A cacao ceremony invites you to experience the special power of raw cacao within a conscious, ceremonial setting. Accompanied by meditation, music, breathwork, or gentle yoga, cacao can be consumed alone or in a group. The intention is to support inner awareness, emotional openness, and a sense of connection. Today, cacao ceremonies take place primarily in spiritual and therapeutic contexts. At Yoga Tenerife, we see them as a ritual for meaning-making, healing, and shared experience. It is a moment to open both heart and mind. Learn more about ceremonial cacao as medicine and as a heart opener.
Origins and Modern Practice
Cacao has a history spanning thousands of years of ritual, medicinal, and social use in Central and South America. Archaeological and ethnographic research shows that cacao was not primarily used as a luxury or pleasure food. Instead, it was used as a substance for ritual and spiritual purposes. In the cultures of the Maya and Aztecs, cacao was closely associated with ideas of life, fertility, sacrifice, and cosmic order. At the same time, it also functioned as an economic means of exchange and even as currency. Many cacao ceremonies practiced today combine elements of Indigenous symbolism with modern needs for emotional healing, self-reflection, and community. Today, cacao ceremonies are often guided by facilitators. These facilitators move between roles of spiritual leadership, therapeutic support, and community holding.
Effects on the Body and Nervous System
The conventional chocolate that we snack on today as a sweet treat has little to do with the original origins of raw cacao. In the following section, you will find out what the key difference is. Ceremonial cacao is often described as a heart-opening plant. It can gently support the release of emotional blockages and deepen access to one’s own feelings. For this reason, cacao is often referred to as a medicine. This is partly due to the active compounds naturally present in the cacao bean. Cacao contains substances such as theobromine, flavonoids, magnesium, and phenylethylamine. Studies show that these compounds are associated with improved mood, attention, and emotional regulation. Particularly noteworthy is magnesium, which supports the nervous system. Flavonoids and antioxidants also play an important role, as they promote circulation and cardiovascular health. One of the key active compounds in cacao is theobromine. It can create a gentle and long-lasting alertness without the typical side effects of caffeine. Cacao acts in a subtle and stabilizing way. This makes it especially suitable for ritualized and body-oriented practices.
In ceremonies, cacao can have both physical and symbolic effects. It can support feelings such as connection, self-awareness, and emotional openness. Unlike conventional chocolate or commercially available drinking cacao, ceremonial raw cacao consists of one hundred percent cacao and is only minimally processed. Regular chocolate usually contains sugar, milk powder, and additives. It is also processed at high temperatures. Raw cacao, by contrast, is processed at low temperatures so that many of its original compounds are preserved. Commercial drinking cacao is often heavily defatted, sweetened, and flavored. As a result, many natural active compounds are significantly damaged. Ceremonial raw cacao is made from whole cacao beans. These beans are deliberately left unroasted and kept in their original form. The full power of the bean can only be preserved through minimal processing and maximum raw quality. For this reason, paying attention to high quality is essential.
Recipe for Preparing Ceremonial Raw Cacao
For one cup of ceremonial raw cacao, plant-based milk or water is gently heated. Ideally, the temperature should not exceed 45 degrees Celsius. This helps preserve valuable compounds such as antioxidants, minerals like magnesium and iron, and theobromine. The chopped raw cacao mass or cacao drops are stirred in patiently until a creamy consistency develops. While preparing the cacao, you can listen to or sing mantras. This allows intention and care to flow into your drink. A dosage of around 30 grams is considered a moderate and well-tolerated amount. If you already have experience, you can gradually increase the dose up to 45 grams. Always listen to your body. Spices such as cinnamon or vanilla, as well as a small amount of coconut blossom sugar, can gently round out the flavor.
How To: Your Cacao Ceremony at Home
Now that we have discovered the perfect recipe for ceremonial raw cacao, it is worth looking beyond the cup itself. For centuries, cacao has been more than a pleasure food. In the cultures of Central America, it was valued as a ritual drink that supports community, mindfulness, and inner alignment. A cacao ceremony at home does not need to be complicated or strictly ritualized. What matters most is the conscious attitude with which you create this space for yourself.
