Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

That's right... either create a free account or log in if you already have one. 

That's how to find your order info, track your packages, manage a subscription, and view course pages that you have purchased.

Later you can access your account using the profile icon on desktop/laptop, or the "sign in" menu link on mobile device or tablet. 

We send shipping confirmation emails on the day that your package mails out. That email will contain your tracking link. (Make sure to check your Spam and/or Promotions folders if you haven't seen this email within a week of ordering.)

The absolute best way to track your orders is to make an account on our website using the same email address you used in your order (or log into your account if you've already created one). Then click the profile icon on laptop/desktop or the menu "sign in" link on mobile to view all your past purchase info.

In general for U.S. orders we recommend allowing a week (6-7 days) between the time you order and the time you need to have your cacao in-hand. Please see our Shipping Info page for the most up-to-date info on this!

A. Once it leaves our hands we only have access to the same info that you can see on the USPS tracking info page. Packages can be delayed due to a number of reasons such as: USPS error, extreme weather conditions, political events, and more.

Usually if a package is late, it arrives within 2-3 days of the expected date. Sometimes a tracking links says "delivered" before the package has actually arrived. In most cases it arrives the very next day.

If a package is totally lost in transit (i.e., still hasn't arrived after two weeks for domestic shipments, or six weeks for international shipments) or is delivered to the wrong address, we can issue a full refund or a free replacement on your order.

Follow the instructions on your packing slip. Basically, send us photos of the package and any damaged products showing all abnormalities clearly. Email those to us with your order number. Then hold onto everything until you hear otherwise from us. We'll file an insurance claim with photos, but you may have to take the package and items into a post office as further evidence.

This can happen for a couple reasons. 

One is that your shipping address was entered in a way that doesn't match the USPS system records. Our shipping engine notifies us if this is the case and we'll contact you before shipping to try to prevent this from happening. If we make a mistake in the process, we can re-ship it to you at no additional charge.

However, if you tell us to ship it to an address even though it doesn't match the USPS system, and it ends up returned to sender, then we will ask you to pay the shipping cost a second time to re-send it to you. We can invoice you through our website for an easy payment.

Yes, just enter your full mailing address when checking out from our online shop and choose your destination country. Anything outside the U.S. typically takes 6-10 days for priority mail (after processing time). However, times may be delayed during the pandemic. 

As long as your order hasn't shipped, this is not a problem! Just email us with your order number and we can cancel the item or the whole order and issue a refund.

Currently we do not accept any returns, even for unopened products. All sales are final. But if there’s a major problem with your purchase, we’re committed to make it right. In that case, please Contact Us.

In most cases you'll receive a confirmation email with that info. But you can also access your course(s) from your account page. Make an account on our website using the same email address you used in your order (or log into your account if you've already created one). Then click the profile icon on laptop/desktop or the menu "sign in" link on mobile to view all your past purchase info.

Yes, we offer bulk discounts via discount codes on our website. You can get 10% off 10 or more items (mix and match) by using discount code 10PLUS at checkout. You can get 20% off 20 or more items with code 20PLUS. This the closest thing to wholesale that we offer at the current time. 

If you'll re-sell our products in your shop, please Contact Us and we'll add you to a map of places where people can buy Soul Lift Cacao products in person.

If you want to buy more than 50lbs, email us and we can connect you with a wholesale supplier in Guatemala.

Cacao is non-perishable at room temperature. Just store it in a cool, dark, dry place to avoid melting. Once you open the package, re-package or transfer it to a tight container to prevent any moisture from getting in.

To make a drink of luscious ceremonial cacao, finely chop a block of our cacao paste with a chef’s knife on a cutting board. Measure 2-4 tbsp and mix into 8oz of hot water (steaming but not boiling). Use a blender (with caution!), a milk frother, or just stir vigorously until the cacao is well melted. Then… enjoy! Optional: Add a dash of cayenne pepper and natural sweetener to taste.

If you want more help, you can watch our Free Video Tutorial!

Our cacao is GMO-free and it's grown without the use of any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. But our cacao is not yet certified organic. As a small social enterprise working with small, remote family farms in Guatemala, certification is currently cost-prohibitive for all of us. But we meet and check on the procedures and operations of all our cacao sources, to ensure the best and healthiest cacao possible.

