Can You Drink Cacao at Night?

Exploring the Benefits of Evening Cacao Rituals

For many, a warm drink before bed is part of a comforting nighttime routine. While coffee is generally not recommended due to its high caffeine content, disrupting sleep, and depleting effect on the adrenals, cacao can offer a nourishing and nurturing alternative. 

This revered plant medicine provides nutritional sustenance, promotes relaxation, and can enhance your evening wind-down routine. 

But should you drink cacao in the evening? The answer is generally yes, and here’s why.

What Makes Cacao a Nourishing Nighttime Beverage?

Cacao paste, made from minimally processed cacao beans, is rich in theobromine, a natural compound that provides a mild and sustained energy boost without the overstimulation associated with caffeine. Unlike coffee, theobromine promotes calm focus rather than jittery wakefulness, making it suitable for evening consumption for most. 

Additionally, cacao is high in magnesium, a major mineral that supports the relaxation of the body’s large muscles and has a calming effect on the nervous system, preparing your body for restful sleep.

Benefits of Drinking Cacao at Night

1. Promotes Relaxation: Cacao contains magnesium, which is crucial in regulating sleep and relaxation. By calming your muscles and nervous system, magnesium can help you ease into a more tranquil and restorative sleep.
2. Supports Mood and Emotional Well-being: Cacao is often called “heart opening” due to its mood-enhancing neurotransmitters and endorphins. Compounds like anandamide (the “bliss molecule”) and tryptophan support serotonin production, enhancing mood and creating a sense of calm.
3. Rich in Antioxidants: Drinking cacao at night can also support your body’s night-time recovery processes. Cacao contains high amounts of antioxidants (flavonoids/polyphenols) that combat oxidative stress and support overall well-being, helping your body regenerate and clear out metabolic waste from the day.
4. Aids in Mindful Rituals: Creating a cacao drink and sipping it slowly can become a grounding, mindful ritual that helps you transition from the busyness of the day to the calm of the evening.

How to Make Cacao Part of Your Evening Routine

To receive the benefits of cacao at night, it’s essential to prepare it in a way that aligns with your goals for relaxation. Here is a foundational recipe and some optional additions and tips:

Your Evening Cacao Brew

Ingredients

Makes one serve

240 mls of water, almond milk or non-dairy milk of your choice. We generally use just good-quality water

* see notes below on making your own nut milk

20 – 40 grams of Reverence Cacao Paste cut into small pieces or grated (using a mandolin grater is optimal) (start with 20 grams and see how you feel after consuming this quantity of cacao)

1 – 2 tbsp raw honey or other natural sweetener of your choice (dark agave and maple syrup are also good options)

* Raw honey is also therapeutic and soothing

1/4 tsp of Vanilla Bean Powder 

Method 

1. Warm your nut milk to approximately 46 degrees Celcius
2. Add your Reverence Ceremonial Cacao Paste to the liquid and let it melt (you can whisk it to facilitate this process)
3. Add your other ingredients and whisk together. Use a stick blender if possible, to ensure your drink is extra smooth and creamy
4. Take a moment to appreciate your drink before slowly and deliberately enjoying your Cacao

Making your own Nut Milk for your Cacao Drink 

We suggest placing your 240mls of water, 50g pre-soaked almonds (soaked overnight) and 1 tbsp of Goji Berries into a saucepan and warm to approx. 46 degrees. 

Then, transfer the mix into a blender and blend until smooth. Strain using a nut milk bag (or fine mesh) back into the saucepan, then continue following the recipe.

Optional Additions: 

• Add 1/2 tsp dried culinary lavender to support a calm state of mind

OR

• Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg for a warming comforting drink

OR

• Add 1/2 tsp of turmeric, a pinch of black pepper and 1 tsp of coconut oil for an anti-inflammatory blend

The Science Behind Evening Cacao

Several studies support cacao’s suitability as a nighttime beverage. Research shows that theobromine’s effects are milder and longer-lasting than caffeine, making it less likely to disrupt sleep cycles. In addition, magnesium-rich foods like cacao have been shown to improve sleep quality by supporting melatonin production, the body’s sleep-regulating hormone

Addressing Concerns

While cacao contains a small amount of caffeine, the levels are significantly lower than those in coffee or tea. This minimal caffeine content won’t interfere with sleep for most people, especially when consumed in moderation. If you’re particularly sensitive to either caffeine or theobromine, however, you can adjust the amount of cacao in your drink or consume it earlier in the evening.

Incorporating Cacao Mindfully

Drinking cacao at night is about the beverage and your ritual. The act of preparing cacao, focusing on its rich aroma, and savouring its earthy flavours can help you slow down and shift your mind from the stresses of the day to a place of calm and introspection. Pair your cacao ritual with journaling, gentle stretches, or meditation to enhance its relaxing effects.

Final Thoughts

Ceremonial cacao is a versatile and healthful addition to your evening routine. Its calming properties and rich nutritional profile make it an ideal choice for relaxing and preparing for a restful night’s sleep.

By incorporating cacao into your nighttime rituals, you’re not just drinking a beverage but embracing a moment of self-care, well-being and mindfulness.

