Cacao Powder (Theobroma Cacao)

Description ShareTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail Cacao Powder (Theobroma Cacao) HERB COMMON NAME :  Cacao HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :  Theobroma Cacao OTHER NAMES :  Cocoa, Chocolate, Cacaoyer, Cacaotier, Kakao, Cacau FAMILY :  Malvaceae ASSOCIATIONS & CORRESPONDENCES : Element: Fire Planet: Venus Day: Friday Direction: South Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius Chakra: 4th Heart Chakra (Anahata) Energy: Yin Gender: Feminine Rune: Gebo Tarot Card: The Lovers Spirit Animal: Monkey Sabbat or Holiday: Lupercalia (February 15), Beltane / Walpurgis / May Day (April 30 – May 1), the Great Rite Deity or God / Goddess Association: Quetzalcoatl, IxCacao, Ek Chuaj, Aphrodite, Venus, Cupid   Parts Used:  Seeds Description:  Cocoa can be used as flavoring or as a dessert itself. It can be drank as a beverage (hot cocoa/chocolate). Hot chocolate was invented by the Mesoamerican natives. The Aztecs and Mayans were known to consume it often and believed it increased power and virility in their warriors. It was a sacred food to various ancient peoples. Raw cacao has gained a reputation as a “superfood” due to its high amount of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Raw cacao tastes very bitter. The powder is often added to other foods. Historical Uses:  superfood, power, virility, stress, anxiety, aphrodisiac, irritability, moodiness, relaxation, sexual desire Mystical Attributes:  Chocolate holds powerful properties of love. Dark chocolate is associated with romance and intimacy. Milk chocolate is associated with nurturing and friendship. In Aztec and Mayan cultures, cacao symbolizes death as well as new life and rebirth. Mystical Intentions:  affection, romance, intimacy, love, friendship, kindness, nurturing, comfort, sexuality, grounding, appreciation, soothing arguments, calm, dating, balancing emotions, empathy, enchantment, forgiveness, opening the heart, lust, sexual desire, passion, sensuality, discovering true feelings, true love, uplifting Taste & Smell:  Cacao nibs and powder smell like chocolate, but are intensely bitter in flavor and do not taste sweet. Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Cacao grows to be a timber-tree covered with a smooth bark and no branches. It grows to about 25-30 feet (7.6-9.1 meters). Towards the top it spreads out into sundry great arms with large always green leaves (up to 24 inches long by 4 inches wide) and fruit. Young leaves are pinkish-red and they turn green as they mature. Old leaves drop off as new leaves grow. Smaller stalks hang down from between the lower boughs that bear flowers. After the flowers come from ten to up to twenty large fruit or nuts (called “pods”), almost round, but a little smaller at the end, covered with a hard, tough, thick bark, an inch thick in some places. The pods are green or green-white, and turn yellow when ripe, or may be red with some yellow when ripe. Within the pods are 20 to 60 seeds. The seeds are covered with a whitish-pinkish or brownish sweet mucilage. The seeds are extracted from the mucilage (which is sometimes consumed) and the seeds are processed to make chocolate. Cacao grows primarily in Central and northern South America, and throughout the tropics. Cacao plants grow best in hot, humid tropical areas with year-round temperatures at or above 68°F, no freezing temperatures, and evenly distributed rainfall. The optimal temperature range is  65 to 90°F. The tree grows best in 25% shade, planted under canopies of taller overhanging trees. It should be protected from wind. Cacao is best propagated from upright stem cuttings that have 2 to 5 leaves and 1 to 2 buds. Cuttings should be taken early in the morning and the leaves cut to about ½ their length, then dipped in a rooting hormone and placed in a small container filled with moist, clean, well-draining soil. Cover the cutting with a polyethylene bag and place in a warm but shaded area. Keep soil moist but not overly wet. Rooting should take place in about 4 weeks. Once fully rooted, slowly open the bag and move repeatedly to increase light levels. Plant 10 to 20 feet from the base of overhanging trees or structures. Adjacent cacao plants should be planted 10 to 15 feet apart. For initial pruning, allow trees to grow to 1 to 2 feet. If no branching occurs, cut back the top to initiate branching. Three to four main branches should remain and all others should be removed. Try to limit plant height to 6 to 8 feet. Periodically remove selected branches to allow for light and air movement. Regularly remove damaged or diseased branches. It takes about 5 years (from seed) for a cacao tree to grow mature and start producing pods. Some cacao plants may produce up to 50 pods per year, with the average tree producing 30-40. The time from flowering to fruit maturity is from 5 to 6 months. Pods should be harvested, carefully clipped, soon after the peel turns yellow or red. Open the pods with a knife to remove the seeds. Extracting the chocolate from the seeds involves fermentation, drying, cleaning, roasting, and pressing. Contraindications & Toxicity: Avoid if sensitive to caffeine. Avoid while pregnant or breastfeeding. Cacao is toxic to dogs and cats.   Constituents: Iron Protein Magnesium Potassium Fiber     Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources **IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. No items we sell are for internal use and should never be ingested for any reason. Some may also not be safe for topical application, or even be safe to touch while unprotected. Always use proper safety precautions when using our products. We will not be held responsible for illness, injury, or death from the use of any product. PRODUCT IS NOT A TREATMENT. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. CAUTION : Do not use ANY product if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to any ingredients. Prior to use, consult with your professional health-care provider to ensure safe use and understand effects that ingredients may cause relative to safety, personal conditions, and medication interactions which may be harmful. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. By purchasing, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use more than recommended by your healthcare professional.  Purchase of this product indicates that you have read, understand, and agree to Spirit Arts & Herbs Terms and Conditions. Many of our products are hand made to order. 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