When drinking cacao in ritual, the dosage will be higher than for a regular, daily dose. Read our contraindications before consuming the ceremonial dose.
DO NOT serve a ceremonial to others like your students and friends without being properly trained to hold ceremonies.
Ingredients
7 fluid ounces of water per person
2 oz (6 tablespoons) of chopped cacao paste per person.
Pinch of chilli/cayenne to taste
Maple syrup or a natural sweetener of your choice to taste. This is optional. You do not need to sweeten your drink yet for first timers it may be more enjoyable.
You can also add cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla to taste
TIPS FOR NEWBIES
Do not drink more than ⅔ of a full 2 oz dose your first time. Allow 45 minutes to assess how you feel before taking more.
People who are very sensitive to caffeine should do small doses.
Do not use regular milk or soy as it will interfere with the absorption of the cacao, and that can dampen the effects. Coconut milk is a good alternative.
Go lightly to avoid detox nausea and headaches due to the liver being triggered to cleanse.
Storage: Store in a cool, dark, dry place in an airtight container. Refrigeration not required.
Safety: It is recommended that you consult your healthcare practitioner before using any natural products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
Cacao for me is a “plant medicine”. If we do not respect the plant, the plant can make us sick. Ceremonies are here to teach us to respect the plants and what they have to teach us. Because à ceremonial dose of cacao is much higher than a normal daily dose, some precautions need to be taken.
Potential symptoms: Light-headedness, sweaty palms, headache or nausea. Relax, drink water and slowly the symptoms will go away. Cacao can also stimulate detox. If this happens, be grateful for the opportunity to cleanse, drink a lot of water and let it move through you. This might happen more often if you are on a raw food diet or if you are fasting. Choose a lower quantity.
Antidepressants must be looked into:
MAOI based antidepressants are contraindicated with the tyramine in chocolate, so a larger dose of cacao is not recommended. MAOI based antidepressants are first generation antidepressants and are less common these days. People taking them are on a restricted diet that includes limiting or avoiding chocolate, so they should know if they can consume or not. Side effects could include more serious headache and nausea, so make sure to check medications first.
There has been some concern with larger doses of cacao and SSRI type anti-depressants, because of the MAOI's in cacao. Specifically, the tryptophan, a type of MAOI which is a pre-cursor to serotonin has been cited by some as a possible contraindication. The research about this interaction is minimal, but studies on both the amounts of tryptophan in chocolate and how that might cause 'serotonin syndrome' don't indicate any problem. However, to be on the safe side, for those on SSRI's, we suggest consulting with your doctor and/or pharmacist regarding higher doses of cacao and to consider starting with low doses.
Serious heart conditions: The theobromine in cacao increases heart rate significantly and is a vasodilator, lowering blood pressure. If you have such a condition, consider consulting a physician and certainly go lighter on amounts.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Like coffee or tea, it is important to reduce the intake of stimulating foods. The theobromine in cacao, which is very similar to caffeine, has a stimulating effect. Thus we recommend using lower dosages (ex. a maximum of 1oz in a ceremonial drink).
Do not feed cacao to your pets, it could be lethal.
If any symptoms do present, drink lots of water, get some rest and it will pass.
This information is for informational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the CFIA or FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This product has been packaged in the same facility as peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, and other potential allergens.
