Meet the San Diego Couple Bringing Ceremonial Cacao Back to Its True Origins

While coffee fuels hustle culture and matcha powers the wellness mainstream, a richer, more ancient ritual is resurfacing in San Diego. Ceremonial cacao, once revered in the Peruvian Amazon, is now being embraced in meditation circles, sound healing sessions, and slow, intentional mornings for its heart-opening and mood-lifting qualities.

Guiding this resurgence are José Visconti and Samoa Kuan-Veng, the Encinitas couple behind Cacao Adventures, who are devoted to sharing cacao in its wild, Amazonian-born purity with a modern community eager for deeper connection.

For years, many believed cacao originated in Central America. While Mesoamerican cultures are rightly celebrated for evolving cacao into ritual and daily life, new archaeological findings reveal that cacao’s earliest use can be traced to the Huaca Montegrande site in the Peruvian Amazon, dating back more than 5,000 years.

This region is home to some of the rarest and most genetically pure cacao strains on Earth. These wild, heirloom varieties contain richer nutrient profiles, more complex flavor notes, and higher levels of naturally occurring compounds like theobromine and anandamide, often called the “bliss molecule.”

This is also the homeland of Cacao Adventures.

"For us, this is an ancestral story,” says José Visconti, founder of the family-owned, Latinx-led company. “Our cacao comes from the same original wild strains that have grown in the Peruvian jungle for millennia. The history of this bean is tied to our own heritage, and that heritage is what we are sharing here in San Diego with our line of ceremonial cacao.”

Cacao Adventures works directly with the Awajún people, one of the Indigenous communities who have stewarded these wild forests for generations. Through on-the-ground training, education, and over 12 years of partnership, the company helps local families elevate their production practices while ensuring the cacao remains wild, pure, and sustainably harvested by not replacing the strains with GMO versions.

This ethical, hands-on relationship ensures two things: the farmers receive fair compensation and ongoing support, and the cacao itself remains in its highest, most potent form as it is never alkalized or "Dutched," a common process that strips commercial chocolate of its key wellness compounds.

Ceremonial cacao is a functional plant medicine that supports the mind, mood, and body in ways people can feel immediately. Here’s why wellness practitioners across San Diego are embracing it:

Unlike caffeine, which can cause anxiety and a rapid crash, the mild stimulant theobromine found in cacao provides a gentle, sustained lift in energy. This compound promotes a feeling of alertness and well-being without the intense jitters or energy slump often associated with coffee.

Cacao naturally contains anandamide, a fatty acid neurotransmitter often called the "bliss molecule." Anandamide may boost your overall mood and may contribute to a sense of happiness and overall well-being. 

Wild cacao is one of the most antioxidant-dense foods on the planet and provides magnesium, iron, and healthy fats that nourish the brain and body. 

Cacao’s flavonoids are known to have a positive effect on cardiovascular health. They help relax blood vessels, improve blood flow, and may contribute to lowered blood pressure. By supporting overall cardiovascular function, pure ceremonial cacao can be a heart-healthy addition to a wellness-focused diet.

In Indigenous traditions, cacao is considered a heart medicine. Whether in meditation or simply enjoying a quiet morning cup, many people feel more grounded, connected, and emotionally present.

“When you make a cup of ceremonial cacao, you’re not just making a drink—you’re setting an intention,” explains Cacao Adventures founder Samoa Kuan-Veng. “It's a moment of pause, connecting you to the earth and your own well-being.”

To truly enhance the experience, use water or a plant-based milk (like oat or almond) and avoid refined sugars. José and Samoa recommend adding natural sweeteners like a dash of local honey, coconut sugar, monkfruit, and/or a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne pepper to further open up the flavor profile and absorption.

Here’s a ceremonial cacao recipe to bring warmth and joy to your holiday table:

Serves 4

Procedure Steps: 

For more recipes, products and to learn more about cacao’s true origins, visit cacaoadventures.com