The Most Delicious Hot Cacao Recipe
Cacao is a sacred seed revered by many as one of the most powerful currencies in the world, for both its healing and nutritional properties. By origin, it was the food of Mayan warriors. It made them stronger, of course, but it also gave them a reason to stop fighting.
There are stories passed down through families here in Mexico of warriors who discovered the cacao tree. When they became aware of its medicinal properties, they would show up to a battle and instead of fighting, they would share the medicine of cacao. As a result, many wars ceased to exist.
Cacao was cultivated by Mayans more than 2,500 years ago and was called “Ku-Ku”. Ku in Mayan language means sacred, and Ku-Ku “above sacred.” Aztecs learned from Mayans how to cultivate and prepare it, calling the bitter drink “Xocolatl”. This drink was only consumed by the Emperor and nobility, and was called “Kakaw”.
In Mayan language, that means Drink of the Gods.
According to Mayan elders, the Spirit of Cacao is one of the most powerful divine forces in Mayan cosmology. With the Spirit of Cacao we can travel inward where our wisdom and love live. It’s no wonder cacao is still used in ceremonies to this day.
Today, we celebrate this sacred medicine in a warm elixir, connecting to our hearts and the warrior within. Sitting in ritual with this delicious, heart-healing elixir each morning has become a favorite ritual of mine, and I want to share it with you.
What began as a search for a coffee replacement to decrease anxiety quickly turned into leaving behind coffee altogether. I’m not saying I’ll never drink coffee again, but why drink coffee when you can have hot, medicinal chocolate that has the power to stop wars?
Cacao is known for its nutritional and heart-opening properties, and has supported me in navigating emotional blockages with greater ease, dissolving negative energy and aligning with deep internal truths.
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
With the heart, we perceive and receive insight. Perception is the visual, receptive, and external component of intuition; insight is the deeper, contemplative, and internal component of intuition. It is “in-sight” where you truly see yourself and that of another.
How to Create a Cacao Ritual at Home
I received this original recipe from renowned healer and dear friend Stephanie Burg, and I will share its origin here. Since moving to Mexico I've been working with cacao regularly and have added a few of my favorite tips.
As a coffee alternative, cacao is a natural stimulant and can give you increased energy without all the undesirable side effects of coffee. (Some of us may get upset about the idea of changing our morning ritual until we find out it’s chocolate instead.)
What I’ve noticed is that my energy feels more nourished and less fried/scattered. I've also utilized the medicine by just eating a few raw cacao beans when I want to see a situation with my heart and not with my head.
It’s important to note that Stephanie and I both suggest purchasing the highest quality ingredients you can find, as organic foods retain more of their healing properties and keep their minerals intact.
Original Recipe
To make 3 cups of cacao:
4 heaping tbsp raw organic cacao powder (Stephanie suggests Keith’s Cacao)
¼-½ tsp ashwagandha powder
1 tsp powdered maca root
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups filtered water
1 cup non-dairy milk of your choice (I prefer organic coconut milk from the can or organic oat milk)
Raw organic honey to taste
Directions
Whisk together all ingredients (except honey) and heat until simmering. Remove from heat and add honey to taste… perhaps about 1 tbsp.
Note: This recipe also makes a DELICIOUS pudding if you’re not in the mood for a hot beverage (I actually learned this by accident). Just add cold milk instead of hot water and blend in the blender. Add raw organic avocado for a more mousse-like texture.
My Recipe
To make 1 cup of cacao:
2-4 tbsps of raw organic cacao (I love my dear friend Zara’s cacao)
½ -1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ - ¾ cup organic coconut milk from the can (or organic oat milk)
Raw organic honey to taste
3 droppers full of Rose Elixir (from Critical Ritual)
Pinch of Himalayan pink salt
¼ - ½ cup filtered water (or rose, ginger, or chai tea)
Then, intuitively I will add one or all of the following based on what I am needing support with:
¼-½ tsp ashwagandha powder (for nervous system regulation)
Whole cacao beans
1 tsp powdered maca root (for support around my menstrual cycle)
Dash of vanilla extract (for a depth of flavor and sensuality)
1 tsp mushroom powder (I love the Four Sigmatic Elixirs)
Substitute rose tea for the filtered water (or ginger or chai)
1 tbsp Valrhona Cocoa Powder for a velvety texture (It’s literally like drinking velvet)
Dash of organic cayenne pepper to taste (if you’re into spicy chocolate!)
Directions
Add all powdered ingredients into a frother and froth it up. Or add all ingredients (even whole cacao beans) into a high powered blender and blend until smooth. If you’re using a blender, I would recommend heating your milk and filtered water (or tea) before blending. Then pour directly into your favorite mug and enjoy.
Other Options
Sun Potion had a beautiful product called Anandamide that I love. It’s a nice place to start if you’re not ready to make your own cacao.
In the past, I’ve blended all the dry ingredients together and kept them in a container in my pantry. When I’m just serving myself, I place 1-2 heaping tablespoons in a large mug with honey, add boiling water (or rose tea) and heavy coconut cream, and whisk them all together. It’s quick and easy and doesn’t leave any leftovers. Vegan marshmallows are fun to add as well if you enjoy sweets. Yum!
Go Deeper
Sacred ritual, ceremony, and heart healing are deeply vital during these turbulent times. The collective heart is opening. Can you feel it?
Your energy is sacred. Connecting to this truth each day will change your life.
Much of the spiritual journey is a process of remembering: remembering who we are, remembering to offer ourselves compassion, remembering that we’re always doing our best. Compassion is the act of holding loving space for yourself without expectation or judgment.
If you are ready to feel supported in living a life from the heart, there is space for you in my Sacred Alchemy Course.
I invite you to join us, to try this delicious cacao recipe, and to share your feedback in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!