Guatemalan Criollo Cacao

100% Criollo Cacao from Guatemala
- Used in the traditional Cacao Ceremony -

Organic criollo cacao represents an excellent reserve of energy for body and mind. The variety proposed by Terza Luna comes from the slopes of the Atitlan volcano, in Guatemala, harvested and processed by Lavalove Cacao, a local reality that is committed with love and devotion to spreading the ancient Maya tradition of using cacao as a precious medicinal plant to achieve balance and grounding, at the center of the evocative cacao ceremonies.

The criollo cultivar is one of the most sought after and refined. The plants from which these 100% organic criollo cacao bars come from grow at altitudes between 600 and 1200 meters.

For us at Terza Luna, cacao is a sacred plant that excites us greatly with its great gifts. We are happy to make it known in Italy for its original value and to support the fairtrade policy of local producers in Guatemala.

Read our article on the characteristics and benefits of criollo cacao.

Properties of Criollo Cacao

In the West, the potential of this plant is still little explored, but vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids make cacao a real dietary supplement, of which it would be advisable to consume a cup in the morning or in the afternoon.

Its reserve of vitamin B3, in particular, positively influences the efficiency of the nervous system, also providing a toning effect and delaying fatigue.

Among the properties of criollo cacao, its antioxidant potential should be remembered, useful for preventing the formation of free radicals, responsible for skin aging, and its positive influence on the cardiovascular system and on the elasticity of blood vessels, guaranteed by the significant presence of flavanols.

Even the nervous system can greatly benefit from the properties of criollo cacao, which, containing tyrosine, serotonin, endorphins, can contribute in the short term to regulating mood and, in the long term, also exerting a neuroprotective action, extremely useful in case of neurodegenerative pathologies.

Drinking Criollo as during the Cacao Ceremony

Cacao ceremonies are profound experiences in which one can feel a strong sense of connection with nature and with one's inner dimension.

The original ritual handed down by the Maya culture involves the following steps:

• scrape the edge of the cacao tablet to obtain about 12-16 grams of shavings;
• add spices or superfoods if desired (such as cinnamon, chili, maca);
• put the shavings in a cup and add 200 ml of hot water (90°-100°);
• preferably shake with a chase, otherwise with a milk frother or with whisks, and it's ready!

We can maintain this habit at home, consuming criollo cacao in tablet form as a real dietary supplement to give us energy. It is recommended to drink a cup with 25/30 grams of cacao in the morning or in the afternoon, avoiding evening hours to avoid overexcitement.

100% Organic Criollo Cacao Lavalove directly from Guatemala

We met Izabel & Izaias, founders of Lavalove Cacao, the cooperative that promotes environmentally and people-friendly criollo collection and processing, in 2022 in Guatemala. There we were able to participate in their cacao ceremonies, celebrated according to the ancient Guatemalan tradition, and experience the original spirit of the plant, closely intertwined with an inner reconnection with one's creativity, far from the Western conception that sees it only linked to the world of sweets. Read the story of our trip to Guatemala to discover organic Criollo Cacao and LavaLove!

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