Ceremonial grade chocolate? 🍫
This Saturday, I visited Cacao Lab in Kingston, NY. I was looking around while they made me a drink, and found a packet that said “Ceremonial Grade Cacao.”
Outing myself as not knowing what I’m talking about (which happens about every other time I open my mouth) I said to the clerk, “I love the idea of ceremonial grade chocolate!”
They said, kindly, that this product is for cacao ceremonies. People who do these ceremonies it take very seriously, and only absolute best cacao is necessary.
You can think of cacao, I learned, as somewhere between cocoa beans (pictured) and refined products like cocoa powder and chocolate. Cacao drinks and treats are earthier, richer and more bitter than chocolate.
Visit Cacao lab for delicious vegan treats and drinks, and possibly a cultural lesson!
