Criollo Ceremonial Cocoa (bar) 180g

Criollo is the rarest, most expensive and noblest variety of cocoa. Criollo beans are harvested from trees that grow in the heart of the Amazon. They are more susceptible to disease and are therefore much more difficult and expensive to grow. The fruits of Criollo variety are smaller than those of the most popular Forastero cacao variety, and the beans obtained from them have a pleasant, subtle flavour, with citrus and floral notes. The cocoa paste made from Criollo beans is delicate, almost entirely free of bitterness, slightly dry, with distinct tropical fruit notes.

Ceremonial cocoa – what does it mean? For the Maya and Aztecs, cocoa was more than a nutrient-rich food – it was the "food of the gods", which had great symbolic significance in their culture. They used the aromatic beans, rich in protein and fat, to make the ritual drink Xococalit. The ancient civilisations are now extinct, but their legacy remains. Ceremonial cocoa is pure, non-fat, ground cocoa beans, without any additives – in short: cocoa of the best possible quality. It is used as a base for preparing a fatty cocoa drink that contains valuable nutritional properties. Thanks to its caffeine content, cocoa gently stimulates the body and its deep flavour and aroma induces pleasant relaxation, making it an excellent companion for meditation.

How to prepare the drink?

Add approx. 10-20g cocoa (1 bar or 1 tbsp of crushed cocoa) to hot water or milk (approx. 60-80°C). If you like, you can enrich the cocoa drink with spices, e.g. chilli, cardamom, cinnamon or vanilla. Alternatively, sweeten the drink, preferably with a natural sweetener (e.g. honey or stevia). Once you have added all the ingredients, combine them, mixing thoroughly.

How else can Criollo ceremonial cocoa be used?

Cocoa paste in bar form finds many uses in the kitchen. It can be used as:

• addition to desserts, as a decoration in crumbled form or, once melted, as a glaze for cakes,
• addition to drinks – shakes or smoothies. All you need to do is blend it with the other ingredients,
• addition to breakfast oatmeal or muesli,
• addition to sauces and dressings – the slightly dry taste of cocoa is an excellent match for meat and vegetables.

Additional information:

Ingredients: cocoa paste in the form of bars made from 100% Criollo cocoa beans

Net weight: 180g

Produced for: Venusti Sp. z o.o.

Country of origin: Ecuador

Best before: expiry date and batch number on the package