Pure 100% Ceremonial Cacao

5.0
Rated 5.0 stars
117 Reviews

Connected Colombia

Venture into yourself and your connection to Mother Earth with this soothing cacao. When drinking this cacao, you can experience a strengthening of your inner sense of connection to nature, create ritual and ceremony for the earth, and find balance with all your relations.

Connected Colombia carries the prayers and energies from the tribe of the Arhuacos. Living in the mountains of the High Sierra Nevada Santa Marta, Colombia, they see themselves as a non-dual part of Earth, not separate: so caring for Earth is caring for all of existence. They maintain planetary balance by making ritual payments, or pagamento, to the Earth for her services.

The Arhuaco 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.

Ingredients

Organic Cacao Beans from Colombia

Mood

Luxurious, Cozy, Nourishing

Best For

Grounding and Peacefulness

Flavor Profile

Coffee, Bark, Graham Crackers (these are tasting notes, not ingredients)

VOLUME DISCOUNTS

Mix & match any of our cacaos. Automatic discounts applied in cart for 3 or more one pound bags or 2 or more five pound bags.

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Size
$3.00 per serving
Regular price
$60.00
Regular price
Sale price
$60.00
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  • The lush rainforest where the cacao is grown

  • A cacao farmer showing us the delicate cacao flowers

  • Opening the cacao pod to reveal the cacao beans inside

  • Wearing traditional dress while fermenting 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 what they believe to be the heart of the Earth, they maintain planetary balance and harmony by making ritual payments during intricate meditation exercises, 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.

The Arhuaco tribe’s work with cacao was re-ignited when a Colombian coffee trader working in Japan returned to his homeland to see if he could export cacao. Together with his help, the tribe received a USAID grant to build a fermentation facility and to plant cacao trees from seeds harvested from old trees in their ancestral territory. Firefly supported the project beginning in 2019 as a cacao purchaser, and assisted the cacao farmers in getting organic certification which became official in 2021. In January 2022 we’ll be traveling to visit the region and participate in a genetic analysis of the cacao trees here.

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.

Each community no matter the size of the Arhuaco tribe has a mamo, or spiritual leader. All told there are probably 400 mamos. They laugh at the notion of a biography of any single one of them, because the mamos work as a group collective consciousness, all together. They gather together at important locations to meet in council, and the nine mamos who lead each council are dynamically divined at each gathering. Many mamos will never leave the Sierra Nevada, while others will go out into the world. The spiritual leaders are easily recognized by their unique hats. The Arhuaco live near flatter mountain peaks, so their hats reflect this, in comparison to the Kogis who live near sharper mountain peaks. The Wiwa live closer to the sea and use straw for their hats.

When I asked one of their mamos about what I should share with my community about working with cacao, he shared with me this advice: “To learn about a plant medicine, start with honoring and appreciating her, and feel that in her heart. Ask her to tell you about her, what her messages are, if you sit and listen, she’ll tell you her story.” The description we have here just scratches the surface of the unique world view of the Arhuacos people. Watch the video below to learn more about the world view of the Arhuacos in their own words.

  • Metric tons purchased

    27

  • Peak Harvest Time

    MARCH TO MAY

  • Acres of Cacao

    983

  • Organic Farmers

    7

Preparing Your Cacao

  • Step 1

    Take a handful of cacao discs (use 20-25 discs, depending on your desired dosage).

  • Step 2

    Combine with 1 cup of 180°F liquid (water, herbal tea or nut milk).

  • Step 3

    Whisk or blend for 15 seconds. Optionally add sweetener (try maple syrup or raw honey).

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117 reviews
  • Shaunda G.
    Verified Buyer
    11 months ago
    Rated 5 stars
    Connected is the perfect name for this Cacao

    This cacao is not only delicious but a great heart opener. I find this cacao calms me and helps me connect with others.

  • Marianela H.
    Verified Buyer
    11 months ago
    Rated 5 stars
    One of the Best!

