Loved by Cacao

In this episode I had the opportunity to speak with Jeff from the Cacao embassy
He is Co-owner and operations architect at the Cacao Embassy in Christchurch New Zealand. 
I had heard lots about the embassy and wanted to visit while on my NZ tour last year. 
It was amazing to be welcomed in with open arms and to chat with Jeff about his shift into the world of cacao and all about the Cacao Embassy and so much more. 
The Cacao Embassy was started by Oonagh of The Cacao Ambassador, and you can listen to her story in Episode6!
We talked about:
Their latest blend ‘Eiru’ & their process of making blends. 
How Jeff got started working with cacao after his background as a chef. 
His emotional reaction to his first cacao. 
How he and his wife Ngawai began working with the Cacao Embassy
Being a man joining an all women business to learn about cacao.
Visiting the Solomon Islands
The disconnect between farming cacao and the use of cacao
The Cacao Ambassador bringing that connection back
Knowing where our food comes from 
Connecting with the Solomon Islanders
Running the Cacao Embassy as a family 
Getting Playful with Cacao
Men connecting with and healing with Cacao
The impact of working with cacao farmers 
 
The Cacao Ambassador & The Cacao Embassy
How Jeff feels loved by Cacao
Contact the Cacao Embassy:
https://thecacaoembassy.nz/
Instagram: thecacaoembassynz
Connect with Pania:
On instagram: lovedbycacao
Email: ⁠paniarobinson@gmail.com

In this episode we get taken by Rachel into the plant realms, into the earth,into the fairy realms and into light and lumeria. 
This is the second conversation in my 6 part Aotearoa tour series.
As soon as I touched down in the south island Te Wai Pounamu after being away for 2 years, my whole body and being relaxed, I breathed a sigh of relief and felt magnetised into the earth like my roots were pulled deeper and I could truly slow down. 
This conversation feels like that relaxation and deep connection to nature. Because it’s the essence Rachel brings with her deep love and knowledge of the earth, plant wisdom, Te Rongoa Maori and so much more. 
Rachel is a teacher, practitioner of angelic Reiki and Te Rongoa Māori, and she facilitates cacao circles. 
I met up with Rachel in Blenheim and we shared cacao from Kakao drinking chocolate together in my motorhome parked up in her driveway.
Rachel shares a beautiful Karakia (prayer) at the beginning and Pania shares a cacao blessing. 

We went on to talk about:
Connecting with trees
Cooking and eating cabbage tree 
Building a connection of reciprocity with plants 
Rachel’s early experiences with spirituality 
Plants as an ally for her healing from burnout
Communication with plants 
Relationship with the Kawakawa plant 
Patupaiarehe the Fairy people of Aotearoa 
Meeting Cacao & Rachel’s potent first experience 
And all cacao showed her
Plants helping us to remember we are light beings 
Why cacao is needed on Earth right now
Interdependence vs Independence
Working with the plant realm
Love for the cacao trees 
Grief and Open hearts 
Cacao connecting us with threads of light 
Closing out with a meditation of connecting the threads of light between us.

We have a firecracker of an episode today.
I can’t believe I’ve been sitting on this for so long because listening back through it I thought people need to hear this!
Irma has a real knack for making me laugh & feel so much joy while also talking about profound subjects and sharing from her deep well of knowledge. 
I’m very happy you’ll get to hear her speak.
I got to sit in person with Irma of Mamamuti Cacao in Raglan last October and it was so much fun. 
We had an amazing conversation and I think you’ll love this one. 
Some of the things we talked about:
How Irma began her path with Cacao
How Mamamuti came into being and the meaning of the name
Irma’s upbringing in Africa
Her times dancing with the dark and how cacao has been her ally throughout. 
Welcoming a pleasure era
How to move through shadow into pleasure
Flipping the Script on Perimenopause
Liberation from numbness and shame
Why Cacao helps us experience pleasure 
How the very popular Mamamuti Vanilla Blend came into existence 
Messages & Love from Cacao

Today we get to hear from anthropologist Daillen Culver who wrote her masters thesis on ceremonial grade cacao and the ceremonial cacao movement. 
Her research is fascinating and today she shares with us how she went about it, what she found and so much she has learned along the way. 
We spoke about:
Her Masters Thesis on the emerging market for ceremonial grade cacao.
Her research and findings.
Her time in Guatemala
Is cacao medicine? 
Being on the ground with the farmers. 
Understanding where our cacao comes from. 
The current global climate of cacao. 
What it means to truly have a relationship with cacao. 
Cacao as a doorway to working with the plant realms. 
Cultural appropriation. 
Ceremonial consumption behind cacao. 
The possible future of cacao. 

Daillen is an anthropologist, a somatic practitioner, and writer. Her work takes an interest in cultural research, embodied practice, and creative inquiry, with a central focus on how people cultivate resilience, meaning, and connection in times of social and ecological upheaval. Her academic research centers on Indigenous food systems and agroecological practices in Latin America.

To contact Daillen:
Email daillenc@gmail.com
Instagram @daillenc
If you are interested in her 2027 Cacao Cultural Immersion Retreat sign up to the Interest Form HERE

Dalileo Cacao was mentioned several times, you can see their website here: https://dalileocacao.com/

Also Fly Kakao sells Guatemalan Criollo Cacao which is sourced from Dalileo!
You can purchase it here: https://www.flykakao.com/products/pure?variant=39526785482848

(Not an affiliate link, Fly Kakao is simply one of my favourites)

Have your cacao ready, get cosy, light a candle and enjoy this drop in with CACAO
and with LIGHT currently pouring through on Easter Weekend 2026 while I recorded this.

A gift for you to celebrate this new season.

A gift to rest into with breath and nourishment.

May you feel Peace today,

With Love,
Pania
The music I mentioned at the end is the Mary Magdelene Frequency by Elsa Field and J Rokka, you can listen here.