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Our Story
Alma means soul in Spanish
During our time in Guatemala we attended the San Marcos Spanish School to help us pick up the basics we would need to spend a year navigating central and South America.
One morning out teacher, Cristina, a 4ft2 indigenous mayan lady dressed head to toe in immaculate bright patterned colourful clothes was teaching us some new words when she said the word ‘alma’. The two of us looked at each other and smiled - for some reason alma immediately became our favourite word. ‘It means ‘soul’ in Spanish Cristina said. It all started from there..
It’ll be no surprise that we were seriously impacted and influenced by our time in central and south america and alma cacao definitely wouldn’t exist to day without the experiences we had there. We attended some of the most beautiful ceremonies in guatemala, mexico, colombia and peru and have been lucky to witness the different ways that traditional cultures work with medicines of all kinds.
What we both came to realise is that the benefits of ceremonial-grade cacao are too powerful to stay hidden and not be experienced by the world. That's why we created alma cacao—to begin to bridge the gap between the worlds of spiritual ceremonies and modern wellness, offering cacao that’s both pure and potent for ceremony and also practical and accessible enough for your daily routine.
For some people, ceremonies and rituals are essential parts of their lives. For others, the formality and group setting creates discomfort that makes relaxation and healing impossible. We’re not suggesting people remove the ceremonial element from cacao - we’re advocating for people to have the opportunity to find their own way that works for them. You’ll definitely still find us supporting or even holding our own ceremony or two along the way!
We don’t think that you should be excluded from accessing the life-changing health benefits of cacao because your nervous system is wired different. We’re both from the working class north east of england and so for us Alma Cacao is about opening up the medicinal benefits of cacao to everyone regardless of social background.
There have been LOTS of lessons learnt along the way so far and we’re sure there’ll be plenty more to come. We’re very aware that we are two white working class europeans working commercially with the natural resources of indigenous communities half-way across the world and to do this honestly and with integrity takes a lot of consistent intention and effort. But with you guys here to support us and keep us right, we can’t wait to continue this crazy cacao-fuelled journey with you!
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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.