How to Prepare the Perfect Cup of Cacao (+3 Ceremonial Cacao Recipes)

Are you looking for delicious, nourishing ceremonial cacao recipes? I’ve got you!

Has the taste of cacao touched your tongue? There’s something special about wrapping your hands around your favorite mug, filled with rich, velvety ceremonial cacao, isn’t there?

And, of course, cacao isn’t just any hot chocolate. It’s an ancient tradition and a sacred medicine that spans many millennia of human history. As the aroma engulfs your senses, you honour the spirit of cacao, as ancient as time itself.

Today, I’m sharing some of my favourite ceremonial cacao recipes. I hope they offer you joy, connection, and inner warmth after this difficult and grey winter.

Ceremonial-Grade Cacao is a Sacred Celebration

Before we explore ceremonial cacao recipes, it’s important to understand what makes ceremonial-grade cacao different from regular cacao powder, cocoa powder, chocolate bars, or other cacao products.

First, ceremonial-grade cacao is minimally processed from high-quality cacao beans. This processing preserves the plant’s natural compounds and energetic properties. 

Second, unlike commercial chocolate, which contains added sugars, oils, and dairy, pure ceremonial cacao maintains its raw, natural state.

When enjoying ceremonial cacao, you’re also tapping into the history of cacao and a lineage that stretches back thousands of years.

South America may be considered the birthplace of the sacred plant medicine that is cacao. Ancient civilizations like the Mayans, Aztecs, and Olmecs even revered cacao as “food of the gods”. Native to the Amazon rainforest, cacao was used in ceremonies, as currency, and as medicine. It was not considered a sweet treat, but instead valued for its ability to boost vitality and deepen spiritual connection as a powerful plant ally. 

These ancient civilizations understood what science now confirms: cacao contains compounds that support our cognitive function, immune system, and nervous system.

Cacao is a powerful heart opener, in both a physiological and spiritual sense. This is thanks to its rich flavanol content. These plant compounds boost nitric oxide production, helping to relax blood vessels, improve blood flow, and boost oxygen throughout the body. This is likely why cacao is known as a sacred plant medicine for grounding and connection in ceremonial rituals.

When sourcing cacao for ceremonial purposes, seek out the highest quality, pure ceremonial grade cacao from reputable sources. The company should also honour fair trade, ethical harvest, and traditional wisdom practices.

What is Anandamide (or the “Bliss Molecule”)?

Anandamide, also called the “bliss molecule”, is a neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of joy, relaxation, and well-being. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word ananda, meaning bliss or happiness.

Cacao is one of the few natural sources of anandamide. Other foods include certain proteins, vegetables, fruits, and spices, as well as truffles. Cacao also contains specific compounds that slow its breakdown, allowing those feel-good effects to last longer.

This makes ceremonial cacao a powerful ally for enhancing your mood, deepening your meditation, and fostering a heart-centred connection.

Creating Sacred Space for Your Own Cacao Ceremony

Before preparing your ceremonial cacao drink, take a moment to create an intention around your own cacao ceremony. This blog post offers lots of tips for creating intentions that work.

Whether you’re making cacao for yourself or hosting your own cacao ceremonies with loved ones, the energy you bring matters.

Light a candle, play gentle music (I highly recommend my Self-love subconscious healing track!), clear your space, and set an intention. These simple actions help transform the ordinary into the sacred.

Working with the spirit of cacao requires presence. The plant meets you exactly where you are, offering its gentle but powerful medicine in whatever way you need to receive it.

Your info is safe with me. I will guard it with my life and promise no spam, ever. I genuinely hate it as much as you do!

Three Ceremonial Cacao Recipes to Try

Now, let’s explore how to prepare cacao as a sacred plant medicine for different intentions and experiences. And you’ll learn you don’t need much cacao for a truly blissful experience!

Traditional Ceremonial Cacao Base Recipe

Ingredients (makes about 1 single serving)

• 8 oz of warm water or plant milk (coconut milk works beautifully)
• 1-2 oz (about 2 tablespoons) of ceremonial-grade cacao (small pieces, chopped off a cacao block)
• Optional: a small amount of natural sweetener like maple syrup or coconut sugar
• Optional: a pinch of cayenne pepper, cinnamon, or vanilla extract

Preparation

1. On the stove top, over medium heat, gently warm your liquid of choice in a small pot.
2. Turn the heat to low, and then add the chopped cacao. Stir gently with a wooden spoon.
3. Keep the mixture at low heat, never allowing it to boil. This can damage cacao’s delicate, health-supportive compounds.
4. Stir with intention until the cacao fully dissolves, creating a smooth blend.
5. If desired, add a small amount of sweetener and/or spices.
6. Pour into your favourite mug, and take a moment to express gratitude before sipping slowly.

