Cacao paste is a less processed version of cacao liquor, cocoa mass, baker’s chocolate, etc. It is 100% dark cacao that has been ground down so it no longer has the original crystallization patterns that make cacao nibs CRUNCHY. But cacao paste doesn’t have cacao butter removed and then added back in, as more processed chocolate products do. True ceremonial cacao paste is made from cacao seeds (aka “beans”) that are roasted over a wood fire, whereas the more processed versions are heated in a propane oven, often to very high temperatures. Cacao paste is the ground form that can be melted into a rich, frothy cacao drink. To do that we use a large knife and cutting board to chop it into small pieces. Then we blend it with hot water. We also sell pre-ground ceremonial cacao for those who want to skip the chopping step. But for some of us, the chopping is an important part of a cacao ritual. We don’t want more processed or tempered cacao that looks uniform. We prefer it unadulterated and wild as it came.