Why I’ve Been Recently Obsessed with Ceremonial Cacao

Lately, my morning ritual has revolved around one thing: ceremonial cacao.

If you’ve been watching my stories recently, you’ve probably noticed I almost always have a warm mug in my hands. And no... it’s not coffee.

As a Chinese Medicine doctor, I’m always drawn to foods and drinks that don’t just taste delicious, but actually leave my body feeling better afterward. Ceremonial cacao has become exactly that for me.

In Chinese Medicine, warmth is incredibly important. We believe your digestive system functions like a fire. Every morning, you’re essentially relighting that fire after a night of rest. When you support it with warm, nourishing foods and drinks, your body is able to transform food into energy more efficiently, leaving you feeling clear-headed, grounded, and energized in a way that lasts.

It’s one of the reasons I naturally reach for warm beverages over iced drinks, especially first thing in the morning.

And honestly... ceremonial cacao feels like Christmas in a cup.

It has this rich chocolate aroma, deep roasted flavor, and cozy warmth that somehow tastes like the holidays, yet I find myself craving it all year long. Every sip feels comforting, grounding, and like a reminder to slow down before the busyness of the day begins.

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, I think about cacao through the lens of energetics rather than calories or caffeine. It’s naturally rich, nourishing, and warming. I find it helps create that feeling of circulation and openness throughout the body instead of the sharp spike that coffee sometimes gives me. It’s one of those drinks that encourages you to sit, breathe, and actually enjoy the ritual.

You’ll often hear ceremonial cacao described as a “heart opener,” and I actually love that description.

Not because I think it’s something mystical, but because of how it makes me feel. Softer. More creative. More connected. Less rushed.

In Chinese Medicine, the Heart is so much more than the organ pumping blood. It’s considered the home of the Shen, our spirit, presence, and emotional well-being. When I drink ceremonial cacao, it feels like I’m creating a few quiet minutes to reconnect with myself before giving so much of my energy to everyone else throughout the day.

Lately, my favorite way to enjoy cacao has been Pique’s Nandaka Longevity Coffee Alternative. It combines ceremonial-grade Peruvian cacao with fermented Pu’er tea, functional mushrooms, and rich coffee-like notes that honestly satisfy everything I used to love about coffee. Truly the Rolls-Royce of coffee alternatives.

I especially appreciate the addition of Pu’er tea. In Chinese Medicine, Pu’er has been enjoyed for centuries to support digestion and help the body process richer foods. Paired with functional mushrooms for mood and cellular wellness, it feels less like grabbing a source of caffeine and more like giving my body something genuinely nourishing.

It’s become my favorite coffee alternative because I still get the comforting morning ritual, the rich roasted flavor, and calm, sustained energy, but without feeling like I’m borrowing energy from tomorrow. Right now you can get 20% off for life when you subscribe through this link HERE.

And that, to me, is what Chinese Medicine has always been about. Supporting the body so it creates its own energy, instead of constantly asking it for more.

xoxo,

Dr. Felice