Facts & FAQ

A 1 lb (453 g) block of 100% cacao made from fermented Guatemalan cacao beans. It is roasted, winnowed, ground (in a stone melanger) and poured in small batches at our workshop at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. You chop it and blend it with hot water for a thick, rich drink. It costs $40 a block.

Cacao. Nothing is added, and the cacao butter that is naturally in the bean stays in. The block is unsweetened. It is not certified organic or fair trade.

From Guatemala. We buy beans that were already fermented and dried there and do everything else ourselves. Cacao doesn’t grow at Lake Atitlán itself; the lake is where our workshop is.

Katya and Alpar, who met at Lake Atitlán and became close friends. Alpar lives at the lake and works on the batches at our small workshop there. The finished blocks travel to Pāhoa, Hawaiʻi, where Katya lives and ships them across the US.

Whole cacao beans that have been fermented, roasted, shelled and ground into a paste, with all of their natural cacao butter, then set into a block. “Ceremonial” isn’t a regulated grade; it describes cacao meant to be drunk slowly and with attention, often in company. More in our guide.

Naturally bitter and unsweetened, yet gentle, pleasant and slightly fruity, because it spends a long time in the melanger. The taste varies from batch to batch: each batch carries the flavour of the cacao from its region and harvest, and even beans from the same region differ between batches. Add a little honey if you prefer it sweeter.

No. We roast our beans, as cacao has traditionally been prepared. Roasting develops the flavour.

The block contains only cacao, so it has no animal products, gluten or dairy as ingredients.

Keep it wrapped, cool (below about 75 °F / 24 °C) and dry; no need to refrigerate. It is best within 12 months of the batch date.

No. Cacao is a food. It is not psychedelic and doesn’t cause hallucinations.

No. That’s bloom: some of the natural cacao butter rising to the surface after a temperature change. It’s harmless and melts away in the cup. If a block smells off or shows fuzzy mould, throw it away and write to us.

That’s the cacao butter separating. Blend a little longer, and keep the water below boiling.

The pieces were a little big, or the water a little cool. Chop the cacao finer, or warm the cup gently while you blend.

Pure cacao is naturally bitter, and a strong cup more so. Use a little less cacao, add some milk, or a little honey.

Add hot water a splash at a time until it feels right to you.

Shipping is $9 for one block and free on two or more. The exact amount is shown at checkout before you pay.

We ship from Pāhoa, Hawaiʻi within 1–3 business days by USPS Priority Mail. Delivery usually takes 3–5 business days after that (a USPS estimate, not a guarantee). You’ll get a tracking email.

To every US address USPS delivers to, including Hawaiʻi, Alaska, APO/FPO/DPO military addresses and US territories. We don’t ship internationally yet, and there’s no local pickup.

When a batch sells out, you can reserve a block from the next one on the product page. Our batches are small and handmade, so we can’t promise an exact day: the next batch is usually expected in about 2–4 weeks. Your card is saved when you order and charged only when your parcel ships. You can cancel any time before it ships, at no cost, and if the batch runs late we’ll email you. When pre-orders aren’t open, you can join the waitlist instead.

Cacao softens in warm weather and may show a pale bloom after a hot journey. That is cosmetic and doesn’t change the cacao. Let the block rest somewhere cool and it firms up again.

Yes. Enter the recipient’s address at checkout and add a gift note in the cart. We’ll do our best to leave prices out of a gift parcel; if it matters, mention it in your note.

If a parcel arrives damaged or wrong, send us a photo within 14 days of delivery and we’ll replace or refund it. A soft block or a pale bloom after a warm journey is cosmetic, not damage. Unopened blocks with the seal intact can be returned within 14 days for a refund of the product price. Refund policy.

Yes. Our batches are small, so group and wholesale orders start as a waiting list. Cacao for circles, studios and shops has quantities per guest and a form to reach us.