If you’d like to experience ethically-sourced ceremonial cacao for yourself, you can head over to our cacao page, or if you prefer to save and love ceremonial cacao already, check out our new cacao subscription.

As always, we cordially invite you to join us at one of our monthly cacao ceremonies.

How to Choose the Best Cacao Product for You

The seeds from the fruit of the Theobroma Cacao tree – also known as cacao (the source of all chocolate), offer a variety of products, each with unique qualities, uses, and benefits.

It can feel overwhelming when deciding which kind of cacao is best for you. This guide outlines the most common types of cacao products and provides tips to help you choose the best option based on your needs and intentions, whether it be for cacao ceremonies, or as a nutritional ingredient.

Cacao Powder

Cacao powder is one of the most widely available forms of cacao on the market. It is created through a process called “pressing,” in which cacao paste is subjected to pressure and often heat. This process separates the cacao butter (the fatty component) from the cacao solids, leaving a fine powder that is used in cooking and chocolatey drinks. When it is cold-pressed (also known as “raw”), it is usually called cacao powder. When it is heat-pressed, it is usually known as cocoa powder.

While cacao powder retains its signature chocolatey flavour, the pressing, particularly the heat-pressing, removes many fat-soluble nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as anandamide, theobromine, and phenylethylamine. These compounds are responsible for cacao’s mood-enhancing and energising effects. Without these active elements, cacao powder offers fewer health and well-being benefits associated with the less-processed forms of cacao.

That said, cacao powder has many merits. It still retains good levels of antioxidants, fibre and minerals, such as magnesium. It’s an excellent choice for those looking to add chocolatey flavours to smoothies, baked goods, or desserts without adding significant fat content. Without the cacao butter, it is also much more water-soluble. Cacao powder can be great for those prioritising convenience and flavour over nutrient density.

Cacao Nibs and Cacao Beans

Cacao nibs are essentially the middle ground between raw cacao beans (removed from the fruit and fermented) and processed cacao products. These small, crunchy pieces are made from cacao beans that have been fermented, lightly toasted and crushed into pieces that look like the nib of an old-fashioned fountain pen. Cacao nibs retain much of the bean’s natural goodness, including fibre, antioxidants, and some active compounds.

However, the quality of cacao nibs can vary significantly depending on the source and the type of cacao bean used. They may lack the consistency and nutrient density found in ceremonial-grade cacao, but they are still a versatile and nutritious option.

Cacao nibs are popular in health-conscious recipes, adding a crunchy texture and rich flavour to muesli, smoothie bowls, and raw desserts. They are also a great addition to a snacking nut/seed mix, having a nutty, earthy taste. They can be bitter on their own, but in a mix, they can add great flavour and nutrition, including being a great energy booster.

Their minimally processed nature makes them a step up from cacao powder in terms of nutrient retention, and they can be a good choice for those seeking a balance between flavour and health benefits.

Ceremonial Grade Cacao Paste

Ceremonial-grade cacao paste represents the pinnacle of cacao purity and potency. This product is made by grinding the fermented cacao beans into a paste, which is then set into bricks or slabs.

Unlike cacao powder, the paste retains the cacao butter, preserving the full spectrum of nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds.

What is “Ceremonial Grade Cacao”?

The term “ceremonial grade” carries specific criteria. To earn this designation, the cacao must:

• Be farmed using organic practices.
• Be derived from Criollo beans, a native cacao variety from Mesoamerican regions.
• Be sourced from fair-trade suppliers.
• Come from traditional cacao-growing areas, such as Peru, Guatemala, or Mexico.

Ceremonial-grade cacao is the least processed option, making it the most nutrient-dense and energetically potent choice. It is prized for its ability to enhance mood, focus, and overall well-being. This is ideal for those looking to incorporate cacao into a daily ritual or use it for its traditional ceremonial or spiritual purposes.

We only choose the highest quality ceremonial grade cacao for our cacao ceremonies.

How to Choose the Best Cacao Product for You

When deciding which cacao product is best for you, start by clarifying your intention. Understanding why you want to consume cacao will guide you to the best choice for your needs.

• For a Daily Ritual with Maximum Health Benefits
  If you aim to improve your health, mood, and energy levels or deepen a meditative or spiritual practice, ceremonial-grade cacao is optimal. Its high nutrient content, connection to traditional practices and careful farming and preparation make it the best choice for those seeking more than just flavour.
• For Adding Flavour to Smoothies or Recipes
  If you want to add a chocolatey flavour to your cooking, both sweet and savoury, cold-pressed cacao powder is a convenient and cost-effective option that retains nutrition. It blends easily into recipes and provides the familiar taste of chocolate without the fat content.
• For a Nutritious, Crunchy Snack or Recipe Ingredient
  If you’re looking for a whole-food option that retains a good amount of cacao’s natural nutrients, cacao nibs or beans are a great choice. Their crunchy texture makes them versatile additions to sweet and savoury dishes and in a nut or seed mix.

Final Thoughts

Cacao is remarkably versatile and nutritious (not to mention delicious). While all forms of cacao have their place, the key is to align your choice with your personal goals and preferences.

By selecting the cacao product that best suits your intentions, ceremonial-grade cacao for its transformative potential or cacao powder for its versatility and simplicity, you can fully enjoy this potent and revered plant-food medicine.