The Tao of Cacao: Ancient Beverage, Modern Mental Health Tonic
Ancient peoples called it “food of the gods.”
The fire roared hot as I took my seat among other Lightning in a Bottle (LIB) guests, cacao in all of our hands. We were at a workshop led by long-time cacao enthusiasts and ceremonial facilitators. They told us to thank the flames (fire), thank the sky (air), thank the ground (earth), and each other (water). Then we all drank at the same time.
The concoction was wildly delicious. We were told to sip and make it last, but I could hardly keep mine in the cup it was so good. It was sweet, spicy, and extremely dense with cacao. After giving us prompts to facilitate meaningful conversations with our neighbors, the facilitators explained that the cacao was of an heirloom variety, extremely high quality, and dense with theobromine.
“Theobromine?” I said aloud as sparks flicked into the dark.
My neighbors hadn’t a clue what it was, either. But the more we drank, the more we were flared into spasms of heartfelt conversation. Soon, the environment was flashing with smiles, hugs, and even some tears. The facilitators sat back watching what they had created.
Ancient Beverage: The History and Mythology of Cacao Use
Cacao is the main ingredient in chocolate. Cacao beans come from the theobroma cacao tree. These are evergreens native to Mesoamerica (from central Mexico down through northern Costa Rica).
The earliest record of cacao use was found in 2007 when archeologists discovered that cacao beverages had been made by pre-Olmec peoples in Honduras before 1000 BC. In 2018, researchers analyzing the genomes of cultivated cacao were able to deduce that all cacao comes from a cultivation event that likely took place around 3600 years ago.
Researchers note how the Mesoamerican peoples such as the Maya and Aztecs believed that cacao had divine origins. They believed cacao was the food of the gods. In the Aztec tradition, for example, the serpent god Quetzalcoatl discovered cacao high in the tropical mountains of Mexico alongside other plant foods. The Mayan story is similar; their cacao god is called Ek Chuah, also a serpent god. Ek Chuah gave cacao to humans after they were created from maize by grandmother goddess Xmucane.
Before European contact, cacao was esteemed for ceremonial purposes and reserved for priests, government officials, military officers, and even sacrificial victims. Culturally, pregnant women and children didn’t take the sacred cacao because it was viewed as an intoxicant.
Modern Mental Health Tonic: The Benefits of Cacao According to Modern Science
That night at LIB—the night I first experienced a cleverly facilitated cacao ceremony—I went off the rails with joy. The facilitators turned on music and everyone sprang up and ecstatic-danced around the fire for the rest of the workshop-time: 1 hour.
While later reflecting on my experience during the ceremony, I decided to look at the science of cacao. Then, I began using cacao on a consistent basis.
Here’s why:
When looking at the psychopharmacology of theobromine, the psychoactive compound in cacao closely related to caffeine, we see the compound responsible for the mood-enhancing benefits of chocolate. But cacao in its purest form is much different than a bar of conventional chocolate (often made with high amounts of sugar, milk, and additives).
Cacao is a health food currently being studied for its immense amounts of flavonoids. A 2013 report published in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that these anti-oxidating compounds “provoke angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and changes in neuron morphology, mainly in regions involved in learning and memory.” The report goes on to explain that cacao also preserves cognitive abilities in rats and “lower[s] the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and decrease[s] the risk of stroke in humans.”
Another component of cacao that makes it great for mental health is its high concentration of magnesium. Pure cacao contains approximately 106 mg of magnesium per 2.5 tablespoon serving (25% DV). A study published in Pharmacological Reports presents the scientifically supported idea that magnesium deficiencies can very well lead to “different types of depression.” The study continues by stating that magnesium compounds are “effective agents in treatment of migraine [sic], alcoholism, asthma, heart diseases, arrhythmias, renal calcium stones, premenstrual tension syndrome etc.”
Finally, cacao, unlike coffee (which is considerably high caffeine), doesn’t seem to cause anxiety. Instead, cacao seems to make us more resilient to anxiety and stress, one study finds. “Results indicated that for individuals that reported feeling higher levels of stress, daily dark chocolate consumption had a positive impact on stress-associated metabolic activities.”
When compiling these elements: light amounts of caffeine, considerable amounts of theobromine, flavonoids, and magnesium—it’s not surprising to see why my LIB friends and I were dancing happily in the moonlight until dawn.
Sourcing Cacao
During the ceremony, our facilitators mentioned how they prefer to source their cacao, and how we should, too.
The best way is to support small businesses that responsibly source heirloom, ceremonial-grade cacao. The first company I bought cacao from is Firefly Chocolate at ceremonial-cacao.com. They work with certified organic farms, use 100% solar energy, and support cooperative growing models that pay an average of 40–220% above the commodity price which provides a better livelihood for the farmers and communities. Some other good cacao startups include Forever Cacao and Heartblood Cacao.
Preparing Cacao For Drinking
If you order the high-quality, ceremonial stuff, the chocolate will likely come in chunks of fatty 100% heirloom cacao that can be melted in the right proportion of hot water. Some companies have created different varieties of chocolate blends. Some varieties are infused with rose, medicinal (non-psychedelic mushrooms) such as reishi, as well as maca, ashwagandha, and even turmeric.
Mixing the cacao with hot (but not boiling!) water is how to prepare your cacao for drinking. Stir and consider adding ingredients for taste and health benefits. Many people enjoy cinnamon and even some cayenne pepper for a kick. Start small and mix until reaching desired level of spice.
Sweetening the cacao offering is pretty universal. Use natural sweeteners with low-glycemic indexes such as raw honey (after cooling), pure maple syrup, date syrup, stevia, or coconut sugar. Taste until reaching desired level of sweetness.
The Tao of Cacao: Facilitating Cacao Offerings
Working with cacao is about paying tribute to a benefit many people report while using it: its heart-opening powers. Scientifically, this is likely a combination of the health benefits, particularly brain health benefits, described above.
When in ceremony with cacao, however, we talk about it for what it is: a sacred plant medicine with spiritual healing power. Cacao is like a wise mentor: it brings you to the door of your emotional pain but doesn’t force you into it.
Working with cacao is best done in groups. It’s an experience of dropping into a heart-centered awareness while feeling it with others. It’s an experience of opening, of learning how to gracefully expand into the sacred dance we call life and into a higher part of ourselves. It’s appropriate to take cacao alone as well. But aim to get to know the medicine first if you want such a ceremony to be impactful.
Experiencing ceremonial-grade cacao is much different than experiencing your average bar of milk or even dark chocolate. I realized that quickly when in ceremony with cacao at LIB. It’s nothing like a psychedelic experience—more like an ecstatic experience with constant flashes of deep insight.
No one is safeguarding cacao as a mental and spiritual medicine. If you wish to use it as a morning replacement for coffee, fine. If you’re aiming to use it as a supplement for your mental health, even better.
Just know that cacao as a sacred practice extends into the ancient past. It was used as a ritual tool and believed to have divine origins. Facilitating a cacao ceremony in the modern world takes a bit of practice and self-knowledge. It’s about inspiring gratitude and promoting emotional healing. Even with the knowledge of cacao’s sacred origins, this component of facilitation takes an amount of self-development that can’t be taught.
Overall, cacao is a stimulating mental health tonic whose ancient, sacred use algins with what we now know about it scientifically. Don’t fret too much about “how” to use it or about using it “properly.” Everything in moderation is medicine. Find the dose that fits your body. Experiment with the frequency that fits your needs. Go deep and enjoy the many benefits of this medicine from the ancient, sacred past and the scientific, modern world.
