Holiday Cacao Gift Kits
Who it's for
Teachers, neighbors, coworkers, the host of every party you're going to, the in laws, the friend who already has everything. A bag of cacao is a gift that gets used every morning instead of put on a shelf.
What's in the box
8 oz bags of pure cacao, each one a complete gift on its own, good for about eight cups. One ingredient, grown on one farm, roasted and ground in Vermont. No sugar, no dairy, no fillers. Vegan and gluten free.
Shipping
Free shipping on 6 and 12 bag kits. Ships next business day from Vermont, straight to you. Order by December 15 to have it in hand for Christmas.
How they'll make it
Four tablespoons of cacao, five ounces of hot water, sweetener if they like, stir or froth. Thirty seconds. Full instructions are on the bag.
Why cacao makes a great gift
A gift that's easy to give and easy to love. Each bag is hot chocolate they'll actually feel good about: the whole cacao bean, roasted and ground, with all the good stuff in and the sugar and junk never added.
See our independent lab test
Tastes like real hot chocolate
Deep, rich, and a little earthy. Sweeten it or don't. Nobody's going to miss the packet stuff.
Gentle, all-day energy
Theobromine as the energy source. A lift that lasts without the jitters or the 2 p.m. crash. Great for the coffee drinker who's trying to cut back.
Good for the heart
563 mg of flavanols per cup, the same compounds that give dark chocolate its reputation, in the amount that actually does something.
Nothing to worry about
Tested by an independent lab for heavy metals, mold, and purity, with results below California and EU limits. Certified organic.
One Farm, One Origin
From Reserva Zorzal in the Dominican Republic
Every bag in these kits comes from a single farm we know well. The flavor is warm and nutty, like the hot chocolate you remember from being a kid, then deeper. We buy directly from the growers, pay above fair trade, and roast it ourselves in Vermont.
Let customers speak for us
What customers think about the store
High-quality ceremonial cacao from a family-run Vermont business offering ethically-sourced products with lab testing. Customers praise exceptional taste, fast shipping, responsive service, and affordable pricing. Many use it daily as a coffee replacement, not...
AI-generated from customer reviews.
Want to try it first?
Grab a single bag, flakes and bars. Before you buy for the whole list.
So what is ceremonial cacao, exactly?
It's chocolate before it becomes chocolate. The whole cacao bean, gently roasted, crafted into a paste and then shaped into a bar or ground into flakes. With nothing added and nothing taken away. Cocoa powder has the fat stripped out and nutrients destroyed. Chocolate bars have sugar poured in. This is the step before either, which is why it has more of the nutrients and a richer flavor than both. "Ceremonial" just means it's pure enough that people have been drinking it this way for hundreds of years.
Ready in 30 seconds
Everything they need is on the bag. Here's the short version.
Everyday cup
- 4 tbsp cacao
- 5 oz hot water
- Sweeten to taste
- Froth with electric frother
For a cozy morning or an afternoon pick-me-up.
Big cup
- 8 tbsp cacao
- 5 oz hot water
- Sweeten to taste
- Froth with electric frother
For a slow weekend or a snow day.
Hand crafted in Vermont
To ensure that every cups is enjoyable.
Harvest
Picked ripe, by hand, on one farm.
Ferment
The step that builds the chocolate flavor.
Dry
Sun dried on the farm.
Roast
Low and slow in small batches to keep the nutrients.
Grind
Ground, bagged, and shipped from Vermont.
Our Mission
Share the love in everything we do
15 years ago we had our first experience with ceremonial cacao in Costa Rica. We felt an instant connection with this plant medicine and have been working with it ever since. We find it to be a great teacher & facilitator, as well as an integral part of a healthy diet. After working with cacao more deeply and visiting the communities where it grows, we decided that we wanted to share this beautiful plant and its healing properties with our community back home. Embue cacao was born as our way of helping spread the cacao love.
Frequently asked questions
Is one bag enough for a gift?
Yes. Each 8 oz bag is about eight cups, comes in a kraft bag that looks good on its own, and has the instructions printed right on it. Add a ribbon if you want.
Will it arrive by Christmas?
Order by December 15 and it will. We ship next business day from Vermont, and you pick the speed at checkout.
They've never had cacao. Will they like it?
If they like hot chocolate, yes. It's richer and a bit earthier, and they control the sweetness. Most people are surprised how much better it tastes than the packet.
Is it hot chocolate?
It's what hot chocolate is made from, before the sugar and milk powder get added. One ingredient. Sweeten it if you like, or drink it straight.
Does it have caffeine?
A small amount, think a cup of green tea. The lift comes from theobromine, which is gentler and longer lasting than coffee, without the crash.
Can I keep a few for myself?
We'd be worried if you didn't. A few extra for your own kitchen is the smart move.
Is it organic? Is it tested?
Certified organic by CCOF, and independently lab tested for heavy metals and purity, with results well under California and EU limits. See the report.
How long does it keep?
Two years in an airtight container, somewhere cool and dry. It won't go bad in a stocking.
Does it come gift wrapped?
No wrapping, but the bags are kraft paper with a clean label and they look good as they are. A ribbon or tag is all it takes.
Can I split a kit between people?
That's the whole idea. One bag per person. The 6 and 12 bag kits are the easiest way to cover a whole list with one order.