10/11/2025
Cacao from Africa is NOT ceremonial-grade!
A question we often get asked is "can Cacao from Africa be ceremonial-grade?"
From our ongoing research we have sadly realised that Africa does not produce a "ceremonial-grade" Cacao from bean to paste at origin (yet... we live in hope this will change in the future as we would love to support a closer-to-home source).
The term "ceremonial-grade" is most closely associated with the historical and traditional use of cacao in Central America (where our Guatemala origin comes from), and modern "ceremonial" cacao is defined by its integrity in the entire process, from cultivation to processing, as well as a cultural reciprocity with the natural world (which is true of the cacao from our Bali origin).
Africa has a history of exploitation and industrial-scale over-harvesting for the mass-market chocolate industry, which contrasts with the ideal of small-scale, respectful farming, and social reciprocity required for ceremonial grade.
It is important to have a healthy amount of skepticism about labels of African origin that claim to be "ceremonial-grade", especially the origins from certain African countries where human trafficking related to Cacao farming is still ongoing.
But even if labour and farming practices are sound, most social-enterprise system and regenerative farming areas in Africa sell Cacao beans for export - this means that the grinding of beans into paste is not happening at origin location, let alone country of origin, thereby removing potential jobs from communities as well as changing the energy (beans are removed from source before being transformed into paste, thereby not holding the entire frequency of land and culture).
Modern ceremonial cacao emphasises a contemporary understanding of integrity, which is not only sustainable and respectful farming practices, direct relationships with farmers, and processing methods that preserves the bean's natural qualities, but most importantly that cacao growing communities still live an animistic connection with the natural world and an earth-based cultural cosmology.
While there are some wonderful organisations assisting in soil regeneration and community empowerment through Cacao farming and social enterprise, it will take a long time for a harmonious state of land and communities to be the reality. For example, certain organisations are working to provide higher-quality, ethically sourced cacao from regions like Tanzania, but it still faces challenges in truly achieving the integrity of ceremonial-grade cacao, and we feel a lot more information is needed on these "ceremonial" products.
Previous (and current) exploitation of people, their culture and traditions, as well as land and natural resources, has cast a long shadow which will need time and dedication across the socio-political-economic future.
We are constantly remaining updated in the world of Cacao, and are committed to our service by only offering Cacao from ethical sources, which meet the criteria of "Ceremonial-grade". Until such a time as things improve in Africa, we continue to support the work of our Cacao partners in Bali and Guatemala who honour Cacao, the land, and their cultural traditions with the utmost integrity.
We hope this can be taken in the spirit in which it is intended - to honour the Spirit of Cacao, to educate, to learn and grow together, and to make sure that all of us continue to work with and share this beautiful heart medicine with integrity.
Please share this with anyone who you feel would benefit from this education.
♡ Cape Cacao
