About cocoa

Open your heart with our soothing, raw, natural cacao.

• 100% raw, organic fine cocoa
• From pristine forests in Itacaré, Brazil, by the Cooperativa Cabruca
• No added sugar whatsoever
• Natural source of antioxidants
• Natural mood enhancer & antidepressant
• Highest dose of plant-based iron
• Full of magnesium and calcium to support heart and brain health
• Vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO
• Grown free from pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals and any additive chemicals.
• Beyond fair trade, 100% compostable and socially packaged

Properties of cocoa

• Opens the heart
• Expands consciousness
• Harmonizes the body
• It fosters creativity
• Sharpens the focus
• Creates a connection

Amazonian superfood

Our raw, organic cacao beans are cultivated by the responsible people of the Cooperativa Cabruca in harmony with the original forests of Itacaré, Brazil, where cacao has been harvested for over 200 years. Their habitat comprises the 7% of the remaining protected rainforest on the Atlantic coast. They are working towards the preservation of their habitat and the wise, generational tradition of environmental stewardship.

Cacao beans are the seeds of the Theobroma Amazonian Cacao tree (Theobroma cacao means "fruit of the gods"). They are the source of all chocolate and cacao products worldwide. The Mayan kings drank up to 30 pure chocolate drinks a day to maintain their vitality. Cacao was so highly valued that it even served as currency.

Cacao can help us connect deeply with our hearts and provides easier access to love, abundance, and natural interconnectedness.

Consuming this product induces a feeling of powerful energization, inner warmth, and heart-centered expansion. It stimulates blood circulation in the brain, boosts your creative potential, and fosters inspiration and a meditative state. Yoga, kirtan, qi healing, and other practices will become easier and more holistic. The effects last for 3 to 5 hours, depending on focus and metabolism.

Consuming raw organic cacao promotes natural health.

Do something to combat your fatigue

If you still feel drained after sleeping, you may be deficient in magnesium. Fortunately, cocoa is a delicious source of magnesium, which will noticeably boost your energy levels.

Fortunately, cocoa is a delicious source of magnesium, which will noticeably boost your energy production.

Give your digestion a boost.

When consumed raw, cocoa prevents constipation and supports your body's digestion, as it is rich in fiber and magnesium, among other things.

Do something for your brain

Flavanols enter the bloodstream through cocoa consumption and are stored in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory. These flavanols are also responsible for the formation of new neurons, their improved functionality, and their protection from damage by free radicals, all of which contribute to enhanced cognitive abilities.

Prevent tooth decay

Scientific studies have shown that cocoa contains a substantial component called theobromine, which is more effective at protecting teeth against cavities than, for example, fluoride. This is primarily because this component in cocoa has antibacterial properties. Additional benefits include an anti-plaque effect and the hardening of tooth enamel, which in turn helps prevent tooth decay.

Fewer coughing fits

A recent British study, conducted by the British Lung Foundation, found that theobromine, a compound found in cocoa, is effective against chronic cough. This study revealed that theobromine has a more pronounced effect on the vagus nerve, which is responsible for coughing, than codeine.

Before you reach for a bottle of cough syrup next time the weather is bad, try a cup of hot cocoa made with high-quality raw cocoa and feel what it does for you!

Stay young

Consuming raw cacao not only smooths your skin but also generally combats premature aging. This is due to the high levels of antioxidants in raw cacao, which protect your cells from free radicals and damage, simply making you look good.

Let your skin glow

Cocoa is a miracle cure for vibrant, healthy skin because it contains a wealth of flavonoids that stimulate blood flow deep into the skin layers. This increased blood flow supports the cell renewal necessary for healthy skin.

Improve and balance your mood swings

Our cacao contains a high amount of anandamide, often referred to by connoisseurs as the molecule of enlightenment. It binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and creates a feeling of lightness and joy. Joy is certainly not solely a matter of consuming cacao, but it can help to cope more easily with mood swings, while noticeably increasing serotonin levels in the brain.

Reduce your CVD risk

High cholesterol can significantly increase the risk of heart disease, but thank goodness for raw cacao, which significantly lowers your LDL cholesterol. Harmful cholesterol is reduced, while beneficial HDL cholesterol is increased. This is thanks to the extremely high antioxidant content found in our cacao. These antioxidants protect the skin's lipoproteins from oxidation and interaction with free radicals.

