6 Tips to Start Your Ceremonial Cacao Journey

The Call of Cocoa: Where to Start? 6 Tips for Those Who Want to Lead Cocoa Rituals

 

Spring has finally begun. Let's rediscover the pleasure of being together.

Feeling the call of cocoa, but don't know where to start?

If you want to lead meetings where cocoa is at the center, along with emotional and physical well-being, and offer a moment of reconnection with nature (and with yourself), this mini guide is for you.

We have been working in the world of ceremonial cocoa for more than eight years, and we are among the few producers in Europe to directly follow every step of the supply chain: cultivation, transformation and preparation. Our cocoa comes from regenerative forests in El Salvador and is minimally processed in Sardinia, respecting origin, essence and quality.

We bring with us Mesoamerican roots, practical knowledge and a wealth of hands-on experience to help you experience cacao in its purest, most authentic and, above all, ethical state.
Here's what we think is important to consider if you're about to start a cocoa journey:

1. Beware of online courses.
Today's cacao ceremonies are not the ceremonies of thousands of years ago—and that much needs to be said. We know little about the original ceremonial history, and what you find online today is often a method devised by one person, based on personal experience, not absolute truth.
There is nothing wrong with getting inspired, but be careful before relying on “trainings” that promise to turn you into a guide in a few days. Above all, think carefully before investing money and time in something that perhaps does not really resonate with you.

2. Practice on yourself first , without rushing.
Before creating a circle, take time to reflect on your personal relationship with cocoa. Prepare the drink for yourself , in silence, for at least three distinct moments.
Try different doses, different preparations, different origins of cocoa (we alone have 8 different Mesoamerican territories – you can find them here on our online shop) observe how your body reacts and how your mind opens.
Experiment with small rituals that speak your language: journaling, meditation, singing, movement, silence.
Every practice must first pass through you: feeling it, metabolizing it, internalizing it.

3. Try it with a small group.
Invite a few trusted people – friends, relatives, colleagues – and offer them a trial session. Don’t strive for perfection. Instead, take notes:

• Was the location comfortable? Temperature, seating, lighting?
• Were people able to feel at ease?
• Was the cocoa prepared correctly (no lumps, correct dosage, ideal temperature)?
• Were the tempos balanced? Did you give space to silence, but also to listening?
• Did people feel welcomed?

Finally, ask for honest feedback. You can also create a small anonymous questionnaire to gather genuine thoughts and improve yourself.

4. Cocoa has medicinal properties , and can transform.
Cacao is a powerful medicinal plant with numerous properties, thanks to its high content of antioxidants, minerals and good fats . Its effect depends on many factors: the quality of the cocoa itself, how it is prepared, your state of mind, and the intention you bring.
It is not the quantity that makes the difference, but the quality of presence.
Better a carefully prepared cup accompanied by a simple and sincere moment, than a complex but meaningless ritual.

5. Take care of the supplies.
Not all cocoa is suitable for ceremonial use. Choose special cocoa and minimally processed, without additives, coming from short and traceable supply chains , like ours from Vaicacao.

Avoid industrial products, such as industrial cocoa powder and defatted : not only do they lose properties, but they often come from unethical supply chains and are created with very low quality cocoa. Find out who produces the cocoa you choose to use , and if you don't see any photos, videos or explanations of how it is prepared and by whom, then that is not the ceremonial cocoa for you. We want to show you everything about our production process, we don't hide anything, and for us this is an indisputable value in ceremonial cocoa.

6. There is no need to appropriate other people's cultures.
Cocoa has deep roots, linked to peoples and territories with different histories and spiritualities — not all accessible or replicable.
Taking inspiration is one thing, but it is different from "borrowing" symbols, words, or rituals that do not belong to us, just to give an exotic touch to the experience.
Using cocoa respectfully also means acknowledging where it comes from, telling its story with humility, and not trying to imitate spiritualities that we don’t really understand.

You can create an authentic space even without using words in native languages ​​that you don’t know, or replicating rituals that belong to other contexts. Respect can also be seen from this .

And finally… Be patient.
Leading meetings with cocoa requires time, sensitivity and humility. You don't need "magical" certifications: you need presence, coherence and a deep connection with what you propose and also with the people you meet on your path.

If this resonates with you, you're already headed in the right direction.
We are here, along the path.

 

If you have any questions or want to share your opinion or thought, write to us: hello@vaicacao.com