HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT CACAO DRINK
Before we dive into a cacao drink, it’s important to clarify why we recommend using ceremonial cacao.
Ceremonial cacao is made from whole, minimally-processed cacao beans, meaning it has a high concentration of antioxidants, theobromine, natural minerals, and healthy fats. Cacao powder and store-bought hot chocolate mixes generally have the cacao butter (containing good fats) stripped out at high temperatures, a process which also reduces the antioxidant count and the concentration of feel-good compounds.
This is also means that ceremonial cacao tastes richer, smoother and more chocolatey than other types of cacao.
CLASSIC CEREMONIAL CACAO RECIPE
INGREDIENTS (Serves 1)
- 2 Tbps Soma Cacao
- 150 ml very hot water
- 40 ml milk (we like oat milk)
- 1-2 tsps sweetener (e.g. honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup)
- Pinch salt (this rounds out the bitterness)
- Spices (optional). (e.g. cinnamon, cardamon, more suggestions can be found in this Instagram post).
METHOD
Add all ingredients to a heat-proof blender. We use our Soma Cacao portable blender which works a treat! Blend thoroughly. Pour into your favourite cup or mug. Inhale, sip slowly, and savour.
NUT BUTTER CEREMONIAL CACAO RECIPE (best hack ever)
INGREDIENTS (Serves 1)
- 2 Tbps Soma Cacao
- 175 ml very hot water
- 1-2 tsps nut butter (e.g. cashew nut, peanut butter, tahini, almond butter)
- 1-2 tsps sweetener (e.g. honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup)
- Pinch salt (this rounds out the bitterness)
- Spices (optional). (e.g. cinnamon, cardamon, more suggestions can be found in this Instagram post).
METHOD
Add all ingredients to a heat-proof blender. We use our Soma Cacao portable blender which works a treat! Blend thoroughly. Pour into your favourite cup or mug. Inhale, sip slowly, and savour.
ALTERNATIVE PEPARATION METHODS
-
See it in action here.
1. Add your ingredients (as listed above) straight to the milk frother. We use this Sunbeam one.
2. Press “foam”.
3. Wait while the milk frother blends, foams and heats your cacao all at once!
4. Pour into your favourite cup or mug. Inhale the aroma, sip slowly, and savour! -
Best for preparing cacao for groups, or if you have a little more time on your hands.
- Grab a small saucepan or Turkish teapot (preferably with a spout).
- Add your cacao (1, 2 or 3 tablespoons per serve), sweetener (to taste), spices (optional), 150ml water, and 40ml plant milk of your choice.
- Warm on low heat, stirring continuously, making sure the cacao completely melts. Do not let it come to a boil, this may cause the cocoa butter to split from the cocoa solids, and will reduce the essential mineral and theobromine content.
- Blend with a hand-held blender, or whisk up manually like the Mayans did to make it frothy!
- Pour into your favourite cup or mug.
- Optional but highly recommended: take a moment to check in with your body and mind, contemplate all that you feel grateful for in this very moment, and set an intention for your day before moving onto step 7 :).
- Inhale, sip slowly, and savour.
-
See it in action here.
- Add all ingredients to a heat-proof blender, nutribullet, or a beaker/vessel if using a hand-held stick blender. (We generally use our super handy Soma Cacao portable blender).
- Blend thoroughly.
- Pour into your favourite cup or mug.
- Inhale, sip slowly, and savour!
-
TOO MUCH LIQUID
If in doubt, always start with LESS liquid and add more if your cacao is too thick. The cacao should taste and feel decadent and rich, not watery like a tea. Our favourite ratio of water:plant milk is about 2:1.
2. NOT BLENDING YOUR CACAO
We can’t stress enough how much of a game changer it is to blend your cacao. Whole bean cacao, unlike a powdered version, is not soluble in water, so it needs some kinesthetic action to make the magic happen. Just like coffee, where you generally need tools (e.g. at the very least, a coffee plunger), we do urge you to have the right equipment to make the most of your cacao. Our very own Soma Cacao Portable Blender works perfectly :)
3. USING THE WRONG MILK
While we recommend predominantly using water, we suggest adding a little bit of milk to round out the flavour of your cacao drink. The best option by far, in our opinion, is a good quality oat milk.
We’ve tried alot of different brands and one stands out way above the rest: @thealternativedairyco.
If you are a celiac or prefer other plant milks, the next best options are coconut milk and macadamia nut milk. Almond milk is also ok though we feel it interferes with the flavour of the cacao a little too much.
Avoid soy milk and dairy milk, as these definitely interfere with the flavour, and, potentially the beneficial properties of the cacao.
OUR FAVOURITE TOOLS
To master the art of preparation.
