What is a Cacao ceremony?
A cacao ceremony is a sacred ritual that uses ceremonial-grade cacao to foster inner connection, mindfulness, and heart-centered intention. Rooted in ancient traditions, cacao has been revered by Indigenous cultures of Central and South America for thousands of years as a plant medicine, used in spiritual and communal ceremonies to promote healing, clarity, and connection.
The Mayans and Aztecs considered cacao a divine gift, often referring to it as “the food of the gods.” It was consumed in sacred rituals to honor the cosmos, celebrate life transitions, and commune with the spirit world. Unlike modern chocolate, ceremonial cacao is minimally processed, maintaining its natural compounds that enhance mood, increase focus, and open the heart.
Benefits of a Cacao Ceremony:
Spiritual Connection – Whether practiced alone or in a group, cacao ceremonies provide an opportunity for meditation, self-reflection, and spiritual exploration.
Heart Opening – Cacao contains theobromine, a gentle stimulant that increases blood flow and creates feelings of warmth, love, and openness.
Mental Clarity & Creativity – The rich antioxidants and neuro-enhancing properties of cacao support mental clarity, intuition, and creative flow.
Emotional Healing – Cacao can help release emotional blockages and foster a deeper connection with the self and others.
Setting your intention
Intention is the heart of any cacao ceremony. It transforms the act of drinking cacao from a simple experience into a meaningful ritual. Setting an intention means consciously choosing what you want to focus on during the ceremony, whether it’s self-love, healing, clarity, creativity, or connection with others.
Reflect on Your Why – Before preparing your cacao, take a few deep breaths or even spend some time meditating and ask yourself: What do I need in this moment? What energy do I want to invite in? A
Choose a Simple, Clear Intention – Your intention can be a single word (e.g., “peace,” “joy,” “release”) or a short phrase (e.g., “I open my heart to love” or “I trust my journey”). It can also be a goal such as becoming closer with your family or friends.
Infuse Your Cacao with Intention – While preparing your drink, stir with mindfulness, silently repeating your intention. Imagine your energy blending with the cacao.
Hold & Acknowledge Your Intention – Before taking your first sip, hold your cup, close your eyes, and affirm your intention with gratitude.
Your intention will guide your experience, whether you engage in meditation, movement, journaling, or quiet reflection.
Let it be a gentle anchor, bringing you back to presence throughout the ceremony.
Making Ceremonial Cacao
Preparing ceremonial cacao is a mindful process that begins with intention and care. Unlike regular hot chocolate, ceremonial cacao is minimally processed and retains its natural compounds, making it a powerful heart-opening elixir. We highly recommend taking the tradition route and using ceremonial-grade cacao however if you are looking for a more budget friendly introduction to Cacao ceremonies you can use Cacao powder instead.
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Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Ceremonial-grade Cacao, Cacao nibs or Cacao powder(1 oz / 28 grams), If using Cacao nibs, make sure to grind them up to a fine powder before mixing, you can do this using a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle
- Hot water or plant-based milk (about 6–8 oz / 175–235ml)
- Optional add-ins:
- Natural sweeteners (honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar)
- Warming spices (cinnamon, cayenne, nutmeg, vanilla) we recommend Ceylon cinnamon, you can read more about why here
- Adaptogens or herbs (maca, ashwagandha, Reishi)
Step-by-Step Preparation:
Heat the Water or Milk – Warm your liquid on the stove until hot but not boiling (around 160°F / 70°C). Avoid boiling, as it can alter the cacao’s delicate properties.
Chop or Grate the Cacao – Finely chop your cacao to help it dissolve smoothly. Some ceremonial cacao comes in discs or granulated, which can be more easily dissolved in water.
Mix & Stir with Intention – Add the cacao to your warm liquid and stir slowly. You can use a spoon, whisk, or the easiest way is to just use a blender to create a smooth, frothy texture.
Sweeten & Spice (Optional) – Add any natural sweeteners or spices to enhance the flavor and energy of your cacao.
This preparation process is part of the ritual—take your time, be present, and enjoy the experience. I like to hangout in the kitchen talking with my family while playing some good music.
The Ceremony
The Cacao Ceremony Process
A cacao ceremony is more than just drinking cacao—it is a sacred ritual that invites presence, intention, and connection. Whether practiced alone or with others, this ceremony offers a space to slow down, listen to your heart, and cultivate a sense of warmth and belonging.
Arriving in the Moment
- If you are enjoying the Cacao by yourself find a quiet, comfortable space where you won’t be disturbed. Dim the lights, light a candle, or burn incense to create a sacred atmosphere. However you can take our favorite route a gather your family or friends to enjoy the moment together
- Sit comfortably with your cup of cacao, take a deep breath, and allow yourself to arrive fully in the present moment.
- Offer gratitude, this is a HUGE one. Take some time and just thank yourself for being alive and giving yourself this moment, in today’s world most people are way too hard on themselves. You need to give yourself a break and understand that you don’t need to do anything to be valued, because you being here is enough. You are enough.
Drinking the Cacao – Savoring the Medicine
- Take your first sip slowly, taste and smell is a powerful thing, so think about how they make you feel .
- With each sip, stay mindful and connected to your intention.
- Close your eyes and feel the warmth of the cacao travel through your body.
Deepening the Experience – Exploring Ritual Practices
Meditation – Sit in stillness, focusing on your breath and intention, you can meditate before drinking the cacao, during or after.
Movement – Flow through gentle yoga, stretching, or intuitive dance.
Journaling – Write freely about what arises: thoughts, emotions, insights.
Music & Sound – Play soft music, hum, sing, or use a drum to deepen your connection.
Cacao is a beautiful companion to many forms of inner exploration. Choose what resonates with you.
Closing the Ceremony – Integrating the Experience
Take a moment to thank yourself for the experience of giving yourself some time away from the world and the troubles of you own mind to just be present in the moment with yourself or with friends. If you stayed true to your original intention for the ceremony, focus on how that made you feel and try and bring that intention with you into everyday, living every day with intention instead of reacting to the world.
A cacao ceremony is a deeply personal practice—there is no right or wrong way to do it. The most important thing is your presence and intention. The firs time I ever made Cacao just involved me playing some good music to set the vibe, talking with my brother and being present in that moment. Let each ceremony be a gift to yourself, a sacred moment of connection and care.
If you are new to the idea of ceremony and setting intention you might read a lot of this and roll your eyes, however I would say just give it a try. How often do you actually focus this much on an experience and moment for yourself, likely almost never, this ceremony doesn’t have to be peformed with cacao, for example your morning coffee which is usually just something you do to get rid of caffeine withdrawals can also sometimes be a relaxing morning of sitting down reading a good book on a cold morning while drinking a hot drink. Cacao with its physical feel good effects thanks to the Theobromine is the perfect drink for setting intention but it can be done with anything that brings you into the moment of comfort, presence and well being.
This post may contain affiliate links so we may receive compensation if you sign up for or purchase products linked to below. As an Amazon Associate, I can earn from qualifying purchases.
Koselig Cacao 