Ancient medicine. Modern presence.
Ceremonial cacao, live sound and sacred movement — for those who seek depth in every dimension of their lives.
Mama Cacao is built on a conviction: the oldest plant medicines and the newest discoveries in neuroscience are pointing at the same thing. The body knows how to heal, open and thrive — it just needs the right conditions.
Rooted in the Amazon. Present in Zürich.
Mama Cacao was born from a deep encounter with the plants, traditions and communities of South America — and a desire to bring that wisdom into the heart of modern life.
It began in 2017 with Chakana, a community platform in Zürich dedicated to emotional reconnection, ancestral knowledge and support for native Amazon communities. Through ceremonies, performances and gatherings, something became clear: people were hungry for experiences that went beyond the surface. That moved the body, opened the heart and quieted the mind.
In 2022, Mama Cacao took that vision further — creating a space where ceremonial cacao, live sound, breathwork and sacred movement come together. Not as a retreat from the world, but as a practice within it. A way of living more fully, more consciously and more connected — to yourself, to others and to the intelligence of nature.
Every experience we design carries the spirit of the Amazon and the precision of people who have spent years understanding how ancient practices create measurable shifts in the human body and mind.
What is a cacao dance ceremony?
Ceremonial cacao is one of the oldest heart medicines in the world — and one of the most scientifically compelling.
Rich in theobromine, magnesium, anandamide and phenylethylamine, ceremonial grade cacao produces measurable effects on the cardiovascular system, the nervous system and mood — without the crash of stimulants or the disorientation of psychedelics. It opens rather than alters. It grounds rather than escapes.
A Mama Cacao ceremony weaves this medicine with live music, ceremonial chant, breathwork and conscious movement — creating a full-spectrum experience that integrates body, mind and presence.
You arrive as you are. You leave lighter, clearer and more connected.
We gather as a community around the ancestral drink of cacao. Together we drink, meditate and express gratitude — for what we have, for who we are and for the connections that make life rich.
The theobromine and natural compounds in ceremonial cacao open the heart and quiet the noise of the thinking mind. What follows is not intoxication — it is clarity. A warm, expansive state where connection with yourself and with others becomes effortless.
Some of what people experience: an open and warm heart, a deep sense of belonging, connection with joy and playfulness, renewed gratitude for life, a feeling of love and kindness toward others.
Surrounded by live music and ceremonial chants, we move inward first — then outward. After the opening, we activate the body in a dance journey that brings all that warmth and aliveness into full expression.
A cacao ceremony with live music and ceremonial chants, followed by a conscious dance session with a live act. An experience that stays with you long after the night ends.
Your daily practice begins here
Across cultures and centuries, one truth has remained constant: the quality of your inner environment determines the quality of everything else.
Ceremonial cacao has been used for thousands of years as a tool for clarity, creativity and connection — not as an escape, but as an enhancement. A way of making ordinary moments sacred, and sacred moments transformative.
Building a ritual around your cup of Mama Cacao is an invitation to pause, listen and arrive fully in your day. Whether before a creative session, a training, a meditation or simply the morning — the ritual creates a threshold. A moment that separates the habitual from the intentional.
How to begin
You don't need a ceremony to start. You need a cup, a moment of stillness and the intention to be present.
Warm your Mama Cacao slowly. Hold the cup with both hands. Before drinking, take three deep breaths and set a simple intention — something you want to feel, create or release in the hours ahead. Drink slowly. Let the medicine arrive.
With practice, this small ritual becomes one of the most grounding anchors of your day. A daily conversation with yourself, held by one of nature's most intelligent plants.
The deepest connection with Mama Cacao grows over time — through your personal practice at home and through the shared ceremonies we hold in Zürich. Both matter. Both deepen the other.
The benefits of Ceremonial Cacao
This heart-warming or “heart-opening” sensation is what brings about the uniquely expansive, peaceful, open, and elevated physical and mental states that cacao ceremonies revolve around. The higher the quality of the bean used to make the paste, the more powerful the sensations.
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MUSCULATURE & REGENERATION
Ceremonial cacao provides plant-based amino acids, magnesium and minerals that support muscle recovery and tissue repair. An ideal complement to physical training — taken before movement to amplify energy, or after to support restoration.
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ACTIVITY & ENERGY METABOLISM
Theobromine — cacao's primary active compound — delivers a sustained, smooth energy lift without the cortisol spike of caffeine. It dilates blood vessels, improves circulation and supports mitochondrial function. Energy that lasts, not spikes.
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PSYCHE & NERVOUS SYSTEM
Rich in magnesium, anandamide and PEA (phenylethylamine), ceremonial cacao directly supports the parasympathetic nervous system — reducing anxiety, enhancing focus and promoting the calm clarity that makes deep work and genuine connection possible.
Legal notice: A varied and balanced diet is essential for a healthy lifestyle.
