If you’ve ever looked at a block of ceremonial cacao and wondered, “Isn’t this just cocoa?”, you’re not alone.

Although both ceremonial cacao and cocoa powder come from the same cacao bean, they are very different products. The way they’re made affects everything from their flavour and texture to how they’re used.

If you’re wondering whether you can swap one for the other, or why ceremonial cacao costs more, here’s everything you need to know.

They Both Begin with the Same Bean

Both ceremonial cacao and cocoa powder start life in exactly the same place. Cacao grows inside colourful pods on the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). Inside each pod are cacao beans surrounded by a naturally sweet white pulp.

After harvesting, the beans are fermented and dried before they begin their journey into the products we recognise.

What Is Ceremonial Cacao?

Ceremonial cacao is made by gently processing whole cacao beans into a smooth paste. The natural cocoa butter remains in the finished product, giving ceremonial cacao its rich texture and full flavour.

Nothing is added, and very little is taken away (in fact, it’s hand sorted to remove any beans that are mouldy or otherwise unsuitable, and after they have been toasted, the beans are peeled. Nothing else is removed.

At Earthtones, we use Keith’s Cacao in all of our ceremonies because of its consistency, quality and the care that goes into its production.

What Is Cocoa Powder?

Cocoa powder begins in much the same way, but after the cacao has been ground into chocolate liquor (a paste made from cacao solids and cocoa butter), most of the cocoa butter is pressed out, and then sold on to the cosmetics industry.

The remaining solid material is dried and ground into the fine powder that many of us keep in the kitchen cupboard.

Depending on how it’s produced, cocoa powder may also be alkalised (sometimes called “Dutch processed”), which changes both its flavour and colour.

The Biggest Difference: Cocoa Butter

The easiest way to understand the difference is to think about cocoa butter.

Ceremonial cacao still contains its natural cocoa butter.

Cocoa powder has had most of that cocoa butter removed.

This is why ceremonial cacao melts into a rich, creamy drink, while cocoa powder needs careful mixing and often benefits from added sugar or milk.

Taste and Texture

Ceremonial cacao has a deep, complex flavour with natural bitterness balanced by subtle fruity and earthy notes. Because the cocoa butter remains, it also has a wonderfully smooth mouthfeel.

Cocoa powder has a lighter texture and a more concentrated chocolate flavour, but without the same richness.

Neither is better. They simply serve different purposes.

What About Nutrition?

Because ceremonial cacao is made from the whole bean, it naturally retains the cocoa butter alongside the compounds found in cacao.

Cocoa powder also contains many naturally occurring compounds found in cacao, but because much of the cocoa butter has been removed, the overall composition is different.

Rather than thinking of one as healthier than the other, it’s more helpful to think of them as two different foods made from the same ingredient.

Can You Use Cocoa Powder Instead of Ceremonial Cacao?

If you’re making a chocolate cake, absolutely. If you’re making brownies, hot chocolate or chocolate icing, cocoa powder is often the better choice.

However, if you’re preparing ceremonial cacao for meditation, journalling, creativity or ceremony, cocoa powder won’t create the same drink, or have the same effect.

The texture, flavour and overall experience are quite different.

Why Is Ceremonial Cacao More Expensive?

This is something I’m often asked.

Ceremonial cacao is produced in relatively small batches using carefully selected beans and minimal processing. You’re buying the whole cacao, including the cocoa butter, rather than a by-product left after the butter has been removed.

There are also different types of cacao, and the chocolate industry (and cocoa powder industry) use the cheaper, faster-growing hybrids. Good ceremonial cacao, such as Keith’s Cacao, uses single variety beans, which grow more slowly and yield fewer beans, but have that deep, earthy flavour cacao is known for.

At Earthtones, we also choose Keith’s Cacao because of the philosophy behind its production. During my visit to San Marcos, Guatemala, I saw first-hand the care that goes into every stage of the process, from the people working in the workshop to the relationships with the indigenous Maya community.

For me, that’s part of what makes ceremonial cacao special.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose cocoa powder if you want to:

• Bake
• Make traditional hot chocolate
• Add chocolate flavour to recipes
• Mix into smoothies

Choose ceremonial cacao if you want to:

• Create a mindful daily ritual
• Enjoy pure cacao with nothing added
• Explore meditation, journalling or creativity
• Experience cacao in ceremonies or sharing circles
• Enjoy the richness that comes from the whole cacao bean

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ceremonial cacao just expensive cocoa powder?

No. Although both come from cacao beans, ceremonial cacao is made from the whole bean, while cocoa powder has had most of its cocoa butter removed.

Can I bake with ceremonial cacao?

Yes. It makes wonderful brownies, cakes and desserts, chocolates, and even ice cream, although many people prefer to save it for drinking because of its quality and cost.

Is ceremonial cacao sweeter than cocoa powder?

No. Both are naturally unsweetened. Ceremonial cacao often tastes richer because of its natural cocoa butter.

Can I replace cocoa powder with ceremonial cacao?

Sometimes, but not always. Because ceremonial cacao contains cocoa butter, recipes usually need adjusting if you substitute one for the other.

Final Thoughts

Ceremonial cacao and cocoa powder both have their place, one isn’t “better” than the other. They simply serve different purposes.

If you’re looking for an ingredient for baking, cocoa powder is a fantastic choice.

If you’re looking for a rich, minimally processed drink that encourages you to slow down, reflect and enjoy the whole cacao bean, ceremonial cacao offers a very different experience.

If you’re curious to try it for yourself, explore our range of Keith’s Cacao or join us at one of our regular cacao ceremonies here at Earthtones.

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Further Reading

• What Is Ceremonial Cacao?
• How to Prepare Ceremonial Cacao
• Does Ceremonial Cacao Contain Caffeine?