Preparing your Cacao
A simple guide to preparing and enjoying cacao in a way that feels nourishing, intentional and supportive for your unique needs.
Whether you are drinking cacao as part of a daily wellbeing practice, a moment of reflection, or a deeper ritual, there is no single right way to prepare it. This guide will help you understand dosage, preparation methods and ways to create a meaningful experience.
Considerations, sourcing and contraindications.
How much cacao may be suitable for your needs.
Preparing Your Drink
Simple preparation methods and recipes.
Creating Ritual
Ways to deepen your experience through presence and intention.
Before You Begin
Before preparing cacao, there are a few things worth considering.
The quality of the cacao, your current state of wellbeing, what you have eaten, your environment and your intention can all influence your experience.
Consider:
The cacao itself
Not all cacao is the same. Pure, minimally processed cacao retains more of its naturally occurring compounds than highly processed chocolate products.
Your body
Your experience may vary depending on sleep, stress levels, hormones, medications, sensitivities and overall wellbeing.
Food
Some people enjoy cacao on an emptier stomach, whilst others prefer to have eaten beforehand. Listen to your body.
Your environment
A quiet, supportive setting can help you become more aware of cacao's subtler effects.
Contraindications
If you have health concerns, are taking medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, please read the contraindications guide before consuming cacao.
Finding Your Dose
There is no perfect dose.
The amount that feels supportive can vary from person to person and even from day to day depending on factors such as:
Sleep
Stress
Hormonal changes
Food intake
Sensitivities
Intention
For this reason, I always encourage people to start gently and listen to their body.
Suggested Guide
5–10g
Micro dose
Gentle daily support.
10–20g
Wellbeing dose
Suitable for many people.
20–30g
Ritual dose
A deeper experience often used during personal practice or guided sessions.
30–42g
Advanced dose
Best explored gradually once you understand how cacao affects you.
Preparing Your Drink
Simple Cacao Recipe
Ingredients
20–30g cacao
200–250ml hot water
Optional plant milk
Pinch of mineral salt
Optional additions:
Cinnamon
Vanilla
Cardamom
Chilli
Rose
Medicinal mushrooms
Adaptogenic herbs
Method
Finely chop or grate your cacao.
Warm your water gently.
Add cacao and whisk until melted.
Add any herbs, spices or plant milk.
Taste and adjust.
Pour into your favourite cup.
Pause before drinking.
Make It Your Own
There is no perfect way to prepare cacao.
Some days you may drink it quietly in the garden. Other days you may sit with a journal, move your body, sing, meditate or simply savour a few mindful moments before beginning your day.
The most important ingredient is your presence.
Rituals & Practices
Beyond the Cup
Preparing cacao is only one part of the experience.
What often creates the greatest shift is not the cacao itself, but the space we create around it.
A few quiet moments of presence. A conscious breath. An intention. A willingness to listen.
Over the years, I have found cacao to be a beautiful companion for slowing down and reconnecting with what matters most. Sometimes that connection arrives through stillness. Other times through movement, creativity, community or time in nature.
There is no right or wrong way to work with cacao. The invitation is simply to become present enough to hear what your body, heart and inner wisdom are asking for.
Ways to Explore with Cacao
Journalling
Allow your thoughts, feelings and insights to flow onto the page.
Questions such as:
What do I need today?
What am I ready to let go of?
What wants to be expressed?
Meditation & Stillness
Sip slowly and sit quietly.
Notice sensations in the body, emotions, thoughts and breath.
Sometimes the deepest wisdom emerges when we stop searching for answers.
Nature Connection
Take your cacao outdoors.
Sit beneath a tree, watch the clouds, walk slowly through a woodland or simply feel the Earth beneath your feet.
Nature has a beautiful way of helping us remember our place within the wider web of life.
Movement
Allow the body to guide you.
This may be yoga, stretching, shaking, dance or simply moving in a way that feels natural and intuitive.
Also welcome the movement of any emotions that may arise.
Voice & Expression
One of the gifts cacao has given me is helping me reconnect with my voice.
Whether through singing, chanting, humming, prayer or simply speaking honestly, cacao can create a sense of openness that allows expression to flow more freely.
Creativity
Paint. Draw. Write. Craft. Create.
Cacao can be a wonderful ally for accessing imagination, inspiration and creative flow.
A Personal Reflection
One of the reasons I continue to work with cacao is that it has helped me come home to myself.
It has supported me in finding my voice, deepening my relationship with nature, moving through emotions that needed to be felt, and creating meaningful connections with others.
Again and again, I witness people soften in the presence of cacao. Tears that have been held back begin to flow. Laughter emerges. Creativity returns. Hearts open. Conversations deepen. A sense of belonging is remembered.
Not because cacao "fixes" us, but because it creates a space where we can meet ourselves with greater honesty, compassion and presence.
Continue Your Journey
Whether you are enjoying cacao at home or sharing it within community, remember that the most important ingredient is your presence.
Recipes, herbal pairings and ritual inspiration.
Experience cacao in community or if you would like to experience a bespoke experience please contact me.
Explore the cacao I currently share.