Festive Ceremonial Cacao Recipe
The Recipe
I’m excited to share my festive cacao blend with you—a warming, nourishing treat to enjoy through the season and beyond. I encourage you to savour the experience: the spicy, citrus aromas, the rich, comforting warmth, and perhaps an intention for how you’d like to close this year and move into the next.
🜃 PORTIONS
For ease, I recommend using cacao discs—each disc is 5g.
A dessert spoon is equivalent to 10g. If you have digital scales, they’ll be useful for accuracy.
Feel free to adjust the amount of milk or water to create your preferred consistency. The less liquid, the thicker the blend.
🜃 SUGGESTED AMOUNTS
🜃 5-10g for a small, daily dose. This is also a good amount for those who are pregnant (read more about cacao during pregnancy here⋙) or have any pre-existing health conditions (learn more about cacao’s health benefits and safety here⋙).
🜃 20g for a meditation
🜃 30-40g ceremonial dose.
🜃 WHERE TO SOURCE QUALITY CEREMONIAL CACAO
I only use organic ceremonial cacao from my trusted supplier, Forever Cacao. You can enjoy 5% off your order with the code RISINGCACAO. You can simply click on the code link and the code automatically applies at the checkout.
For my London clients, I also sell this beautiful cacao directly, saving you shipping time and costs. If you'd like to collect from me, reach out at helen@therisingspace.co.uk to check stock.
🜃 INGREDIENTS
Ceremonial cacao discs, chopped, or grated (choose your preferred dose—see above).
100-200ml of water, dairy, or plant-based milk (I love Plenish organic cashew milk). I use a half-and-half mix, and in this recipe, I used just under 200ml for a nice, creamy consistency.
A small thumb of freshly grated turmeric and ginger.
Orange or tangerine peel (organic if possible, as citrus often carries pesticide residue).
Spice mix: 1 cinnamon stick, 4-5 cloves, 4-5 cardamom pods (halved to release the seeds), and star anise broken into pieces.
🜃 DIRECTIONS
Add the spice mix to a dry pan and toast until fragrant—be careful not to let it burn.
Gently warm your water or milk in a pan, adding the orange peel.
Once the liquid takes on a yellow hue, sieve into a jug to remove the orange peel and spices. Return to the pan and add the cacao (I used 6 discs, equivalent to 30g).
Whisk regularly, allowing the cacao to melt fully without boiling.
Once the cacao thickens and a golden sheen forms on the surface, remove from heat.
Optionally, sweeten with agave nectar, coconut sugar, or maple syrup. Personally, I prefer mine unsweetened.
Serve in your favourite cup or mug.
🜃 IN CEREMONY
When your cacao is ready, hold the cup close to your heart and take in the rich aromas. Feel the warmth against your hands and chest as you take a deep breath, grounding into the earth beneath you. Connect with the cacao by offering thanks and setting an intention, either spoken or breathed into your cup. Sip slowly, letting your intention settle in.
If you're joining me for a session, I’ll guide you through a gentle inward journey, helping you connect with your heart and intention.
Enjoy your practice x
Ways to Work Together
🜃
One-to-one Coaching
Seeking one-to-one guidance on your cacao journey? I provide a safe, supportive space to help you open your heart and connect deeply with yourself and your intentions.
Private Group Bookings
Want to create a meaningful and lasting experience with your loved ones? I offer private group sessions designed to honour, connect, and support. These spaces are transformative, deeply special, and tailored to your group’s intention.
Quarterly Cacao Circles
I also host intimate quarterly cacao circles at my private space in Walthamstow, East London, offering like-minded individuals a chance to learn from each other’s wisdom so we can grow together.
