Learn About Cacao

  Why Is Cacao So Expensive? Understanding Global Price Trends and the Value of Ethical Sourcing At Seleno Health, we’re passionate about bringing you the finest ceremonial cacao, sourced with intention and respect for both people and the planet. But if you’ve noticed the price of cacao creeping up, you’re not alone. Over the past few years, cacao prices have soared to unprecedented levels,...

Ceremonial Cacao Paste vs. Cacao Powder: Key Differences and Uses At Seleno Health, we’re passionate about sharing the sacred qualities of cacao, sourced directly from indigenous farmers in Peru. Our ceremonial cacao paste and cacao powder are crafted with care, but they differ significantly in production, nutrition, uses, and benefits. Here’s a concise guide to understanding these two products and how to incorporate them...

What Is Criollo Cacao? Exploring Peru’s Biodiverse Treasure At Seleno Health, we believe cacao is more than a food—it’s a sacred bridge to nature, tradition, and wellness. Among the diverse varieties of cacao, Criollo stands out as the "prince of cacao," revered for its exquisite flavour and rarity. Peru, the cradle of cacao’s origin, leads the world in producing Criollo and native cacao, thanks...

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) trees grow only in tropical environments with most plantations today being in Africa, South East Asia, Central America and South America1. Majority of cacao tree growth is concentrated in a region called the “Cacao belt,” which is anywhere within 20 degrees north or south of the Equator belt 2,3. Not only are these conditions crucial for the growth of the tree...

Cacao is one of the world’s most valuable crops with the global cacao and chocolate industry being worth billions of dollars per year1,2. As of 2019, Cote D’Ivoire produces the most cacao beans in the world at over 2 million metric tons, followed by Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria and Cameroon3. Together, Africa makes up more than 60% of cacao production with over 80% of the...

Cacao beans must undergo several processes after harvesting before they are ready to be made into different products. After harvesting, the cacao beans are allowed to undergo a fermentation process. This process is necessary for the development of the colour and flavour of the cacao, as well as the bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and antioxidants. The cacao beans are then allowed to dry out...

Cacao is an all-natural health food that can benefit our bodies in many ways. From supporting our natural immunity and cardiovascular health to enhancing our cognitive function and boosting energy levels, cacao is a powerhouse of natural bioactive compounds and nutrients. However, there are growing concerns surrounding cadmium content in cacao and the potential risks to our health from this. What are the risks...

Opened cacao pod showing the white fruit surrounding the cacao beans. Origins and history of cacao Cacao trees originated in the Amazon basin of South America and were spread throughout Central America by various Mesoamerican civilisations, including the Olmecs, Mayans and the Aztecs. Cacao beans were regarded as a sacred and valuable commodity and used for trades and tribute to Aztecs kings. They were...

What is Ceremonial Cacao? All cacao comes from Theobroma Cacao, a small evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae, native to the deep tropical regions of Mesoamerica. However not all cacao is equal as there are many different varieties of cacao, different qualities and different therapeutic properties. Just like wine cacao also has different grades and calibers that differentiate normal cacao to ceremonial cacao. To...

8 beans per day keeps the doctor away Have you ever heard the saying 8 cacao beans per day keeps the doctor away? The reason for this is that Cacao and the many products derived from the Theobroma cacao tree contains high levels of antioxidant molecules that can protect our body from cellular damage and boost our immune system1. What are antioxidants? Why do...

Mental health disorders are New Zealand’s third leading cause of health loss with conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit disorders (ADD) affecting a large portion of people1-4. One in six people or 16.6% of the population (650,000 adults) will experience a common mental disorder at some time in their lives that will drastically impact on the health and...