Real Ceremonial Cocoa - Drink of the Gods from Peru 150 g

True Ceremonial Cacao – Drink of the Gods from Peru

A bar of True Ceremonial Cacao from Poland's first Cacao Manufactory, founded by Michał Depta. The product is made from Criollo cacao beans, sourced from organic farms in Peru. The beans are minimally processed and formed into a compact bar, which helps the cacao retain its freshness, aroma, and full flavor for longer.

Ceremonial cacao is an un-defatted cacao mass in solid form, intended for preparing a thick, rich cacao drink – a traditional way of consuming cacao, practiced for thousands of years in Central and South America. One 150g bar is enough to prepare approximately 5 liters of the drink.

Taste and character of the drink

The drink made from True Ceremonial Cacao has an intense, deep flavor – noticeably more concentrated and full-bodied than instant cacao or hot chocolate. The raw Criollo beans give the drink a characteristic, slightly tart note and a natural bitterness, which can be mellowed by adding spices or honey.

Where does the name "ceremonial cacao" come from?

The name "ceremonial" refers to the long history of cacao. The oldest records of its consumption date back to ancient times in Central and South America. The Maya and Aztec tribes considered cacao a unique, divine drink. From fermented cacao beans, corn flour, honey, and chili, they prepared a thick, dark-colored drink.

They used Ceremonial Cacao during official ceremonies, religious rites, at feasts and festivals, as funeral offerings, and the valuable cacao beans also served as a form of currency.

Cacao ‒ drink of the ancient Maya

Cacao was brought to Europe by the Spanish after the conquest of America. It was an exotic and very expensive product, mainly found in royal courts. Over time, the cacao drink spread throughout Europe, and when a cheap method for producing chocolate was invented in the 19th century, it became much more accessible.

Although the Aztec and Maya empires have been gone for hundreds of years, the ceremony of drinking cacao continues today as a way to peacefully end the day and take a moment away from the daily rush.

Natural composition of cacao

Un-defatted cacao mass is a concentrated source of ingredients from the cacao bean: cocoa butter, fiber, plant protein, and mineral compounds – including magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese, and phosphorus. It also contains natural alkaloids: theobromine and small amounts of caffeine, to which the drink owes its slightly stimulating character. Due to the theobromine content, consuming cacao late in the evening may affect sleep quality for some individuals.

The ritual of drinking ceremonial cacao

Drinking ceremonial cacao is still a living tradition, practiced today as a form of peaceful ritual – a moment for calming down, alone or with loved ones. Cacao can be enriched with cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, chili, or honey, referring to traditional Latin American recipes.

You can add cinnamon or cardamom to your cacao

Michał Depta ‒ author of True Cacao

Michał Depta gained his knowledge and skills related to cacao in Central and South America. It was in these regions that cacao was originally used, not only for consumption.

He used the skills acquired in America to popularize drinking cacao in the form of a beverage in the regions of Asia and the South Pacific, where he then traveled. After returning to Poland, Michał Depta founded the First Polish Manufactory of True Cacao, where products based on many years of experience are created.

Ceremonial Cacao is made from Peruvian raw Criollo beans

Ingredients

Un-defatted cacao mass 100% (Peru)

Nutritional value of the product per 100 g

Preparation method

For 1 liter of water: add 30 g (approx. 6 tablespoons of grated) cacao to boiling water and cook for 35 minutes, covered.

Optionally, you can add cinnamon, chili, or other natural spices to the drink.

Recommended storage conditions

Store in a dry and cool place.