A cacao ceremony is a gathering built around a cup of ceremonial cacao, taken slowly and with intention. At its heart, it's simple: warm cacao, a quiet space, and your full attention.
Our founder, Michael Garvin, has facilitated cacao ceremonies, breathwork and somatic bodywork for about eight years. This page draws on that experience.
What happens in a cacao ceremony
Every facilitator does it differently, and ceremonies range from quiet and meditative to musical and expressive. Most include some version of these steps:
- Setting the space. A quiet room, often with candles, flowers or a simple altar, and time set aside without phones.
- Arriving. A few minutes of breathing or grounding to let the day fall away.
- Setting an intention. Each person names, privately or aloud, what they'd like to bring their attention to: clarity, gratitude, a decision, a relationship.
- Drinking the cacao. The cacao is served warm and sipped slowly, often with a moment of thanks for the plant and the people who grew it.
- The practice. Meditation, breathwork, music, journaling, movement or sharing in a circle.
- Closing. Time to rest, reflect and come back gently before returning to the day.
What to expect if you go
- The feeling. People commonly describe feeling warm, calm, open and quietly alert. Cacao's lift comes mostly from theobromine, a gentle relative of caffeine. It isn't psychoactive in the way some people expect; the experience comes from the cacao together with the setting and the practice.
- Eat lightly beforehand. Many facilitators suggest a light meal a few hours earlier, so the cacao isn't competing with a heavy stomach.
- Wear comfortable clothes. You may be sitting on the floor, lying down or moving.
- Participate as much as you like. Sharing is almost always optional.
How to hold a simple cacao ceremony at home
You don't need a facilitator to bring the spirit of ceremony into your own life. Here's a simple version, alone or with friends:
- Choose a time. Early morning or a quiet evening works well. Give yourself 30 to 60 minutes.
- Prepare the space. Tidy a corner, light a candle, put your phone in another room.
- Make the cacao by hand. Treat the preparation as part of the ritual. Follow our recipe.
- Set your intention. Hold the warm cup for a moment and decide what you want to give your attention to.
- Sip slowly. Notice the aroma, the taste, the warmth.
- Do one practice. Sit in meditation, try some slow breathing, journal, stretch or simply listen to music.
- Close. Take a minute to notice how you feel, and carry one thing from it into your day.
How much cacao is used in a ceremony?
Our everyday serving is 10 grams (about 1 heaping tablespoon), and many people feel cacao's effects at that amount. For a full ceremonial-style dose, 25 to 35 grams is recommended. If you're new to cacao, start with 10 grams and work up. Cacao contains natural stimulants, so it's worth checking with your doctor first if you're pregnant, have a heart condition or take prescription medication.
Mana Cacao is a food, not a supplement. A cacao ceremony is a mindful practice, not a medical treatment, and nothing on this page is medical advice.