Cacao has played a significant, and varied role in my life for the last five years. My first experience of it was in Nicaragua, in a “ceremonial” setting while living in a spiritual community on a volcanic island called Ometepe. We’d gather on Friday nights for a cacao ceremony, which involved consuming up to 100g each of locally grown cacao (I do NOT recommend this quantity unless you’re experienced with cacao), and we’d dance and sing and frolic and meditate and paint and connect on so many levels - it was a very wild, rich, and heart-opening time.

I rarely use cacao in this sort of setting anymore. It’s become more of a gentle companion for daily life. And my experience with it has led me to understand more of the nuances associated with its subtle psychoactive and physical effects on us, so I’m able to discern which scenarios call for a cacao.

Here’s some unexpected times cacao has been a life saver for me:

1. Before a first date

Cacao has the ability to calm my nerves. This is likely a direct result of its magnesium content, an essential mineral known for its calming effects, and also the way in which theobromine, the stimulant in cacao, acts on the cardio-vascular system. So a cup of cacao before a first date may ease that jittery, fluttery feeling some of us that makes us feel tongue-tight and awkward. Also, cacao contains neurotransmitters which enable the brain to produce serotonin, dopamine and PEA (the “love drug”).. actually this might be a reason to incorporate a cup of cacao into your first date so you both get to experience these delightful effects ;)

2. Before a night out

Many clubs in Berlin now offer raw cacao in a powdered, liquid or pill-form, producing a high that’s an alternative to cocaine. All night raves like ‘Lucid’ - branded as a “monthly cacao-fuelled dance party” - claim that chocolate helps clubbers find “dynamic” and “naturally high vibes”. The endocannabinoid found in cacao is called "anandamine", from the sanskrit word 'ananda' (bliss). Anandamide is responsible for the blissful state we experience from activities like yoga and meditation it is the chemical basis for what we call “runner’s high.” When consumed in cacao, anandamide interacts with the same endocannabinoid receptors that THC does. As I extremely rarely drink alcohol and don’t take any other drugs - a cup of cacao on the rare occasions that I do go on a night out produces a subtle, or sometimes not so subtle high, and will keep me going all night thanks to the long half-life of cacao. Caffeine peaks in the blood 30–40 minutes after ingestion, and has a half-life of 2.5–5 hours, while theobromine attains peak blood concentrations 2–3 hours after ingestion, and has a half-life of 7 –12 hours.

3. Before a workout

Cacao is an epic pre-workout all-natural supplement the boosts our endurance, improves performance, and helps us recover. Cacao’s unique stimulant, theobromine, dilates our blood vessels, helping blood flow more freely throughout the body. This helps relax smooth muscle tissue, resulting in a quicker recovery and happier muscles. Cacao’s mineral content also makes it an ideal workout companion. Minerals are key for even the most basic of cellular functions, and are required even moreso during intense exercises. Cacao boasts high quantities of iron, zinc and magnesium all of which play essential roles in basic metabolic function, and are known ingredients in pre-workout supplements.

4. Prior to or during menstruation

There’s a reason we crave chocolate during our period. Cacao can be a game-changer for PMS. Magnesium has been dubbed the “miracle mineral for periods” and cacao has an abundance of this natural powerhouse. Magnesium calms the nervous system, so it's great for the headaches and mood symptoms of PMS, and its muscle relaxant properties may help with menstrual cramps. Cacao is also high in iron, which helps the production of haemoglobin and healthy red blood cells - especially beneficial at times of blood loss. And of course, cacao might help satisfy those chocolate cravings in a much more healthy way than reaching for a bar of chocolate.

5. As a natural appetite suppressant

If, for whatever reason, you are trying to eat less, or eat only between certain intervals, cacao can be incredibly supportive. These days I have a cup of cacao early in the morning, and then I don’t get hungry again until about midday. Turns out there’s science behind this too. There’s a hormone our body produces called ghrelin, which increases our appetite. A recent study done in the Netherlands showed that dark chocolate lowered ghrelin levels thus reducing our appetite. Cacao also produces serotonin, which is considered a powerful appetite suppressant.

6. When feeling numb or closed off

Sometimes, we go through periods of time where we are numb to the world around us, where our heart feels closed, we feel disconnected with ourselves, when we have an inability to express vulnerability. This is where, I believe, cacao really shines, and it is why I have been so inspired to share cacao far and wide. I have noticed whenever I start my day with a strong dose (30-40g) of Balinese cacao, I will end up crying at some point during the day. Usually it’s due to a happy emotion, like an overwhelming feeling of love or beauty. Sometimes it’s a tender expression of an emotion I haven’t been allowing myself to feel. Some of the science already listed helps explains this particular effect, but I think science only goes so far in terms of the miraculous ways cacao can heal our heart.

7. Prior to or during a difficult conversation

For many of the reasons above, cacao is a beautiful tool to assist with helping us stay open, vulnerable, and yet calm, during a conflict with a loved one.