~ Ka'kaw Chinimital ~
Made in Sololá, Guatemala I Blessed by Mayan Spiritual Leaders I Not One Machine Used I Produced by an Indigenous Owned Business
Our Cacao
Our cacao is made by a cacao collective called Chinimital del Ka'kaw, which is formed by people of four Mayan nations~ Q'iche', Kaqchikel, Q'eqchi', + Tz'utujil.
Their mission is clear~ To make the authentic practices + wisdom of cacao available to their community + to the world.
The collective is formed by Ajq'ijab' (Mayan spiritual leaders), Elders (spiritual leaders who also play the role of guides and leaders), cacao farmers, historians, cacao transformation experts, Texel (grandmothers in charge of guiding the process of production of cacao), + more members of the community.
The cacao is farmed in the traditional Mayan way. 3 traditional Kotzij’ (ceremonies) are held at the farm to show respect to the cacao trees~ when it is planted, when it flowers, when it is harvested!
Also, every person who comes into the farm cleanses themselves with incense to bring positive energy to the space.
Part of the cacao production is left for the animals whose diet is also dependent on it, in order to respect the symbiotic relationship of cacao with the local flora + fauna.
Not to mention, no chemicals come close to the cacao + the farmers use only ancient agricultural methods.
The Process - From the tree to your cup
The cacao is 100% handmade. From sun drying, roasting, peeling, to grinding in the traditional metate, every step of the process is made by hand.
Also, Ajq’ijab’ (Mayan spiritual leaders) energize the cacao during the process by cleansing it + having it present in traditional spiritual practices that fill it with energy.
The cacao travels from an ancient farm in Alta Verapaz which belongs to members of the Q'eqchi' nation.
What is an ancient farm? During the times of the Conquista (invasion of the Americas), the Spaniards forbade the use of cacao to the Mayans. Cacao farms were taken down + switched to coffee farms (because it was a product that sold better in Europe), + the Mayans were enslaved + put to work in these new farms. But there was resistance + a few cacao farms survived. The farm where we get our cacao from is one of these ancient farms, + the trees are the descendants of trees that were in this farm hundreds of years ago. In the process of plantation there are specific rituals + ceremonies made for the trees in order to follow the proper steps of traditional farming.
Then the cacao is taken to the border between the Kaqchikel + Q'iche' nations, where the collective moves on to the process of transformation.
Everything is hand-made in the traditional Mayan way. Sun-dried, hand roasted in wood fire, peeled, grinded in the sacred millstone by indigenous women and grandmothers.
But before it is packaged, the Ajq'ijab' (spiritual leaders) + Aj Kakaw (guardians of the wisdom of cacao) give it a ceremony with incense + fire, + invoke the sacred Mayan energies to cleanse, bless, + protect this cacao.
Directions
Mix 2-3 Tbsp of ceremonial cacao into 6-8 oz hot water in a blender and mix until foamy!
OR even better... Do it the traditional way + mix your cacao (2-3 Tbsp) with double the size of hot (but not boiling) water, mix well until it becomes liquid + then add enough hot water to fill your cup.
Cacao paste can also be added to foods, smoothies, breakfast bowls, ice cream, energy balls, + more!
Cacao With Purpose
With the purchase of this cacao not only are you supporting indigenous peoples through fair trade + ethical consumption, you are doing much more! The money that goes to the collective is being used to pay the workers a salary that preserves their dignity + sustains their families.
It is also put into beautiful projects which aim to bring cacao back to the indigenous communities of Guatemala, who sadly almost lost this part of their tradition. It was forbidden to use ceremonial cacao for hundreds of years for being seen as witchraft. When you buy cacao, we can give indigenous people cacao for free, alongside an education on how to use it to tackle malnutrition, reclaim their indigenous tradition, + recover their ancient wisdom.
Additionally, we support projects within the indigenous communities which include: Support for addicts in public rehab centers, cleaning + activating a corridor of ancient Mayan altars which were abandoned, + individual causes to support specific people in the community who are in need of emergency aid.
Product weight: 1 block / 4 oz / 113.5 gr