About Mama Amor Ceremonial Cacao
Single origin direct from Guatemala. The money is given directly to the women who make this by hand, and they ship it directly to me where I package and label it.
Cacao harvested from the Suchitepéquez Mountains of the Guatemala. Agriculture and hybridization was mastered in this region for thousands of years.
Like other ceremonial cacao, the flavor of this particular kind has been evolved and fermented into fruity, acidic, and noted with caramel bittersweet tones.
Your purchase supports 15 women of an established collective where they have mastered this ancient art, and continue to refine their craft. They have been able to use the support from folks like us to provide stability and abundance for their community.
Their cacao is made of various criollo hybrids for a diverse experience, ground and fermented for one week in banana leaves at 550m altitudes.
My Personal Interest
I chose to work with this cacao because of the unique potency it carries. It is the only ceremonial cacao to have a strong effect and spiritual connection for me. I also liked that it initially came as a gift from a friend, who pays the women directly when I order. As a direct source business who wants my investments to go into the hands of makers, farmers, and foragers, I wanted to support the producer directly. I like that they do not fancily package and label this. I do that part.
I recommend using in times of connection, healing, and replenishing the physical body after moving a lot of energy. Energy is held in place in the body by minerals and vitamins. When we are doing a lot of things, or upleveling spiritually, or going through a healing/realization process, we lose a lot of nutrients that cacao helps to replenish.
When someone is busy, this cacao also helps bring one back to the present moment. When there is a lot of commotion, we disconnect from the body in the thoughts of getting things done. Ceremonial cacao can remind you to slow down, to stay present with what the body is feeling and to remember to move at a nourishing, and slower pace.
Why ceremonial cacao?
One of the most pharmacologically complex substances, cacao (raw chocolate) is an incredible superfood very high in antioxidants & nutrients such as magnesium (chronically deficient in western diets & key for body & mind), and is the highest naturally occurring source of chromium. It also contains copper, calcium, zinc, sulfur, iron, & phosphorus. It boosts circulation & increases nutrient absorption.
How to use it:
Start small. Stir 1/2 tablespoon of the cacao into a pint of water on the stove on low, or place in a blender with piping hot water and blend for a completely smooth finish. Add herbs, spices, sweeteners, even a milk, to your liking. Pairing this cacao with one of my mushroom tonics or Shilajit is like a mineral bomb! Tonics like the reishi, luminous, and Shilajit will make this very calming and negate caffeine. Pairing with white peony is very yin and cooling.
These are the primary neurotransmitters this cacao effects:
Norepinephrine - The "joy molecule," associated with feelings of elation and euphoria. Increases reaction time, awakens and alerts skeletal muscle. Lowest at night and rises in the morning, helps stimulate a feeling of alertness and arousal.
Serotonin - Creates sense of satisfaction, wellbeing, optimism, and alertness. Needed for feeling rested and awake in the morning. SSRIs work to increase available levels of serotonin as reduced levels of serotonin are associated with depression. Cacao is very high in magnesium and tryptophan, which are the precursors for serotonin.
Dopamine - Gives feelings of reward, pleasure, motivation, attention, memory, and sleep. Protects from Parkinson's and other neurological diseases.
Anandamine - Endocannabinoid that regulates overwall reward circuitry in the brain and body. From Sanskrit word "joy, bliss, delight." Known as the bliss molecule. Helps manage pain, helps balance, appetite, mood, drives neurogenesis (growth of new nerve tissue). Regulates CB1 and CB2 receptors. Cacao also has N-linoleoylethanolamine, the re-uptake inhibitor for anandamine.
Phenylethylamine (PEA) - Increases the actions of other neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. Increases efficacy of daily activities regardless of age. Increases excitement, alertness, attention, can help give perception of time slowing down which is highly associated with the feelings from cacao and helping to relieve anxiety & feelings of being "rushed."