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FLASHSALE
Origin and Ethics
Ethics and sustainability are the heart and soul of everything we do
When we decided to create Alma Cacao we both knew we wanted to create something different–not just another eco-friendly wellness company that, when you dig a little beneath the surface, takes a lot more than it gives. Fast forward 12 months from that moment of conception to today where ethics and origin aren’t just a cute slogan on our packaging—they’re at the heart and soul of everything we do.
Every bar and every cup of alma cacao carries a story and a lineage—not just of the land it came from, but of the people who grew it, the hands that prepared it, and the values that shaped it.
Grown with Care in the Highlands of Guatemala
Our cacao is single-origin, grown in the lush volcanic highlands of Las Victorias, Guatemala — a region known for its rich biodiversity, fertile soil, and deep-rooted Mayan traditions. Here, Theobroma cacao has been cultivated for generations, not as a commodity, but as a sacred plant ally.
We work with smallholder farmers who tend to their trees using low-impact, organic practices that honour both the earth and the wisdom of their ancestors. Single-origin cacao means that all of the cacao in your bar or pouch comes from the same region—or even the same farm—rather than being blended from multiple sources. This preserves the unique flavour profile of the region and allows full traceability from bean to bar which in turn means that we know exactly where every single bean of our cacao comes from, where it was grown and who by.
Made by Hand—The Traditional Way
Every bean is hand-harvested, fermented, sun-dried, toasted, and hand-ground using traditional Mayan techniques passed down through generations. There’s no large-scale heavy machinery, no shortcuts—just time, care, and deep respect for the process. This slow process preserves cacao’s full spectrum of active compounds, flavour, and its spirit.
Many so-called ‘ceremonial’ cacaos on the market are mass-produced or tempered using industrial methods that cut time and cost—removing the natural oils, reducing the potency, and stripping away the spirit of the plant. They may still carry the name, but not the tradition.
We made a conscious decision at Alma to stay true to the roots. This is real ceremonial cacao, made the way it was always meant to be.
Crafted by a Women-Led Mayan Collective
Our cacao is made by an incredible collective of indigenous Mayan women based in Tzununá, a small village on the shores of Lake Atitlán. Many of these women are single mothers and sole providers for their families.
We pay them over 3x the local wage for equivalent work—not as a favour, but because this is what fairness and reciprocity looks like to us. This isn’t just “ethical sourcing” so we can tick a box. It’s about helping to create a better system where work is dignified, culture is preserved, and traditional models of community are nourished.
Reciprocity in Action
We believe business should give more than it takes. That’s why 10% of every bar we buy from the local farmers goes directly back into the communities where our cacao is grown and made. Specifically, we support the Lake Atitlán Alcoholism Rehabilitation Centre—a locally run initiative providing vital support, resources, and healing for families affected by addiction.
In many indigenous communities across the world addiction has become commonplace often as a result of forced relocation from ancestral lands and rapid modernisation causing the erosion of traditional ways of being. This process creates a deep wound and trauma which many in the communities, often men, seek to alleviate through alcohol. This can be seen in countries all across the world where millennia of traditional ways of living have disappeared in just a handful of decades.
By contributing to this fund, we hope to support on-the-ground services which offer not only recovery, but reconnection—to self, to community, and to ancestral ways of healing. This isn’t charity. It’s reciprocity. A way of honouring the roots of the cacao we’re privileged to share, and walking alongside the people who make it possible
Small-Batch & Sustainability-Rooted
We make everything in small batches, use minimal, recyclable kraft packaging, and are working towards a circular model that supports environmental and social wellbeing at every step.
Our cacao is made to order especially for Alma.
From the moment we pick up the phone to place our order, the cacao fruits are still growing on the trees in Guatemala and just three weeks later our order arrives with us here in the sunny north-east. Now that’s fresh!
Why Our Prices Reflect Our Values
We know we’re not the cheapest cacao on the market–and we’re okay with that.
