It's important to recognize that most products labeled "ceremonial cacao" are actually made in a factory outside the growing country.
And many of them don't even come from Latin America – the only place with anthropological evidence of pre-Columbian cacao use.
Even if they claim to be "direct trade" or "beyond fair trade," a lot is lost in terms of cultural and financial equity.
That means ignoring the original context that the modern term "ceremonial cacao" refers to, as well as the history of oppression and exploitation in the original cacao-growing regions.
When we say we're a Direct Trade business, we mean we have direct relationships with collectives and families who make finished cacao paste in historic cultivation areas.
We offer more transparency about our sourcing, check on the quality of farming and preparation systems, and ensure that standards of worker compensation and care are higher than cacao industry averages.
Our sources prepare cacao with minimal processing, selecting and roasting the seeds (a.k.a. "beans") by hand. This impacts the flavor and the sensation of the cacao, giving you an unforgettable aesthetic experience.
What’s more – because this cacao is prepared at the place of origin, more money from your purchase goes back to the people preparing the cacao in the same country where it grows.
This is even an improvement on so-called "bean-to-bar" (or small disc) chocolate models, sending an average of 17 times (or 1700%) the "fair trade" rate back to the source country.
We’re proud to say that every purchase supports citizens of Latin America through this type of ethical direct trade of finished cacao.
Thank you for supporting this model of real justice and collective healing!
