ceremonial cacao - Consumer Deep Dive

Maya Moon Cacao: Indigenous-Owned, Community-Driven, and Worth the Price

Maya Moon Cacao was founded by Maura and Elizabet Sacach, Kaqchikel Maya sisters from San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala. Unlike most cacao companies covered on this site, Maya Moon is run by indigenous founders who are culturally and regionally connected to the cacao they sell. Maura handles e-commerce and brand partnerships from the U.S., while Elizabet, known affectionately as “Mama Cacao,” runs the workshop in Guatemala where all roasting, hand-peeling, and stone-grinding takes place.

Cacao Laboratory: A Small Brand Doing Supply Chain Differently

by Edward Mochizuki

The ceremonial cacao market is full of brands that use the right language without doing the right work. “Direct trade,” “heirloom,” “ceremonial-grade”: these are labels that cost nothing to print on a bag. Backing them up is another matter entirely, and that’s where Cacao Laboratory steps up.

Embue Cacao: Good Intentions, Mixed Execution

by Edward Mochizuki

Embue Cacao checks a lot of boxes that matter. Direct-trade sourcing from Guatemalan Q’eqchi’ farming communities, 1% For the Planet membership, a partnership with a legitimate reforestation nonprofit, and bean-to-bar processing done in-house in Vermont. On paper, this is exactly the kind of small-batch company that Consumer Deep Dive exists to highlight.