We actually go a step beyond fair trade, and develop direct trade relationships with family farms and collectives in Guatemala. In a fair trade model, you still don’t know exactly where a product originates. We’re bringing in more transparency, so you know your purchase has a direct positive impact on the artisans making this special cacao. We literally know all the groups we source from and support them in advancing their operations. We’re building symbiotic relationships that we can all feed good about. Our model means 5-15x the amount of money stays at the source compared to bean-to-bar models, since we're buying finished cacao paste products from sources and not only raw cacao beans.

Cocoa is the highly processed material made from cacao. Cocoa is used in everything from chocolate to baked goods to hot cocoa mixes. Aside from removing the natural and healthy fats, cocoa is also produced at very high temperatures and could be processed in other unknown ways, leading to the destruction or removal of the original nutrients. If you get cacao powder by itself there aren’t major health concerns, but products labeled “cocoa” are likely produced using conventional agriculture methods with pesticides and other undesirable factors. Long story short, stick to real artisanal cacao!

(Photo by @plantromance)

To understand this, we recommend watching this VIDEO with Soul Lift Cacao founder Nick Meador!

Different people have different ideas about what counts as ceremonial cacao. At Soul Lift Cacao we consider it “ceremonial grade” if it comes from a family farm, it’s roasted over an actual wood fire, and it’s grown and produced with the intention for it to be a soul medicine to the world.

Scent, flavor, texture, and appearance matter as well. Those are influenced by cacao genetics, farm location, soil health, length of fermentation, length of roasting, and other factors. 

But what matters most of all is the effect… whether it deepens meditative experiences, brings greater insights to real-life situation, and fosters more inner/outer connection and holistic unity. We only sell cacao paste that meets these rigorous standards. Visit our Online Shop to see what we offer.

Yes and no! Ceremonial cacao is raw in the sense that it’s pure and very minimally processed. True ceremonial cacao paste is just that… cacao! No herbs, mushrooms, or sweeteners added.

However ceremonial cacao isn’t “raw” in the sense of being totally unheated. The ancient traditional way of preparing cacao involves lightly roasting the beans over a wood fire. This impacts the flavor and energy of the cacao in a way that simply cannot be replicated in a propane oven. And we’re one of the only companies selling pure ceremonial/artisanal cacao roasted over a wood fire. There is attention not to let it get too hot or burn, but there no way to measure the exact temperature when roasting over a wood fire.

Furthermore, the whole concept of “raw” food is actually very fuzzy. There’s no universal agreement about what it means, and no governing board checking on the validity of “raw” claims. It’s generally thought that keeping foods below 118 degrees F keeps it “raw”… but again, that’s not a universal quantification. It's true that cacao powder is cold-pressed, but it is usually heated to very high temperatures earlier in the manufacturing process (see the diagram below).

It’s possible to get cacao that has only been sun dried and not roasted, but this is more expensive due to the increased manual labor it requires. And in our opinion it doesn’t offer as full or deep of an experience as the roasted cacao. It’s possible that more theobromine (the main active compound) transfers from the hull to the bean during roasting. Furthermore, cacao literature tells of a mysterious alchemy that occurs during the grinding of cacao beans to make paste (which in many cases goes on to become chocolate). Long story short, stick to real ceremonial cacao!

To better understand the difference between ceremonial cacao and cacao powder, please view this diagram by Eduardo Antonio Morales:

Cacao paste is a less processed version of cacao liquor, cocoa mass, baker’s chocolate, etc. It is 100% dark cacao that has been ground down so it no longer has the original crystallization patterns that make cacao nibs CRUNCHY. 

But cacao paste doesn’t have cacao butter removed and then added back in, as more processed chocolate products do. True ceremonial cacao paste is made from cacao seeds (aka “beans”) that are roasted over a wood fire, whereas the more processed versions are heated in a propane oven, often to very high temperatures. 

Cacao paste is the ground form that can be melted into a rich, frothy cacao drink. To do that we use a large knife and cutting board to chop it into small pieces. Then we blend it with hot water. 

We also sell pre-ground ceremonial cacao for those who want to skip the chopping step. But for some of us, the chopping is an important part of a cacao ritual. We don’t want more processed or tempered cacao that looks uniform. We prefer it unadulterated and wild as it came.

Those are the natural patterns of cacao butter that are crystallized after the cacao is ground and re-solidified. If you see these white patterns, there’s nothing wrong with your cacao. On the contrary, it means you’re holding the real thing!