1. Choose high-quality cacao and prepare it mindfully
The quality of the cacao is essential for your cacao ceremony. Use raw, organically grown, and fairly traded cacao that is processed as naturally as possible. We recommend the raw cacao from GoodMoodFood. Prepare the cacao as described in the recipe and heat it gently. During preparation, you can light candles, burn incense, or listen to mantras. This helps you consciously shift from everyday life into a slower and more mindful state.
2. Create a protected space and a calm atmosphere
Choose a place where you will not be disturbed. This can be at home or outdoors in nature. Soft lighting, candles, quiet meditative music, a comfortable seat, and warm blankets help create a calm and cozy atmosphere. A clearly arranged space supports turning your focus inward and arriving fully in the present moment.
3. Set an intention and drink the cacao consciously
Before drinking the cacao, take a moment to formulate a clear intention for your cacao ceremony. Listen to yourself. Possible themes include nourishment, healing, gaining clarity, cultivating gratitude, or sensing a deeper connection to yourself. You can hold your intention inwardly or write it down. Begin the cacao ceremony with a few calm breaths or a short meditation to center yourself. Then drink the cacao slowly and mindfully. Notice each sip and feel the warmth and effects in your body.
4. Sense, reflect, and integrate
After drinking the cacao, a space opens for inner sensing. Take time to notice your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judging them. Journaling, sitting in silence, or gentle movement can help integrate the experience. If you wish, you can also share the ceremony with friends or family. Meet yourself with patience and openness, as every cacao ceremony is unique and may feel different each time. Tips: Avoid large meals before consuming cacao, as its effects may not unfold as well on a full stomach. Ideally, refrain from eating for two to three hours before your cacao ceremony. During and after the ceremony, drink plenty of water, as cacao can draw fluids from the body.
Cacao Ceremonies at Yoga Tenerife
During sports or yoga, it is essential that muscles, nerves, and metabolism function optimally. Raw cacao provides valuable support through magnesium, potassium, and iron. In addition, flavanols promote circulation. This improves oxygen and nutrient supply. Especially in yoga practice, the combination of theobromine and anandamide helps maintain inner calm while staying present and focused.
Practice impulse: Drink one portion of raw cacao about thirty minutes before your yoga or sports ritual. This can help you feel energetically strengthened, mentally clear, and physically focused.
For the cacao ceremonies at Yoga Tenerife, we use the organic raw cacao from goodmoodfood. It is made from unroasted cacao beans and consists of one hundred percent Beniano cacao. This special cacao comes from wild harvesting in the Bolivian rainforest and is traded fairly and directly. Its earthy and woody aroma unfolds a mild and calming effect. This makes it especially suitable as a gentle evening cacao or for quiet ceremonies. We deeply value the work of goodmoodfood, as they operate with maximum raw quality, transparency, and a respectful relationship with both people and nature. If you are unsure which cacao suits you best, we recommend trying the cacao quiz that they created. It is a wonderful way to find the cacao that matches your needs. We are also happy to let you know that you can get 10% discount on all items in the goodmoodfood shop with the code “yogawitheva”. After the last cacao ceremony and the many touching responses we received, we are happy to continue opening this space in the future.
We warmly invite you to join the upcoming cacao ceremonies at Yoga Tenerife
An evening of Yin Yoga, ceremonial cacao, journaling, and a guided sharing circle awaits you. Join us for the beautiful evening event with cacao ceremony in El Médano on Friday, 6th of February 2026 from 19:00-21:00pm. All bookings until the 31st of January will be reduced to 25 Euros as early bid price!
We are aware that cacao ceremonies originate in Indigenous cultures whose knowledge has been marginalized and suppressed for centuries. Our practice is intended as a contemporary and respectful approach. We strive for a mindful and informed relationship with cacao that honors its origin, history, and cultural significance. Learning, listening, and respect are central to our work. We also recognize the responsibility to engage carefully with this plant medicine.
Sources:
goodmoodfood Superfoods für Energie und Fokus | goodmoodfood,
goodmoodfood Rohkakao – So gelingt die perfekte Tasse! | goodmoodfood,
Burby, T. (2021). “Cacao as the Key to the Doors of Perception”
Wootton, C. K. (2024). Communion with Cacao Valle-Kendall,
R. & Piñones-Rivera, C. (2025). Subjective Configurations in Cacao Ceremonies