Cacao played a key role in the Olmec, Aztec and Mayan cultures, as a sacred gift of nature in rituals, as currency, and as a medicine for, amongst others, the heart and skin. Many of the qualities attributed to cacao in those ancient times, can now be scientifically explained by its biology and active compounds. The botanical name, Theobroma Cacao – Greek for Food of the Gods – hints at her potent alchemy. The power of cacao goes beyond its rich earthy flavour and its velvety texture: ceremonial cacao has a precious impact on our physiology and brain chemistry and it is a sublime elixir for working with the heart space. 

This plant medicine stimulates the cardiovascular system, lowers blood pressure, is rich in antioxidants, and on a more spitirual level, she invites us to look into the garden of our heart and connect with what really matters to us. The active compounds in cacao, especially theobromine, tryptophan, phenylethylamine and anandamide, are natural mood boosters. Through respectful and mindful intake, ceremonial cacao helps us build coherence, harmony, and authentic connection with who and what surrounds us.

At Priority Lab we work with an exquisite organic and fair trade cacao from the Suchitepéquez mountains in Guatemala. The cacao grows and is respectfully processed on cacao farm Mama Amor, which is managed by the Maya women’s collective Nuevo Amanecer. Thanks to the care and love that the women put into planting and growing the trees, harvesting cacao pods (for which some workers are hired, too), and processing cacao seeds into ceremonial cacao blocks, the cacao is packed with nutrients, active compounds and potent energy.