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How to make your own cup of Ceremonial Cacao Tea
- Jennifer Jones
- Apr 11
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 11
You may have asked yourself, how do I make my own cup of Ceremonial Cacao Tea? Do I have to be taught by a Mayan teacher to experience a cup of ceremonial cacao tea? The short answer is no. However, before you stop reading this blog because of my answer, please hear me out. I do believe that the ceremonies held by Mayan ancestors should be supported, I believe in their work, I have worked and studied with Mayan teachers and am honored to have learned from them and that is why you will not learn about Mayan ceremonial cacao ceremonies from me, however, if you are interested I can recommend a few amazing teachers to you. They changed my life and in fact encouraged me to find my relationship with cacao and with my ancestors. They helped wake me up further to the language of speaking to my ancestors.
Therefore, from me, you will learn what I know through my teachings and has been taught through millennia from my ancestors whom have conducted tea ceremonies, Thier teas were herbs hand crafted from the Dark Forests of Germany and from the boggy peatlands of Ireland. What they taught was how to simply sit with the tea in front of you and hold ceremony. Listen to the tea, and speak to each ingredient. Vision in your minds eye each ingredient ask it how it wants to help you as you carry on your ceremony. Each morning, I sit with cacao, I ask my ancestors to join me to guide me, and today I will guide you in how to conduct this same ceremony for yourself.
Before we get to how to hold your own cacao ceremony, let me share more about the tea I work with most. Which is Hawaii grown cacao tea. I make my tea from the paste and other times from the husks. Hawaii ceremonial cacao, distinguished by its unique taste profile and imbued essence from the diverse terroir, offers more than just a beverage; it's a portal to a meditative journey that you can experience each day to help guide you in your life.
Here’s how you can invite this ceremonial experience into your own home.
Step 1: Setting Your Intention Before you begin the preparation, find a quiet space to reflect. Research indicates that setting an intention can significantly affect your psychological and physiological experience, turning a simple cup of cacao into a transformative ritual. What do you seek to explore or release during this session? Whether it’s clarity, peace, or joy, let this intention guide your preparation.
Step 2: Gathering Your Ingredients To fully experience the unique characteristics of Hawaiian ceremonial cacao, source beans or paste that are ethically harvested from the islands' volcanic soil. You will need:
1 cup of Hawaiian ceremonial cacao paste
4 cups of hot water or any type if nut milk
Optional : coconut milk or mct oil
Optional: a sweetener like local honey or coconut sugar
Optional: spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or chili to complement the cacao’s natural flavor
Step 3: Preparing the Cacao Melt the cacao paste gently over low heat, introducing the hot water or nut milk slowly, stirring continuously. This careful blend ensures the rich, floral notes typical of Hawaiian cacao shine through, distinct from the earthier tones found in other regions. As you stir, visualize your intentions melding into the potion, each stir infusing the brew with positivity and purpose.
Step 4: The Ritual of Enjoyment Pour the aromatic brew into a cherished cup. Position yourself in your pre-selected space, close your eyes, and take a moment to connect with the cacao and the ceremonial spices and herbs you added. Ask your ancestors to join you, to taste the cacao with you. With each sip, feel the unique vitality of our Island Sharks Hawaiian cacao—a spiritual energy that nurtures and revitalizes. Let the distinct flavors flow over your tongue, imagine your first time drinking hot cocoa, what does the first sips remind you of? Envision where the taste takes you, as you drink the tea, give gratitude for all you have and do not have in your life. Envision your life as you like it to be, feel the emotions, truly feel the happiness, and come back to your cup, take a drink and continue to allow the feeling of gratitude for all you have in your life now.
Step 5 : Closing Ceremony As you finish your cup of tea you can make an offering to the earth or a plant in your home with a small amount of the tea to give thanks to the earth for participating. You can take this time to thank the Four Directions for joining in, for the Sun, Moon, Stars, and other planets you connect to for joining in. Thank your ancestors and other guardians and guides who were here with you knowingly or un knowingly to you. As you finish your tea repeat your intention and give thanks and close the ceremony.
What is the best tea to use?
Tea choice is truly up to you. For night time ceremonies I personally love the Rest & Relaxation – Hawaiian Ceremonial Cacao Blend by my Chocolate Brand Island Sharks Chocolate. The Rest & Relaxation blend, as noted on our website is a ceremonial cacao blend crafted for deep calm and inner balance. Made with 100% pure Hawaiian ceremonial cacao, this blend is infused with Ashwagandha Mushroom, Lemon Balm, Kava Kava, and a touch of Sea Salt—all chosen to support relaxation, stress relief, and overall well-being.Why you will FEEL the aloha...
🍫 Pure Hawaiian Ceremonial Cacao – Ethically sourced and crafted in small batches.
🍄 Ashwagandha – Ashwagandha helps you relax by calming your nervous system and lowering stress hormones like cortisol 🌿😌. It’s like a deep breath for your whole body — grounding, soothing, and steadying 🧘🏽♀️✨.
.🌿 Lemon Balm – A soothing herb to ease tension and uplift the spirit.
🥥 Kava Kava – A traditional plant used for centuries to promote deep relaxation and reduce stress.
🧂 Sea Salt – Enhances flavor and balances the body's natural minerals.1 lb. of hand-broken cacao chunks – perfect for melting into a nourishing elixir.
Drink daily to:
✅ Cultivate a peaceful mind
✅ Connect deeply with yourself and the present moment
✅ Support relaxation while maintaining clarity
✅ Experience the rich terroir of Hawaii’s cacao
Simply add hot water and blend to create a grounded cup of ceremonial cacao—no extra ingredients needed. ☕ Subscribe & Save! Get up to 10% off monthly deliveries and enjoy a calming ritual you can return to every day.
Choose your own ceremonial cacao that works for you
When selecting your cacao, you have many choices. South American cacao carries rich ancestral traditions and is often used in sacred ceremonies across Peru, Ecuador, and Guatemala. African cacao brings bold, grounding energy, though it's important to navigate ethical sourcing as the cacao industry in West Africa is known as world's largest child slave labor industry, Unfortunately, there are also global trade challenges like tariffs and long shipping routes that still impact purchasing from these countries.
I will note there are some amazing ethical brands like Shahamana Chocolate in Ghana, you can read an interview of the owner here, he escaped at age 17 from being a child slave in the cacao industry and today has his cacao farm to try to make a difference in the industry
You can also choose from cacao from Southeast Asia—including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia—is becoming more recognized for its unique flavor profiles and regional terroir. These origins often reflect a blend of indigenous knowledge and newer farming efforts, though sourcing can vary widely in transparency and quality depending on the producer.
Then there’s Hawaiian cacao—grown close to home, in the only region of the U.S. where cacao naturally thrives. Its journey from tree to cup is more direct, with fewer steps in between, allowing the spirit of the plant to remain clear and strong.
Hawaiian ceremonial cacao offers more than just warmth and flavor—it’s a vessel for the islands' powerful essence, encouraging deep reflection and connection. As you conclude your ritual, hold onto the peace and insights you've gathered. Let this ancient practice inspire a daily connection to the profound joy and serenity that comes from aligning with the natural world and your innermost self.
This author’s brand, Island Sharks, is grown and made right here in Hawai‘i. We honor the plant, the process, and the people. You’re invited to choose what feels right for you—but if you're drawn to cacao that supports ethical growing, local stewardship, and a deep connection to place, Hawaiian cacao offers a beautiful path. If you would like to book an in person session on how to host a cacao ceremony for yourslef or others you can schedule here, click below.
If you enjoyed this article then you should also find these articles about Cacao Ceremony written by Ethan Swift to also be very interesting.
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