CACAO OR COFFEE IN THE MORNING?

Can Cacao replace Coffee?

Here I am, writing to you from San Isidro, Nayarit, in an incredible house surrounded by cacao trees!

I had the honor of being here back in February to guide a house blessing and make an offering to the little cacao trees ("Cacaositos" ). Yesterday I came back to visit the owner and, of course, the beautiful plants, the animals, and her lovely neighbors...

Anyway...

I felt inspired to share a little ….secret ? with you.

Since I brought my computer to work on content and answer emails, the lovely woman left coffee, tea, and cacao for me to prepare in the morning. And you know what?

It made me realize how rare it is for me to actually drink cacao first thing in the morning...

So I thought I'd share a little bit of my experience—along with a pinch of science—that you might find interesting.

Of course, because I'm known as "the cacao lady," people tend to assume that I drink lots of cacao, that I drink it every day, and that it's the first thing I reach for when I wake up.

And... nope. No, I don't.

My answer usually surprises people.

Not because I don't love cacao.

Quite the opposite. I love it so much that I like to save it for moments that deserve my full presence, hehe.

BUT there are other reasons too, and I'll share it with you later in this letter ;).

Because there's another question I get all the time:

"Can cacao replace coffee? It's a very common question.

I get it:  a large percentage of people start their day with coffee (please stop doing that ... (Okay... that's probably another newsletter for another day !)

And many people know cacao is stimulating, so they wonder whether it's somehow a "better" or "healthier" replacement—something that can still help them wake up and stay alert.

So...

Can cacao replace coffee? No.

Not because one is better than the other, but because I don't believe they're meant to do the same job. Better said:

They simply don't work in the same way.

And before we even get into the science, I think there's something important to remember ;)

Plants aren't meant to replace one another.

Each plant carries its own wisdom, its own rhythm, and its own invitation ;)

Now... let's talk science for a minute.

Unlike coffee, whose main active compound is caffeine, cacao's primary natural stimulant is theobromine. Theobromine tends to provide a gentler, slower, and longer-lasting source of energy. Rather than creating a sharp spike in alertness, many people experience a more spacious, grounded sense of presence.

Cacao also contains naturally occurring compounds such as magnesium, flavanols, tryptophan, phenylethylamine (PEA), and small amounts of anandamide. Together, these compounds have been associated with supporting circulation, a balanced mood, relaxation, creativity, and an overall sense of well-being.

Now, my experience...:D

Most mornings are when I answer emails, organize logistics, work on my computer, write proposals, plan menus, or take care of all the practical tasks that keep my business running.

Sometimes I'll go surfing, cook for a client , have  a call…  so basically:  when my morning is centered around focused, practical work, I usually choose green tea, mate, or, occasionally, coffee (although coffee doesn't personally make me feel very good).

And TBH...

Cacao doesn't make me want to answer emails.

It doesn't make me want to organize spreadsheets.

It doesn't make me want to check things off my to-do list.

Instead...

It makes me want to sit under a tree.

To be with animals.

To sing.

To move my body.

To write from my heart.

To have honest conversations.

To dance.

To create.

To simply... be.

It expands me.

The traditions that have worked with cacao for generations often describe it as a plant that invites presence, openness, love, and connection.

Whether you understand that symbolically, spiritually, or simply through the way it makes you feel, that description resonates deeply with my own experience.

That doesn't mean administrative work is "bad."

It isn't.

Our logistical, practical, and analytical tasks deserve our full attention too. They allow our projects, dreams, and businesses to exist in the world.

But for me, cacao belongs to a different space.

A slower space.

A softer space.

A space where I can listen.

Reconnect.

Create.

Love.

So my invitation isn't necessarily to replace your coffee.

It's to let cacao be cacao.

Drink it before journaling.

Before stretching.

Before singing.

Before /while dancing.

Before walking barefoot.  Before spending time in nature.

Before having an honest conversation—with yourself or with someone you love.

Because sometimes the greatest gift cacao offers isn't productivity.

It's presence.

Of course, this is simply my experience.

Yours may be completely different—and that's just as valid. Every-body is different.

Every season of life is different.

Every relationship with cacao is different.

Science can explain many of cacao's extraordinary compounds and how they interact with our physiology B U T

beyond the chemistry, I also choose to honor another dimension.

In my own practice, I experience cacao—as I do many plants and seeds that have been grown, harvested, and cared for with love—as a living presence.

One that enters into relationship with us and gently guides each person toward what they most need in that moment.

For me, that guidance often feels like a return to love, creativity, truth, and presence. I

For you, it may be something entirely different. And that's the beauty of INTERACTING CONSCIOUSLY with plants.

You don't have to experience cacao the way I do. My invitation is simply to approach cacao with curiosity, presence, and respect.

To allow yourself to experience it, rather than immediately trying to fit it into an existing habit or use it for a specific purpose.

Because there is a very subtle line between connecting with a plant... and turning it into just another tool to achieve a certain outcome.

For example, drinking cacao only because you want to wake up, be more productive, or replace another habit. And maybe, in doing so, we sometimes forget to listen to what the plant is actually inviting us into.

Allow yourself to build your own relationship with this beautiful plant.

Because no article, teacher, ceremony, or scientific paper can tell you exactly what cacao will awaken in you.

Only you can discover that. :)

Love, love.

Gracias por leer.

Lu Sol.

P.S.: SI NO HABLAS inglés —or maybe you want to practice your Spanish—, puedes escuchar en audio en español los artículos de mi blog en MI canal de Telegram. .