Karkar Island Ceremonial Cacao
Ingredients: 100% Pure Whole-Bean Cacao Paste (solidified)
On a remote, tropical, volcanic island off the coast of Papua New Guinea grows some of the most highly prized cacao in the world. It is from here that we’ve sourced more award-winning cacao to add to our Soma Cacao repertoire. The rich lava soil provides fertile ground for highly potent cacao to grow with ease.
Our Karkar Island Cacao has won multiple awards, including winning a Silver Medal at the 2018 Australian Fine Food Awards in its chocolate form, and it also won Silver at Papua New Guinea’s highly competitive inaugural Cocoa Show - Cocow Warwagira, out of more than 80 cocoa samples from across the country.
Like fine wine and coffee, the quality of cacao varies according to the soil, climate, genetics, and post-harvest processes. Our commitment to single origin cacao ensures the unique flavour profile of each region remains intact.
Your cacao will come as solidified cacao paste, which we have shaved up so it is “ready-to-scoop” for your convenience. We then place it in our stand-up pouches, and send it to you using a biodegradable mailer or recyclable packaging box.
Note: Cacao contains between 35-70mg caffeine per standard 25g serve (the equivalent of a cup of weak black tea).
The Mayans called cacao “the food of the gods”. Along with its rich history of ritualistic and medicinal use, cacao’s crown jewel is theobromine: a gentle, long lasting stimulant that energises us like caffeine, without punishing us with brain-fog and jittery hands later in the day. It’s also rich in essential minerals and produces mood-boosting bioactive compounds - dopamine, serotonin, anandamide (the 'bliss molecule') and P.E.A, an antidepressant also known as the 'love drug'.
For more health benefits including scientific sources, visit our cacao benefits page.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2-3 Tbs Soma Cacao
- 110 mL hot water
- 50 mL milk (we like oat milk)
- 1-2 tsps sweetener (honey, coconut sugar, or maple syrup work great)
METHOD:
Blend all ingredients together using a blender, milk-frother, or whisk. Inhale, sip slowly, and savour!
Cacao powder (or cocoa powder) has undergone intensive processing to extract cacao butter from the paste. This leaves the cacao chalkier and more insipid, and also reduces the fat content, which is vital for the transmission of the neuro-active substances. Studies have proven the widely used method to produce cocoa powder (dutch-processing) significantly decreases the levels of compounds with positive physiological effects.
Our cacao contains the entire cacao bean (excluding the husk/shell). We add nothing, we take nothing away, maintaining the highest concentration of antioxidants, essential minerals, and bliss-inducing compounds.
As an energy source cacao feels more gentle, long-lasting and smooth, while coffee is intense, fast-acting and short-lived. This is because caffeine is a nervous system stimulant, and it produces cortisol, the stress hormone, which can lead to the jitters and anxiety. By contrast, cacao's active ingredient, theobromine, reduces cortisol. This helps us to relax. Cacao also stimulates the cardiovascular system, and opens our blood vessels. This helps blood flow more freely, sends more oxygen through the body, and lowers our blood pressure. We’ve elaborated on this in a recent blog post.
Ceremonial Cacao refers to a premium, pure cacao that is ethically sourced from small family-run sustainable farms.
Ceremonial cacao is made from a single ingredient, whole cacao beans, with nothing added or removed. This is what distinguishes is from cacao powder: a product that has the highly prized cacao butter removed.
Our cacao is minimally processed to retain the highest concentration of antioxidants, bliss-inducing compounds and essential minerals.
Our sourcing methods disrupt the commodity cacao supply chain, which notoriously cuts corners and is notoriously corrupt.
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Customer Reviews
Karkar Island Ceremonial Cacao would have to be my favourite from Soma Cacao. I had a slow start with Solomon Islands Ceremonial Cacao finding it a little strong but now I love it and my go to when I need a real 'pick-me-up'. I always feel confident buying from Soma Cacao as they have consistently high standards and I like how carefully they source their products.
Really delish with maple and bonsoy.
500g makes about 20 drinks so not as many as i would of hoped for the price. It definitely feels like a bit of luxury.
As advertised, absolutely delicious!!
There is no going back to regular cocoa. Karkar resonates with my tastebuds best.
A delightful brew with this Karker Island batch. Hubby likes this one the best
My 35yr old daughter absolutely loves this & describes it as smooth & yummy without the disturbing effects of caffeine.
So I bought here 2 packets for Christmas :)
This has a lovely smooth flavour and is my personal favourite, great quality, as always
I've tried a few different brands purchased from Amazon and some rated highly on Google. None are as smooth and creamy and Soma Cacao.
Very feminine somehow this one, helps me slow down, wind down and feel my emotions. I haven’t experienced this before with other strains. It’s very mild and gentle. Love your work Soma , keep the flame burning 🔥
This batch of Karkar Island cacao tastes different from the last few bags I’ve had. Took me awhile to get used to it this time but it’s still good. It’s a part of my day that I really look forward to. Sitting down with a hot cup of liquid gold.