Every bar reflects our commitment to fair pay, ethical practice, and cultural respect—and we’re proud of that. If you’re looking for the cheapest cacao you can find we can recommend a few places on Amazon.
When you buy Alma Cacao, you're not just buying a product—you’re entering into a relationship—with the land, with tradition and with the people who make it. You’re making a conscious decision to support and invest in indigenous communities and preserve traditional practices and ways of being.
Thankyou.
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FAQs
For us, what makes cacao truly ceremonial comes down to three essential qualities—purity, method of production, and intention. These are the soul of every bar we craft.
Purity means our cacao is 100% organic, single-origin, and free from additives or processing shortcuts. It contains nothing but whole cacao beans, hand-prepared in their most natural and potent form.
Method of Production speaks to how our cacao is made—using ancestral techniques passed down through generations. Each batch is fermented, roasted low and slow, and stone-ground by hand by an indigenous women’s collective in Guatemala. This process honours both the land and the spirit of the cacao, preserving its full nutritional, energetic and cultural integrity.
Intention is the invisible thread that ties it all together—both in how the cacao is made and how it’s meant to be consumed. From the care infused by the women who prepare it, to the mindful way it’s used in ritual, creativity or wellness, Alma Cacao is more than a product—it’s a practice. Sound a bit ‘woo-woo’? Trust us! Try it and feel the difference for yourself.
Alma Cacao is ceremonial cacao, made the right way.
Alma Cacao is 100% pure ceremonial-grade cacao, handmade in Guatemala using traditional methods that preserve its full nutritional and energetic integrity.
Supermarket cocoa powders are typically highly processed, chemically treated, and stripped of cacao’s beneficial fats and compounds. Theyre often treated and heated at high temperatures during the production process which breaks down a lot of the magical compounds which make cacao such a special superfood in the first place!
Unlike these products, our cacao retains 100% of its natural oils, minerals, and mood-enhancing compounds—offering a deep, rich flavour and a powerful, nourishing experience. We don’t view cacao as just another ingredient — We understand that cacao is an ancient tradition, a daily ritual, a functional superfood, and the opportunity for us to connect to something deeper in the everyday.
Firstly, cacao is not a sweet drink (unless you add something), and that’s the beauty of it.
Ceremonial cacao has a rich, earthy depth unlike anything you’ll find in mass-produced cocoa or chocolate. Its taste is bold, complex and completely unique —think deep dark chocolate with subtle notes of fruit, spice, and smoke, depending on the region and roast. This is cacao in its purest form, full of character, with a creamy texture that comes from its natural cacao butter—never removed or diluted.
You can prepare Alma Cacao to suit your personal preference for taste. Drinking it with only water will be a lot more of a strong and bitter taste than blending it with 50% oat or coconut milk (our favourite!) which produces a delicious smooth and creamy taste.
Our founder Craig prefers the sharp bitter taste and drinks his morning cacao with only hot water whereas Amy prefers the smooth creamy taste of coconut milk and honey blended for her morning ritual - so there really is no ‘right or wrong way’ – there’s only your way.
At Alma Cacao, we don’t just mass produce cacao and call it ceremonial—we honour it.
Every bar is handcrafted using traditional, time-honoured methods that preserve the full integrity of the bean and the traditions where these methods come from. Unlike industrial production, which often separates and removes the natural oils and compounds, we keep everything intact: theobromine, anandamide, PEAs, and the rich natural cacao butter. These elements aren’t just good for you—they’re what give our cacao its signature velvety texture and deep, layered flavour.
Our cacao is made entirely by hand—harvested, peeled, and stone-ground by an indigenous women’s collective in Guatemala—ensuring every bar carries the care, skill and spirit of the people who make it. It’s cacao with a heartbeat.
