Preparing your cup of love
Cacao is more than just a drink — it’s a little ceremony, a moment to slow down, connect with yourself, and open your heart. Each cup is an opportunity to bring in gratitude, intention, and a bit of magic into your day.
The best part? There’s no single “right” way to make it. You can whisk it, blend it, or use a traditional molinillo. You can keep it simple or turn it into a full ritual. The only essentials are cacao and water — everything else is optional, there to enhance flavor, texture, or energy.
Here’s a detailed, easy-to-follow way to make cacao that works whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned ceremony-lover.
What You’ll Need
Essentials:
- 25–40 g chopped cacao (I love 25 g for a heart-opening dose)
- 1 cup hot water (not boiling — cacao is sensitive to heat)
Optional Additions:
- Pinch of salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp tahini
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- Tiny pinch of cayenne
Why add them?
- Cinnamon warms and energizes.
- Tahini helps emulsify and absorb nutrients.
- Salt grounds and balances flavor.
- Cayenne amplifies cacao’s natural energy.
How to Prepare Your Cup of Love
Step 1: Chop your cacao
- I usually chop mine fresh each time — it feels more connected and intentional.
- Optional: chop ahead and store in an airtight container.
Step 2: Heat your water
- Warm the water gently, never to a boil. You want it hot enough to melt the cacao but gentle enough to preserve its delicate compounds.
Step 3: Combine your ingredients
- Put the chopped cacao into your cup or small pot.
- Add your warm water.
- Add any optional ingredients you’ve chosen. Stir lightly to combine.
Step 4: Froth your cacao
- Blender method: Blend everything with a blender or handheld immersion blender until smooth and frothy. Quick and creamy, perfect if you want it ready fast.
- Traditional method: Use a molinillo or whisk. Roll the molinillo between your hands or move the whisk in circles against the surface of the cacao. This creates a silky froth and can feel meditative and grounding.
Step 5: Pour and notice
- Pour your cacao into your favorite cup.
- Take a moment to observe the bubbles, texture, and subtle shine — each cup is unique.
Create Your Ceremony
Cacao is an invitation, not a rulebook. You can:
- Offer gratitude for the day
- Ask your heart a question
- Move, sing, or meditate
- Simply sit in presence
Do whatever feels right — it’s your ceremony.
A simple ritual I love: light a candle at the beginning, take a few intentional breaths as you sip, and blow it out at the end. A small gesture like this frames your cacao time with intention.
However you choose to prepare your cacao, may each sip bring you closer to your heart.