Warm ceremonial cacao, shared slowly in circle: a gentle, grounded medicine with surprisingly deep heart-opening effects.
An ancient Mesoamerican medicine
Cacao has been honored in Mesoamerica for thousands of years as a drink for ceremony, celebration and prayer. Ceremonial cacao is the whole bean, gently roasted and ground into a paste, with nothing removed and nothing added, so it carries far more of the plant than a chocolate bar.
It contains theobromine, a gentle, long-acting stimulant that opens the blood vessels and warms the body, along with a little caffeine and plenty of magnesium. Together they bring a steady lift without coffee's edge. Many people feel warmth in the chest, a softening, and an easy openness with the people around them.
There's nothing to brace for and nothing to lose control of. Cacao doesn't take you away; it brings you closer: to your heart, to the people beside you, and to the intention you came with.
No prices to work out here. Tell us what you'd like, and we'll confirm a time and send you a quote.
1Choose your format
2Add to it, and tell us the details
This is a request, not a booking. We’ll reply to confirm a time and send you a quote; nothing is paid until you’re happy with it.
A circle can be an hour on its own, the heart of a gathering, or the opening of a retreat. Here's how each usually runs.
From one person to large groups
About four hours
As part of a stay or group retreat
Circles are priced by group size, length and setting, so we quote each one individually. Ask us, and we'll send you options.
Cacao is social, gentle and open-hearted. These are the moments people most often bring it to, and what they tend to feel.
Cacao is subtle and steady. Here's what most people notice, and when.
A gentle warmth spreads through the body as the blood vessels open. Hands and face often feel warm.
A soft, steady opening: feeling more, guarding less. Many people feel emotional in a tender, easy way.
Theobromine lifts energy more slowly and smoothly than coffee, so the mind feels clear and present rather than racing.
The effects fade gently over a few hours. Some people feel energized well into the evening.
Heart rate rises a little. Cacao taken too fast can bring brief nausea, so we drink it slowly.
A grounded, open feeling, and often easy conversation. Drink plenty of water.
Everyone responds a little differently. These describe common experiences, not a promise of any outcome.
Simple and unhurried, from first message to closing.
A short call to shape the circle: who's coming, where, and what you hope for.
Book a free call →Ceremonial cacao isn't advised with some heart conditions, high blood pressure or certain antidepressants, especially MAOIs.
A light meal a few hours before, and little or no coffee that day.
Cacao shared warm and slowly, then meditation, yin yoga or breathwork, often with live music.
Sharing, water, and a simple practice to take home.
Circles are held by Luke and Alexa, sometimes with musicians and friends of La Fuente.
Twenty years guiding people on ceremony floors and in somatic work across Vietnam, the Himalayas, Thailand, Costa Rica, Guatemala and southern Mexico. Luke holds the container, the music and the body work: breathwork, QiGong, meditation, Kambo and sacred sound.
Ten years of clinical practice, with a somatic, attachment-based and trauma-informed approach. Alexa leads the preparation and integration work, before and after every ceremony, so what opens has somewhere to land.
If you're unsure, ask. Most people can join, sometimes with a smaller cup.
No. Cacao isn't psychedelic. You'll feel warm, open and clear, and fully yourself.
Ceremonial cacao is the whole bean with nothing removed, prepared without milk and with little sugar, and taken in a larger, intentional amount with music and practice around it.
Anywhere from one person to large groups. We shape the format to the number and the space.
We hold circles at La Fuente, within our retreats, and at venues we arrange together. Tell us what you have in mind.
Yes, it's one of our favorite pairings: cacao opens the heart, and breathwork moves what it opens.
For a private circle, a celebration or your team, send us a request or start with a free call, and we'll shape it together.
Send a Booking RequestBook a Free CallCeremonial cacao is offered for personal and spiritual wellbeing. It is not a medical treatment, and nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to replace the advice of a licensed physician. It has contraindications and is not suitable for everyone.