A natural source of healthy fats

Contrary to what weight loss programs tell you, your body needs healthy fats to support natural chemical reactions that are essential for resilience, cell growth, and a healthy metabolism.

Love, thoughtfulness & a big goal

One of our main goals with LEWEL UP is to re-establish conscious consumption in this world. We believe that by consuming good things, we enable our bodies to generate more positive energy. The more of this kind of energy exists in the world, the brighter it shines.

Most of us financially support companies that we don't necessarily endorse morally, ethically, or even philosophically. We are actively trying to change that.

Our partners at 'Cooperativa Cabruca' are strongly focused on coexistence with the natural environment. Located in southern Bahia, Brazil, Cabruca represents consistently ecological, synergistic, certified, locally operating farmers who practice nature-oriented permaculture along a rich range of natural forest with all its diversity.

They utilize organic and biodynamic natural processes as well as permaculture principles from cultivation to harvest. This is why the highest quality is achieved through intelligent work, even without pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, or chemical fertilizers.

Cabruca are passionate about preserving their homeland. They are also committed to maintaining natural, traditional farming methods to protect and increase the remaining 7% of the Atlantic Rainforest.

We decided to bring Cabruca's fine cacao to the world because we want to convey their mission and intention, and to provide you with the best organic cacao that can be harvested. Hand-picked and produced with passion and love.

How is our cocoa produced?

In constant and direct contact with our partners, we combine ancient wisdom with modern knowledge regarding cocoa and chocolate production. The cocoa beans are harvested only at optimal ripeness and taken by certified farmers in nearby locations for fermentation and sun-drying. This essential part of the process allows for the alkalization of this natural treasure and activates beneficial components from within.

The seeds ferment for 6-7 days and dry in the sun for 3-4 days. Afterwards, they are naturally cleaned. Once dried, the beans can also be crushed into nibs. From the nibs, we extract the precious liquor using a granite mill.

Does cocoa liquor contain alcohol?

No, it doesn't. The name corresponds to the fact that the beans become liquid (i.e., viscous) during the process in the granite mill.

What makes our cocoa so special?

There is a significant difference between commercially available cocoa (and the chocolate made from it) and what we sell and use at LEWEL UP. This is due to the enormous differences in variety, selection, fermentation, roasting, and processing, which affect the amount of beneficial compounds in the cocoa.

At LEWEL UP, we offer the finest certified organic Brazilian cacao we can find. The diverse conditions and microclimates across different regions of Itacaré, Brazil, have created hundreds of distinct flavor profiles. Just like with wine, many regions produce different results from season to season, depending on the variety and climate.

Our passionate partners at Cabruca spend the entire year roasting and testing cacao from many different regions in the jungle. They expertly test various roasting temperatures, times, and grinds of the season's best and strongest harvests, tasting the top results. They then select and send us the finest cacao of the year, along with the roast, resulting in the very best.

In contrast, some other traders buy cheap cocoa from impoverished local private sources and simply resell it. We constantly strive to establish close partnerships with ALL our producers and guarantee not only fair trade. Our products are made with love and care and packaged and shipped in 100% compostable bags.

Treat yourself and brighten your soul!

More about our products

Natural cacao nibs, raw food quality

All the goodness of our fermented and peeled cocoa beans, perfectly chopped!

Recommended intake:
All the work is already done for you! Snack on them as they are with coffee, smoothies, your power muesli, or vegan ice cream, trail mix, or as a healthy substitute for conventional chocolate and all your suitable recipes.

Natural Cocoa Tea Raw Food Quality

Vitalizing cocoa shells (rich in magnesium, fiber and potassium) that can be boiled at least three times on your own stove or around a fire with friends – with the fruity sweet taste of the forest!

Recommended intake:
Add a heaped teaspoon of cocoa shells to a cup of your choice and pour hot water over them (with or without a tea bag).
Wait 2-7 minutes until all the peels have settled. The longer, the better and stronger!
Our tea is also delicious with almond or coconut milk (as you can imagine).

Natural cacao liquor, raw food quality

Naturally processed cocoa, in its purest form and ideal for all types of cocoa ceremonies, is made from the beans into a solid bar of dark chocolate.

Recommended intake:
Share the table and prepare a festive meal with organic fruits, nuts, cocoa tea and lots of love, or melt the pieces under moderate heat without boiling with water or plant milk, also as an addition to muesli.