It looks unusual because we’re used to seeing tempered chocolate, where the appearance is uniform and standardized across the surface. During colonialization in the 1800s, Europeans invented tempering to make their chocolate products more appealing to the masses.

We sell pure, untempered cacao in its natural, wild form. We do this to honor the ancient traditions of the Mayan indigenous people.

When you prepare the cacao, all the cacao butter will melt and redistribute resulting in a beautiful cup of ceremonial cacao (or “drinking chocolate”). And the people you share it with will thank you for your authenticity and dedication to protecting ancient traditions.

It is true that some reports have shown amounts of heavy metals in chocolate and cacao products that are above the levels recommended by the FDA (for lead) and the EU Commission (for cadmium).

It can depend on many factors including the source country, pollution levels, soil quality, and more.

At Soul Lift Cacao we're proud to say that all of our cacao varieties were tested for heavy metals by a third-party laboratory in February 2021. And all of them were found to be within safe amounts according to the FDA and the EU Commission.

We will continue to do everything in our power to make sure that our products are safe for you, so that you gain the most benefit possible when you enjoy them.

No! It’s simply the original form of chocolate. This question often comes up because cacao is known as a “plant medicine,” which means that it’s a superfood/health food that also has some magical qualities that can’t be summed up just by the physiological benefits and effects. But cacao is a gentle plant medicine. We stay connected to our ordinary consciousness. It doesn’t force us on a journey. It’s up to us if we want to go deeper with embodiment or self-development practices. There’s no crash or craving. Again, cacao is no more a drug than chocolate!

It’s possible. Cacao is a mild stimulant from the combination of theobromine and caffeine. It's not as jittery as coffee or caffeinated soda. The energy is more smooth and sustained. But different people react differently to it. Some people could have a cup at night and not having any trouble falling asleep. Other people might drink a cup at noon and stay awake til 4:00am!  In general, we’d recommend not having cacao within 6 hours of when you’re hoping to go to sleep. And our favorite time range to enjoy cacao is between 10:00am and 4:00pm.

 This is a really subjective matter, but here are some suggestions for daily, weekly, and longer term use. 

We recommend not having more than 2oz in any given day. Doing so can lead to nausea or headaches, especially if you don't drink enough water or eat enough food before and/or after the cacao experience. It can also be effective to have a very small amount of cacao. A nibble might be enough to let you feel some of the magical energy. (Think of it like a "microdose" or "homeopathic" dose.) 

As for weekly consumption, we recommend taking at least 2-3 days off per week. Cacao is a plant medicine, after all. And it's important to let the energies settle and not misuse this special "Food of the Gods."

Longer term, it can sometime be a good idea to take a longer hiatus from working with cacao. If you ever start to feel like your heart is "too open" or your energy becomes a little frazzled, you might want to take 1-4 weeks off from working with cacao.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS ON OUR BLOG

We've heard mixed things about this. But we asked our Guatemalan sources who are familiar with the ways of Mayan midwives.

They told us that small amounts (less than a ceremonial dose) are probably fine during pregnancy

And while breastfeeding, there probably isn't any concern at all. It sounds like the opposite, since ceremonial cacao contains valuable minerals that would be passed onto the baby.

The bottom line for us is always this: listen to your body. If your body says it's good for you, then it probably is. In this case you can also listen to your baby's body!

It's okay for anyone who can have dark chocolate to also have ceremonial cacao. Cacao is not mind-altering or intoxicating. It's just the pure form of chocolate. People of all ages can benefit from the superfood aspects of cacao. Ceremonial cacao does have caffeine, so it could be good for children to stick to a low-percentage drinking chocolate such as our 35% dark Snickerdoodle. Cacao has much more theobromine than caffeine, and the effects are not as jittery as coffee or caffeinated soda. Children do sometimes participate in cacao ceremonies in Guatemala. Ultimately it's up to a parent's discretion.

Yes! Ceremonial cacao paste can substitute for any baker's chocolate or pure cacao liquor.

Cacao has just as much of a history of use in foods as in making cacao drinks. As long as you do it with respect, it's fine!

Yes, cacao is paleo friendly and keto friendly! And our cacao paste is better than cacao powder for the keto diet, because cacao paste, nibs, and beans still contain all the natural fats. In the production of cacao powder, most of those fats are removed and sold as cacao butter. Stick with the original form of cacao!

Our pure cacao paste contains only cacao and has no additives of any kind.