    One of the best flavors out there! It highly ranks on my top 3 favorites from this company. 😋 Highly recommend and would buy more if I could.

  • Allison Q.
    Verified Buyer
    1 year ago
    Rated 5 stars
    One with the Earth

    I love all of your cacao and Connected Colombia is one of my favorites. I am a lover of nature and learning about the Arhuacos people is fascinating, to learn that "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" resonates deeply with me. Understanding that they grew cacao over six hundred years ago and continue today helps me feel part of an ancient practice. For me to drink a plant medicine with such history, and know that I am helping support these people, is the best feeling. I am drinking in ancient wisdom and an ancient love and connection to this Earth. Thank you.

  • John D.
    Verified Buyer
    1 year ago
    Rated 5 stars
    First try.

    Rich. Enjoy all the different ceremonial cacao with walnuts, almonds and pecans.

  • Arianna G.
    Verified Buyer
    1 year ago
    Rated 5 stars
    Just Fabulous

    All the cacaos at Firefly are fabulous. I'm so glad I found them. I had tried other brands before, and truthfully I wasn't that impressed. Not sure what it was that made me decide to try this one, but I am SO glad I did. Just a real quality cacao experience.

  • Jenna L.
    Verified Buyer
    1 year ago
    Rated 5 stars
    Delicious cacao

    Both this and glowing Guatemala are my favorite cacaos! They are both rich, smooth and nurturing. I love having a cup of cacao every morning!

  • donna L d.
    Verified Buyer
    1 year ago
    Rated 5 stars
    Review of cacao

    I have really enjoyed learning more about cacao and ceremony. My first selection was so yummy. I have had fun created scared time to have with the cacao and learning to listen to its guidance. I have also been practicing different variations in ways to make it. I've really enjoyed it I think the most with oatmilk and now I am ready to order more!!

  • Rhonda L.
    Verified Buyer
    1 year ago
    Rated 5 stars
    Ceremonial chocolate

    First time trying it. Great to far!

  • Crystal D.
    Verified Buyer
    1 year ago
    Rated 5 stars
    So cozy and satisfying

    I loooove this cacao... one of my faves. I like to drink solo or mix in lion's mane, clove and bobinsana. What a treat for the morning meditation and journaling sessions. Plus it tastes best sipped out of my fave cacao mug.

  • Sara D.
    Verified Buyer
    1 year ago
    Rated 5 stars
    Warms my heart in winter

    Loving the the addition of a daily cacao meditation to my life. I only use about 5-7 discs in a mug of hot water & stir it with a “mix & mash” tool from Wilton to gently blend & melt it. Some days I add a little tart cherry concentrate (which I already drink daily to improve inflammation) and it tastes like a subtle chocolate covered cherry. I prefer it unsweetened so that is all I add, if I even do that. What a warm welcome to my days, especially in the winter ❄️

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Answers to Frequent Health Questions

What are the Nutrition Facts?

Due to smaller disc size, please note serving size is 20-25 discs

Pure Cacao Nutrition Facts

Is Your Cacao Tested for Heavy Metals?

Our cacao has been lab tested for safety and meets comprehensive EU standards for absence of heavy metals. In particular all our cacao tests below detectable thresholds for lead, and all our cacao tests below government mandated limits for cadmium. We actually test for 68 different heavy metals, but our focus here is on lead and cadmium as those are of most public discussion.

So why is our cacao so much safer than other chocolate products out there? 

Let’s look at cadmium specifically. Cadmium uptake is dependent on many variables, including cacao genotype, cacao tree age, and other trace metals present in the soil. Notably, the more depleted the soil is of other beneficial minerals such such as Zn, Ca, Mg, and Mn, and the younger the trees are, the higher the Cadmium uptake is. Because our cacao sourcing is focused more on quality than quantity, it is not farmed as intensively as the majority of global monoculture cacao production. Rather, our trees tend to be older and within polyculture agroforestry systems with rich soils - all factors that reduce cadmium uptake. The permaculture practices that our farmers use also regularly replenish the soils. So really, cadmium uptake has a substantial amount to do with farm management practices.


