A SOUL LIFT CACAO EXCLUSIVE! La Noche is grown by the Utz K'aslemal family at their land in the Alta Verapaz and Quiché areas of central Guatemala. The dried seeds are taken to their family land in Sololá, to be roasted over wood fire and peeled by hand. Profile: Dark flavor, appearance, and energy from small "black" criollo seeds. Slightly coarse texture. La Noche is Spanish for "the night." 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.
Disclaimer: Since lot #405, La Noche has tested in the range of 1.207-1.376 ppm for cadmium. This is above the international CODEX limit of 0.90 ppm. Lot #476 also tested at 0.249 ppm of lead, which is above the FDA advisory of 0.100 that is specifically intended for candy that would be eaten by children, which doesn't apply to most of our consumers. 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, these are very minor elevations. 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. The only people who might want to avoid La Noche 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. Please also see our FAQ post addressing questions about heavy metals in cacao and chocolate.
*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.