Our drinking chocolates are sweetened with low-glycemic coconut sugar. 

We have a commitment never to use refined sugars or sweeteners.

Our products have a best-by date on the packaging which is usually a year from the date we receive the item from our partners in Guatemala or from when we pack them in our cacao cafe. 

The date we use is conservative, since cacao will actually last for years if kept in a cool, dry, dark place and in an airtight container. 

Prepared cacao paste doesn't "go bad," but after a long time oxidization could result in a less desirable flavor.

Pure ceremonial cacao is just that – 100% dark cacao paste. You can enjoy it as is, or you make a drink with your choice of sweetener, spice, milk, or even a tea decoction. 

Drinking chocolate is made with the same ceremonial-grade cacao, but it's pre-ground and mixed with coconut sugar plus (depending on the flavor) herbs, spices, or extracts. We do not use flavorings ("natural" or artificial) or refined sugars.

Drinking chocolates are a better option than "hot chocolate," but are also rich enough to be used for a cacao ceremony.

Coconut sugar is a natural, unrefined sweetener made by evaporating the sap of a coconut palm tree's flower stem. It is NOT made from sugar cane.

Not only is coconut sugar delicious; it is also low-glycemic. That means it doesn't spike the blood sugar as much as other sweeteners, especially refined sugars. In other words, coconut sugar doesn't cause as much of a rush and a crash.

We think coconut sugar also has a rich and delicious flavor that perfectly complements ceremonial cacao. The flavor reminds us of panela, the unrefined cane sugar that would have been the most likely cacao sweetener in historical settings. But even panela is "high-glycemic."

NOTE: The food called "coconut sugar" is not 100% sugar nutritionally speaking. It also contains dietary fiber and other elements. For example, in our Gateway 55% Dark Drinking Chocolate, the recipe is 45% coconut sugar, but only 35% nutritional sugar.

In line with local laws, all customers are required to wear a mask when entering. At the cafe we allow customers to remove their mask while actively dining after providing proof of vaccination, or a negative test result within 72 hours, as long as they don't have active symptoms.

This policy is only for indoor dining, given that we have a small space without much ventilation. We made a heated outdoor patio where people can sit regardless of vaccine status, because we want everyone to feel welcome. Some vaccinated people choose to sit outside. The patio cost us a lot of money and takes regular negotiation work with the city, but it's important to us to maintain that space.

If a customer doesn't want to disclose their vaccine or test status, they can simply ask for their item "to go" or order online for pickup or shipping, and then we don't ask. We're polite to all customers regardless of their personal choices.

As a small business we have a lot of factors to consider, especially liability in the case that someone might be harmed on the business premises. But also, some of us have lost family members to COVID and had long COVID cases ourselves. We're doing what we can to make sure that we can remain of service in this time when so many people are finding emotional support from cacao.

Our products are available in our Online Shop via global shipping, and for pick-up at our brick-and-mortar cafe in Portland, Oregon, USA.

To take advantage of local pickup, look for Delivery Method on the checkout page. Local pickup requires up to one hour of processing during our open hours. You'll get an email confirmation when your order is ready for pickup!

As a small social enterprise, we generally can only afford to sponsor an event or cause if an organizer or group has a very large audience (i.e., over 100,000). If that's your case, then feel free to Contact us for more info.

Otherwise, our Affiliate Program could be a good option for you, since you could gain commissions on sales that you refer to our website with a custom link or QR code. Then you could use that commission money on your own cacao purchases. Read more about our Affiliate Program HERE.

Soul Lift Cacao is a legal inspected food business, and the groups we source from don’t currently have labeling that meets USDA/FDA requirements. All of these groups review and negotiate on the labels we create for U.S. sales, so everything is done with their consent and approval. There are many assumptions in the world of cacao about appropriation, taking advantage, etc. Soul Lift Cacao is a fledgling company still overcoming the back-end costs involved in starting a food business (commercial kitchen rental, business taxes, insurance, etc). People who bring cacao to the U.S. by hand and sell it out of a suitcase don’t have to cover those costs, and buying from them doesn't include the safety and confidence offered by a legal food business. As Soul Lift Cacao thrives more and more, we will be committed to finding new ways to give back so that the people growing and preparing the cacao benefit along with us. In the meantime we prioritize working with groups who treat workers much better than cacao industry standards. It’s an honor to help these groups in getting their medicine out to a wider audience in a fully legal way.