Ceremonial Cacao Workshop in Lisbon | From Bean to Ceremony with Juli

Ceremonial cacao workshop in Lisbon for anyone who wants to understand this sacred plant beyond the chocolate bar it has become. The cacao that Mesoamerican and Andean cultures have worked with for centuries is a powerful plant ally with a history, a process and a presence that most people have never encountered. In this session with Juli, you will learn where ceremonial cacao comes from, how it is traditionally harvested, fermented and roasted, and what makes it fundamentally different from anything you will find in a supermarket. Then you will prepare your own cup by hand from Peruvian ceremonial-grade cacao paste and drink it together in a heart-centred and intentional way.

The session moves through two distinct phases. The first is educational and sensory, covering the traditions of cacao across Mesoamerican cultures, the full journey from bean to paste, the physiological effects of cacao’s key compounds including theobromine and anandamide, and what separates ceremonial-grade cacao from commercial chocolate. The second phase is experiential: hands-on preparation of your own cup followed by a guided ceremonial moment of setting intentions and drinking cacao together with presence and care. Juli weaves live instruments and tuning forks throughout the session to support a relaxed and meditative state.

What you’ll learn

🍫 The traditions of cacao across Mesoamerican and Andean cultures

🍫 How cacao is harvested, fermented, sun-dried and roasted from bean to paste

🍫 What makes ceremonial-grade cacao fundamentally different from commercial chocolate

🍫 How to prepare ceremonial cacao from Peruvian cacao paste by hand

🍫 The physiological effects of cacao’s key compounds including theobromine and anandamide

🍫 How to set an intention and drink cacao with presence and care

What’s included

🌱 A full educational journey through cacao’s origins, traditions and processing

🌱 Hands-on preparation of ceremonial cacao from Peruvian ceremonial-grade paste

🌱 A guided ceremonial experience with live instruments and tuning forks

🌱 Recipe and guidance to prepare ceremonial cacao at home independently

🌱 A warm and grounded space held by Juli throughout the session

What you leave with

The knowledge, the felt experience and everything you need to bring a ceremonial cacao practice into your own life at home.

I am Juli, a Shamanic Practitioner and ceremonial cacao facilitator based in Lisbon. I create safe and grounded spaces for people to connect to their truest and most empowered selves, supported by tuning forks and live instruments that guide the nervous system into a relaxed and meditative state. My approach honours the roots of the traditions I work with while making them genuinely accessible to anyone who is curious.

Sessions run with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 15 participants. Two tickets must be purchased for the workshop to be confirmed. Wear comfortable clothes.