I shared a video on my instagram of how I make the perfect cup of cacao, I am guessing you are here because you want in on my secret. So let's go.
First of all you can't brew with any old cacao, it needs to be well sourced. Not just because of good ethics, but also the shop bought stuff is crap. I recently went to a Shoreditch based studio and cacao bar, paid £9 for a cup of the good stuff and watched as they used nibs. NIBS! No, no, no my friends one does not serve up nib made cacao. What you want is organic, raw, cacao paste from a fair trade farm situation. Usually it is only possible to guarantee it has been ethically sourced if your supplier has direct links to the growers. I have tried and tested many pastes and my favourites are Ritual Cacao and Elements for Life. Both are also small indie businesses, so double win.
I have a sacred cacao pot, which is just a pot that is special to me and I only use for cacao - it is a daily ritual and it somehow feels special using the old, scratched, heavy cast iron pot that was my great aunts. Use whatever pot you like but not non-stick because inevitably you will burn it one day and ruin your pot.
Once you have your cacao of choice, grate/shave/smash 24g of it and put it in your pot. Add 200ml of your milk choice - I use oat, it doesn't stick to the pan like dairy and then I add 100ml ish of water from the tap.
Put it on a mid heat.
Leave it alone.
Add 3 dashes of cayenne pepper.
When it starts to steam, pre-boil, get yourself a whisk and turn up the temp whisking continuously until it bubbles up threatennng to boil over. Quick as a flash lift up the pan as it bubbles upwards. Turn off the heat and whisk, at this point all the bits of cacao should dmelt away and what you have is a velvety cup of cacao.
Sweetener - add a teaspoon of the sweetener of your choice, it is better with a dark syrup or sugar.
Mindful moment - being a mother of two, my cacao ritual is often the only moment I am able to create for myself that day. When I drink it I like to try and think of things I am grateful for, or at very least ensure I just sit and relax for the duration of the drink. No multi-tasking, just a moment to stop.
Personally I would never offer a "cacao ceremony" as one of my events because I think it is a bit icky on the cultural appropiation front. However, I do believe having your own ritual and brewing cacao for groups as part of a bigger event is a lovely way to share the magic of cacao - as long as you explain it's orgins and source it properly.
I truly believe in the benefits of cacao, I have seen my immune system strengthen since I started my daily ritual, it helps my mental health and it is just delicious.
So, enjoy!
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