring the gifts of her own lineages, as well as supporting her healing.