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- Connected Colombia Cacao
Connected Colombia Cacao
The Arhuaco tribe of the Tairona people (also including the Kogi, Wiwa, and Kankuamo tribes) grows this cacao as sacred medicine in the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountains of Colombia, which rise from sea level to 18,700 feet in a mere 26 miles. Their non-dual spiritual beliefs guide them to see themselves as an integral part of Earth, rather than as separate: so caring for Earth is caring for all of existence. Living at the heart of the Earth, they maintain planetary balance and harmony by making ritual payments, or pagamento, to the Earth in gratitude for her services. Like silk wrapped around your heart, drink this cacao to strengthen your inner sense of connection.
The Arhuacos people grew cacao over six hundred years ago, prior to colonization of the Americas. When they lost their ancestral lands, over time their cacao traditions faded. With their territory recently recognized as a "living being" and receiving federal protection, they have regained access to their ancestral cacao growing territory, and their knowledge of cacao is coming back strong to be shared with us. This is some of the very first cacao they’ve grown.
Today, the Arhuacos farmers make 58% more income by processing their own cacao rather than selling to other buyers. For a community in which cacao is the main source of income for 9 out of 10 farmers, and where 73% of the people live below the Colombian poverty line, this increase in income makes a big difference in the quality of life for families and furthers the sustainability of this incredible culture. Watch the video below to learn more about the world view of the Arhuacos.
Ceremonial grade cacao.
Feels: Luxurious, Cozy, Nourishing
Useful For: Soothing and Harmonizing
Tastes Like: Coffee, Bark, Grass
*USDA *Organic *Vegan *Vegetarian *Whole Food *Unrefined *Sugar Free *Sustainably Harvested *Soy Free *Paleo *Organic *Non-GMO *Made in USA *Gluten Free *Dairy Free *Certified Organic
Firefly's unique ceremonial cacao discs make it easy to adjust your cacao intake based on the type of ritual you are doing. Instead of chopping up a brick of cacao and then using a scale to determine how much cacao you are using, you can simply count the number of discs you'd like to use, place them in a blender & add hot water.
We get a lot of questions about the appropriate dosage, so we've created an easy reference guide for you below.
How many discs should I start with? Can I drink cacao daily? Can I have multiple cups a day? What's a ceremonial dose? How many discs equals 1oz? Read on for all of your disc questions answered!
Before we go into more detail, it's important to bring in a couple of cacao's teachings: 1) every body has a unique relationship with cacao, and 2) when working with cacao it is important to listen to your body. Everything we share here can be viewed as a guideline or reference point from our 12+ years of making & sharing cacao with people. And what we say may not resonate with every body, so your internal wisdom comes first :)
In an 8oz bag, there are ~70 discs.
Ceremonial Cacao Dosage Guide
- 1-3 discs - Microdose
- 4-7 discs - Light dose (~.5oz)
- 8-11 discs - Daily ritual dose (~1oz)
- 12-16* discs - Ceremonial dose (~1.5oz)
Microdose: This is a great option if you want to connect with cacao but may not have the time to make a drink. You can take 1-3 discs and let them melt on the roof of your mouth, maybe setting an intention, or simply taking a pause to enjoy the sensations on your palate.
Light Dose: This is a good daily dose if you are more sensitive, or want to make a lighter drink and still drop into a cacao ritual. For example, if you had a ceremonial dose the day before, you may find that a lighter dose the following day feels appropriate. This is also a good dosage option if you want to drink cacao later in the day and not be too stimulated to sleep. It's important to note, though, that while some people find cacao stimulating before bed, others find it relaxing.
Daily Ritual Dose: For many, this is a good range to work with on a daily basis. About one ounce of cacao can support you in daily rituals such as setting intentions, giving gratitude, prayer, asking for support, connecting with a partner or child, journaling, dancing, meditation, yoga, art, etc! Many drink this dose in the mornings for the beneficial nutrients & mood boost to start the day.
Ceremonial Dose: This is typically a stronger dose, and can be used to journey with the cacao spirit, or go into a more involved ceremonial space than you may do in your regular day. Some examples of when a ceremonial dose is appropriate: shadow work, trauma work, partnership healing, a group cacao journey, shamanic drumming journey or a healing dance or movement journey. This could also look like your daily cacao ritual, but expanded, incorporating activities listed above.
Please know that more does not equal better with cacao and you can have profound experiences from just one disc!
Other Dosage Questions
So, where do I start?
As a general guideline for adults, we recommend starting with 8 discs, which is roughly 1oz (there is some variation in disc size so it's not exact! #craftcacao). If you know you are more sensitive, start with 5 discs and you can work your way up disc by disc to find the sweet spot from there.
Can I have cacao multiple times a day?
We like to split up our normal daily dose into two smaller doses. If I usually have 10 discs of cacao in my morning drink, I'll split it into 5 discs in the morning and 5 discs in the afternoon.
Can kids drink cacao?
We recommend staying in the microdose or lower end of the light dose range - 5 discs or less is plenty.
When should I not to take Cacao?
We definitely DO NOT recommend cacao if you are taking any sort of mood altering medications, such as anti-depressants with SSRIs, or any medication that works in the dopamine or serotonin pathways.
- The shelf life of our ceremonial cacao is up to 2 years if the cacao is kept out of direct sunlight and below 75°F (~24°C).
- If your cacao ever melts, no need to throw it away! Simply, put it back in the refrigerator where it can re-solidify. While the look of your cacao may change, the quality of the cacao will still be intact.
- If you would like a cooler temperature cacao drink, try preparing a cacao mousse "drink". Prepare your cacao as usual, then put it in the refrigerator overnight/until it congeals. Finally, it is best enjoyed with a spoon!