What to do When Your Ceremonial Cacao Arrives Melted
Origen Cacao: What to do When Your Ceremonial Cacao Arrives Melted
Don't worry if your Origen Cacao arrives as a solid block instead of our convenient grated form. This is a common occurrence, especially during warmer months, and is simply a sign that the pure, whole-bean cacao has been exposed to heat. The quality and potency of your cacao are completely unaffected.
In fact, most ceremonial-grade cacao is sold as a block. We put in the extra effort to grate our cacao for your convenience, but sometimes the heat of shipping reverses that process.
What to Do When Your Cacao Arrives Melted
First, do not open the bag if the cacao is still liquid or semi-liquid. Opening it at this stage could cause you to lose some of the product. Instead, place the sealed bag in your fridge or freezer immediately and wait for it to fully re-solidify into a firm block.
Once it's a solid block again, you can easily break it down for use.
1. Prepare a cutting board and a sharp knife. You can simply shave flakes from the block with your knife.
2. Optional but recommended: Use a food processor for a quicker and easier way to break the cacao back into smaller pieces. Just be careful not to run the processor for too long, as the heat it generates could re-melt the cacao.
3. Mix thoroughly. When cacao melts, the cocoa butter can sometimes separate. After breaking your cacao back into smaller pieces, stir and mix it well to ensure all the ingredients are evenly distributed for a consistent taste and texture every time you brew a cup.
A Note on Dosing
We highly recommend using a kitchen scale to measure your servings instead of a spoon, especially for groups. A full ceremonial dose is 40 grams, but you can adjust this amount to your personal preferences.
The temporary inconvenience of a melted block can be a gentle invitation to slow down and reconnect with the mindful, intentional process of preparing your cacao. It's a reminder that we pay beyond fair trade prices for this true heirloom cacao, and keeping it from melting would require significant, unsustainable costs. The slight effort to prepare it is a small trade-off for a product that is pure, potent, and ethically sourced.