Preparing cacao at home is simple and easy and can be varied to suit your own taste and preference. Here’s our go to recipe to get you started:
- Gently heat a cup’s worth of ½ water / ½ plant milk of your choice (coconut is our favourite!). *Don’t boil, this should be a gentle heat and the liquid should never boil–We’ve taken a lot of care to preserve the full spectrum of natural fats, oils and nourishing compounds which can be broken down if they get too hot.
- Chop approx. 25g (or 1 scoop if you have our hand-grated cacao and custom alma scoop) and add this to the pan once the contents are nice and warm.
- Gently stir until the cacao is melted. Top tip: use a handheld milk frother here to give bring a creamy frothy texture to your cacao.
- Optional: Add honey, cinnamon, a dash of celtic sea salt or anything else you fancy to season to your taste.
- Enjoy and sip with intention.
Alma Cacao is designed for both. While it’s potent enough for ceremonial depth, it’s also gentle and nourishing for daily life. Whether you're journalling, working, creating, or simply grounding into your morning, our cacao meets you where you are—ritual optional, benefits always included.
In fact one of the core reasons why we created Alma was to help gently bring ceremonial-grade cacao out of the exclusive ceremony space where many people don’t feel comfortable. Its our intention that ceremonial-grade cacao has an important role to place in the everyday lives of everyday people.
There is no denying that Ceremonial-Grade Cacao holds the undisputed title of the Original Superfood with benefits for both body and mind. It’s packed with antioxidants, flavonoids and essential minerals (like magnesium and iron) that support heart and brain health and overall wellness.
It's the powerful combination of a trio of very special compounds which naturally occur in very high quantities only found in cacao. It is the potent combined relationship between Theobromine, Anandamide and Phenylethylamine working together to create a deeply nourishing mind-body experience which lies at the heart of Cacao’s unique effects as a superfood for the mind, body, heart and (spirit!).
Unlike coffee, cacao provides a gentle energy boost through theobromine, a mild stimulant that enhances focus and mood without the jitters or crash of caffeine. It also contains mood-elevating compounds such as anandamide and PEA (phenylethylamine). These are often called the “bliss” and “love” chemicals, known for promoting positive feelings, clarity, and stress relief. Many people find that enjoying pure cacao helps them feel more centered, uplifted, and connected.
We’re serious about the science-backed health benefits of ceremonial cacao and if you’re a cacao-science nerd like us then you can check our health benefits page for a deeper dive into the health science of this soulful superfood.
Alma Cacao contains no added caffeine, but it does contain a naturally occurring compound called theobromine – a gentle stimulant found in cacao that offers a sustained energy boost without the spikes and crashes of coffee.
Theobromine primarily stimulates the cardiovascular system (rather than the central nervous system like caffeine), making it less likely to cause jitteriness, anxiety or sleep disturbances. Many people find that cacao actually calms the nervous system while increasing focus and alertness. That said, everyone is different – if you're especially sensitive to stimulants, we recommend enjoying your cacao earlier in the day to see what works best for your body.
Every experience is unique – but most people describe ceremonial cacao as heart-opening, grounding, and gently uplifting. Thanks to its natural compounds like anandamide, PEA, and theobromine, cacao can create a sense of calm focus, lightness in the heart, and deeper emotional connection.
Cacao is non-psychoactive and is not a hallucinogen. It can create feelings of bliss and joy and openness depending on the dosage used.
You might feel more present, more creative, or simply more you. That’s why so many people use it to support meditation, journaling, deep work, or even just a mindful ritual to start their day. The best way to understand how cacao feels? Try it and see what it brings up for you.
Here you can place an explanation or answer to the question.
Not at all. Cacao can be used however it best serves you. For some, it’s a tool for emotional healing and spiritual connection. For others, it’s a nourishing daily ritual that supports energy, focus, and mood.
You don’t need to subscribe to any particular belief system to enjoy cacao. What matters most is that you approach it with presence, care, and respect—for the plant, for yourself, and for the people who grew and made it.