Beans To Bliss

Aunt Selvi’s Cacao Ceremony on International Chocolate Day

“Now, gather round, you lot—Doris, Dahlia, Andy, and Gus,” Aunt Selvi began with a glint in her eye, holding up a rich, earthy bowl of cacao as if it were some magical elixir (and in her mind, it was). “You might think today’s all about gorging on truffles and pretending calories don’t count, but let me enlighten you. Today, we’re going to honor chocolate in its purest, most glorious form—cacao.”

Andy, always the skeptic, crossed his arms. “What’s so special about cacao? Isn’t it just chocolate without the fun stuff, like sugar?”

Aunt Selvi grinned, her eyes twinkling. “Ah, dear Andy, cacao is the real deal. None of that sugary nonsense. We’re talking about the ancient magic that the Aztecs called xocoatl—not your average bar of milk chocolate. This, my darling boy, is the original food of the gods. And like all things divine, it’s here to heal us.”

Dahlia leaned in, intrigued. “Heal us? Like… spiritually?”

“Yes, spiritually, emotionally, and even physically,” Aunt Selvi said, clearly enjoying herself. “You see, cacao is a heart-opener. It doesn’t just make you feel like the world is a better place—it actually connects you to that feeling. The Aztecs knew it, the Mayans knew it, and even I know it.”

“Is this one of those things where we have to chant or something?” Gus piped in, with a half-suppressed grin, glancing at Doris, who was already rolling her eyes.

Aunt Selvi gave him a playful nudge. “Oh, stop your fussing, Gus. No chanting required—though if you want to hum a little tune, I won’t stop you. This is all about mindfulness, about sipping slowly and connecting with the present moment. Something you lot could use.”

“Present moment, huh? You mean like when Andy forgets to pick up the groceries and I remind him for the hundredth time?” Doris quipped, nudging her brother.

Andy groaned. “Great. Now cacao’s going to fix my memory, too?”

“In a way, yes!” Aunt Selvi declared triumphantly. “Cacao contains flavonoids, which are great for brain function. So next time Doris asks you to do something, you might actually remember it.”

Dahlia raised an eyebrow, warming up to the idea. “So, it’s healthy? Like, really healthy?”

“Absolutely! Full of antioxidants, magnesium—good for your heart, your muscles, and your mood,” Aunt Selvi explained, taking a sip from her bowl with a satisfied sigh. “And, it’s not just about physical health. This little beauty works on your emotions, too. Feeling stressed? Cacao helps reduce anxiety. Feeling blocked? It opens up your heart, makes you feel connected, compassionate.”

“You mean it’s going to turn Andy into a hugger?” Gus said, barely containing his laughter.

“Don’t push it,” Andy replied dryly, but Aunt Selvi was already shaking her head.

“No, no, this isn’t a miracle-worker—it’s cacao, not Cupid. But it will make you feel more grounded, and that’s better than any amount of hugs you’d get from this grumpy lad,” she said, tapping Andy on the arm.

Doris looked thoughtfully at the bowl Aunt Selvi held. “So, what exactly do we do in this ceremony?”

“Ah, good question, my dear. You’ll take a sip, slowly. Savor it. Let it sit on your tongue. Cacao has a way of making you pause, reflect. It’s almost like meditation in a cup. You might start thinking about things—your intentions, your challenges, maybe even your hopes. It’s a journey inward.”

“And no sugar, right?” Gus asked with a hopeful glint.

“None,” Aunt Selvi confirmed. “This is about simplicity, purity. Besides, cacao has this wonderful bitterness that, if you let it, will grow on you. It’s like life—you don’t need to sweeten everything to appreciate its depth.”

“Life lessons from cacao. What’s next, world peace?” Andy muttered, though a smile played on his lips.

“Exactly! You see, once cacao works its magic, we’ll all be a little more at peace—with ourselves and each other. And isn’t that what chocolate is supposed to do, in the end?” Aunt Selvi winked.

Doris, Dahlia, Andy, and Gus exchanged glances before taking their first sips, slowly and tentatively.

“Welcome to the ancient cacao ceremony, my dears,” Aunt Selvi whispered as she watched them savor the moment. “Happy International Chocolate Day.”