DUE TO SUPPLY LIMITATIONS, 1LB BLOCKS AND PRE-GROUND BAGS ARE CURRENTLY LIMITED TO 10 PER CUSTOMER.
A SOUL LIFT CACAO EXCLUSIVE! El Cielo is grown by the Utz K'aslemal collective at their land in the Alta Verapaz, central Guatemala. The dried seeds are taken to their family land in Sololá, to be roasted over wood fire and peeled by hand. This is half of what makes La Noche cacao, but this origin is quite different on its own! Profile: Pineapple aroma, notes of creamy vanilla, and "sky" energy. That's why it we call it El Cielo, Spanish for The Sky. Utz K'aslemal means "good living in a useful existence," and that's the intention the family puts into the cacao before they share it. This cacao has a slightly coarse grind in the traditional style. *Our labels and branding are approved by the producers, and we have their consent to share the cacao for the betterment of humanity.*
*amounts are per 1oz of cacao paste
Cacao has been considered sacred in Mesoamerica for thousands of years, long before the chocolate industry altered the original treasure. It has numerous superfood benefits, and can also deepen introspective practices like yoga and meditation.
Every purchase of this cacao supports Mayan indigenous people through ethical direct trade, and helps them preserve their spiritual traditions and values. For more info about us and our partners, visit our Sources page.
DIRECTIONS
To make a drink of ceremonial cacao, finely chop the cacao. Measure 1/4 cup ground cacao and 6-8 oz of hot water (steaming but not boiling). Mix with a blender (with caution!), handheld frother, or other agitator to fully melt the cacao. Optional: Add a dash of cayenne pepper and natural sweetener to taste. Enjoy!
Cacao can also be added to smoothies, oatmeal, ice cream, and other foods. Experiment with making your own chocolates or bliss balls!
GLUTEN-FREE • VEGAN • SUGAR-FREE • SOY-FREE • NUT-FREE • GMO-FREE • PLANT-BASED • SLAVE-FREE
Product of Guatemala
Ingredients: Pure ceremonial cacao paste (Theobroma cacao)
Storage info: Keep in a cool, dry, dark place. Refrigeration not required.
Heavy metal content: The current batches of 1lb pre-ground and single servings were tested for heavy metals by a third-party laboratory and found to be in a safe range for lead as advised by the FDA, and for cadmium as advised by the EU Commission, in parts per million (ppm). Please also see our FAQ post on heavy metals in cacao and chocolate.
Disclaimer: Lot #540 (the 1lb blocks for sale on this listing) tested at 1.35 ppm of cadmium by two separate laboratories. This is above the international CODEX limit of 0.90 ppm. We consulted with the FDA, and they did not request or mandate a recall. This signifies that they do not think that this poses a significant health risk. And according to our own research, this is a very minor elevation. Plus the cacao tastes and feels the same as always, so we want to do whatever we can to keep supporting the indigenous family who makes it, while also investigating why there's been a slight increase in the latest batch. The only people who might want to avoid this batch of El Cielo cacao due to this reason would be pregnant women, young children, the elderly, people with an auto-immune condition. For any questions or concerns, please ask a licensed medical professional.
*NOTE: Packaging may differ slightly from the photos here.
*Some melting of cacao paste may occur during shipping. This isn’t a problem in terms of the quality of the cacao, but the shape may be different than pictured.
*Color and pattern variation is natural for pure artisanal cacao. Smooth white areas are most likely the natural cacao butter. Reach out if you have any questions.
*Please allow up to 7 business days from the time you place your order until you need your cacao to arrive. Thanks for understanding that we cannot process expedited orders at this time.
