Ceremonial Cacao Paste
Ceremonial cacao paste is whole cacao in solid form. Nothing is pressed out and nothing is added, so the cacao butter and the solids stay together exactly as they came off the stone at origin in southern Peru.
Paste or powder
Paste gives the thicker, fuller cup, and it keeps longest in its solid state. You shave or chop what you need and melt it into hot water or plant milk, which takes a few minutes. Ground cacao is the same cacao taken finer, so it whisks straight in and is quicker when you are making several cups at once. Neither is stronger than the other by weight.
Working with a block
Chop roughly 25 to 40 grams per cup and melt it slowly into water just off the boil, whisking as it goes. A block stores well somewhere cool and dry, away from direct light.
For the same cacao already ground, see ground ceremonial cacao powder. For larger formats, see bulk ceremonial cacao.
WHICH FORMAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
CEREMONIAL PASTE (Block Form)
- Traditional ceremony format
- Chunk and melt on stovetop
- Full-fat (58% cacao butter)
- Richest, most authentic experience
- Best for: Traditional ceremonies, purists
GROUND CACAO (Powder Form)
- Convenient daily use
- Mixes easily with hot water
- Full-fat (same 58% as paste!)
- Same benefits, easier prep
- Best for: Daily ritual, smoothies, busy mornings
SINGLE-SERVE PACKETS (1oz)
- Pre-measured portions
- Perfect for travel or gifts
- No measuring needed
- Available in 5, 10, 15, or 20 packs
- Best for: Beginners, gift-giving, on-the-go
Ground Cacao & Cacao Paste (Full-Fat) Ceremonial cacao has traditionally been prepared as cacao paste—whole beans ground with their natural cacao butter intact. At Pacha Mana, we honor this tradition by never defatting our cacao, preserving the full character, richness, and quality that ceremonial cacao is meant to offer.