This base recipe honours cacao in its most traditional form, similar to how it may have been prepared for thousands of years.

The amount of cacao you use depends on your sensitivity and experience. Beginners might start with 1 oz, while experienced practitioners might work with up to 2 oz for deeper ceremonial work and a full ceremonial dose.

However you make it, from the first sip, you will engage with a sacred cacao ceremony!

Blissful Heart-Opening Cacao

This is one of my personal favourite ceremonial cacao recipes! It emphasizes cacao’s heart-opening properties and the “bliss molecule” (anandamide) that cacao is famous for.

Ingredients

• 8 oz of warm coconut milk or other non-dairy/plant milk
• 1 teaspoon of a heart-friendly herb like hawthorn or motherwort
• 1-2 oz ceremonial-grade cacao (small pieces, chopped off a cacao block)
• Small pinch of cardamom or cayenne pepper
• Optional: 1 teaspoon maple syrup

Preparation

1. Gently heat your non-dairy/plant milk in a small pot on the stove top over medium heat.
2. Whisk in your heart-friendly herb and gently infuse for 8-10 minutes. Strain the herb and return the herb-infused milk to your pot.
3. Reduce heat to low. Add the chopped cacao to your milk base. Stir with a wooden spoon until completely melted and blended.
4. Add cardamom or cayenne pepper, as well as maple syrup (if using).
5. Remove from heat and pour into your favourite cup.
6. Sip your cup of cacao slowly while focusing on your heart centre.

This recipe is perfect for rituals around self-love, heart healing, or opening yourself up to give and receive love more freely.

Grounding Earth Connection Cacao

I recommend this ceremonial cacao recipe when you would like to feel more centered and grounded in your body.

Ingredients

• 8 oz hot water
• 1-2 tablespoons of full-fat coconut milk for a creamy texture
• 1-2 oz of ceremonial-grade cacao (small pieces, chopped off a cacao block)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of sea salt
• Optional: maple syrup or coconut sugar (I like 1 tsp)

Preparation

1. Heat water to just below boiling. Add coconut milk.
2. Reduce to low heat. Add your cacao and spices, stirring thoroughly with a wooden spoon until completely melted and blended.
3. Add a pinch of sea salt, as well as maple syrup or coconut sugar to your own taste if desired.
4. Pour into your favourite cup. Find a comfortable spot on the floor or the ground as you drink.

This earthy blend helps when you’re feeling scattered or disconnected, bringing you back to your body.

Tips for Preparing Your Perfect Ceremonial Cacao Drink

Here are some tips to make the most of these ceremonial cacao recipes.

• I recommend using any milk you enjoy. Coconut milk has a rich flavour, so that’s my personal favourite. If you’re allergic or don’t enjoy coconut milk, you can substitute plant milk like almond milk, oat milk, or even soy milk in these ceremonial cacao recipes.
• If you’re using cacao powder, store it in an airtight container for maximum shelf life. It’s also wise to keep it in a cool, dark place.

Which delicious recipe would you like to try first?

Honouring the Spirit of Cacao in Modern Life

As we integrate these practices of ancient civilizations into our contemporary lives, it’s vital to approach ceremonial cacao with respect. This isn’t just a trendy superfood or an alternative to hot chocolate. Cacao offers sacred medicine with a spirit and lineage that deserves our reverence.

When working with cacao regularly, many practitioners notice subtle but profound shifts, such as increased heart openness, enhanced cognitive function, improved mood, and a stronger immune system. The cacao spirit works gently but consistently, supporting our nervous system and opening to our inner wisdom.

Each cup of ceremonial-grade cacao represents an opportunity to slow down, connect inward, and honour the ancient wisdom that flows through this “food of the gods”.

Whether you’re a seasoned ceremonial cacao practitioner or just starting to work with this powerful plant ally, approach each cup of cacao as a sacred practice.

In a world that often moves too quickly, the simple act of preparing ceremonial cacao invites us into a different way of being: we are more present, more intentional, and more connected to the rhythms of our hearts and the earth.

From the careful melting of raw cacao to mindful stirring to the grateful receiving of the final cup, each step becomes a meditation, a prayer, a coming home to ourselves.

May your experiments with ceremonial cacao bring you joy, insight, and deep connection… one sip at a time!

Life is a plate… Eat up,

Ashleigh