It’s also interesting to note that cadmium is first accumulated in leaves, then cacao pod shells, then cacao beans. Proper handling and shelling of cacao beans can remove the husk, which has a higher concentration than the edible part, the bean. We take great care in our cracking and winnowing process to remove as much shell as possible, which also reduces cadmium concentration in the final product. With our recent factory upgrade, we actually acquired a cracker and winnower that is a state of the art German design, used in the chocolate industry for over fifty years! This results in the cleanest cacao nibs possible.

Are there any Contradindications?

We believe cacao has potential as a holistic therapy for depression, and we have encountered the effects of cacao during depressive episodes to be uplifting and stabilizing. It is our sincere hope that someday cacao could become a part of a clinically proven method for treating depression naturally, or as a method for assisting people in reducing their dependence on powerful pharmaceuticals. 


Because cacao is contraindicated with SSRIs, many people struggling with depression cannot take cacao because of the SSRI’s they are medicating with. There is potential that people may be able to partially reduce their SSRI medication intake and supplement with ceremonial cacao, however medical studies on this need to be done to establish a verifiable protocol. If you are a medical practitioner and would like to collaborate with us on such a study, please let us know! Because pharmaceutical SSRIs have many side effects and ceremonial cacao is beneficial in so many other ways, we are hopeful that such a protocol would greatly benefit the lives of many people struggling with depression and other mood disorders.

What Minerals Does Cacao Have?

Consuming cacao can replenish minerals vital to our body. Magnesium is chronically deficient in the majority of western diets, and cacao is the highest naturally occurring source. Magnesium is used in all key brain functions, especially memory and concentration. It is also beneficial for the function of the heart, acting to relax blood vessels and decrease strain. Besides magnesium, cacao is also the highest naturally occurring source of chromium, and also high in copper, calcium, manganese, zinc, sulfur, iron, and phosphorus.

How Does Cacao Affect Mood?

Many ceremonial cacao lovers report a notable impact on their mood. There is substantial science that explains why ceremonial cacao is so beneficial. Pure cacao contains beneficial neurotransmitters and neuro-modulators already present in our brain. It also contains reuptake inhibitors that block the pathways that our bodies normally use to break down and recycle these beneficial mood altering molecules, so the good mood lasts for longer. In the long term, regularly working with ceremonial cacao can have therapeutic health benefits, including creating new neural pathways that change our daily experience to include more joy, love, and connection.

Top Molecules in Cacao

Some of the top mood altering molecules in cacao include:

Anandamide is commonly referred to as the bliss molecule, and is associated with the runner’s high effect. It is actually the first endocannabinoid to be discovered, and it is well known for moderating pain. Cacao also has N-linoleoylethanolamine, which is the reuptake inhibitor for anandamide.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) - Helps with excitement, alertness, attention. Gives the perception of time slowing down.

Norepinephrine is commonly referred to as the joy molecule. It is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone,

Serotonin - Helps with wellbeing, and creates resistance to stress. Cacao also has MOA inhibitors that inhibit reuptake of serotonin.

Dopamine - Gives feelings of motivation and pleasure. Cacao also has MOA inhibitors that inhibit reuptake of dopamine.

Due to these molecules and many others, when you drink ceremonial cacao you may feel expansive, blissful, connected to self and/or others, inspired, connected to your intuition & vision, connected to spirit, grounded, emotions arise, and the movement of stuck energy. You can also experience increased blood flow, mood elevation, and a more expanded state of consciousness. Cacao is a vasodilator, meaning your blood vessels and muscular systems relax. When working with ceremonial doses of cacao, blood flow can increase by up to 30%, meaning that more blood (life force energy) is moving through your body and nourishing all of your systems.

Not sure where to start with cacao?

That's okay, you can try them all! Our best selling pure ceremonial cacao kit allows you to try all four of our 100% single origin cacaos!

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