You are greeted by a warming-yet-subtle blend of chocolate, cinnamon, and ginger which are closely followed by the sweet oriental whispers of cardamom, clove, and nutmeg.

While you smile in contentment and wonder how turmeric has managed to stay an unsung hero of your first sip, cayenne pepper reminds you that variety (and cayenne) is the spice of life. It's a surprise at first; an eyebrow comes to attention, the smile turns to a smirk and you take another sip.

A symphony. A grounding presence. The smile of satisfaction when you realise that you can have your cake and eat it too. A surprise twist, delicious, perky and refreshing when served cold; enhanced with ice. Perfect on hot summer days.

You've been introduced to a sunrise's best friend, the campfire's plus one, it's what you look forward to at the end of your best days; and the friend you can count on during your worst.

For us, it's the familiar smell of home when we're far away and a constant, grounding reminder to live fully and intentionally.

In a nutshell. Each of our ingredients brings their own set of nutrients and unique history to the table.

Many of our ingredients have been used for centuries in cultures throughout the world for health, taste, ceremony/connection and currency as well as in Ayurvedic and natural medicine practices.

Our ingredients are still being used today in everyday cooking, natural medicine, and in some cultures for ceremony and connection to self, others and the world around us.

To see a breakdown of the history, and some Ayurvedic/natural medicine uses and research and observations from the modern day check out our Ingredients Information.

There is approximately 19mg of caffeine per serving which is comparable to a piece of dark chocolate. By comparison, the average cup of coffee contains around 80-100mg of caffeine.

Many people enjoy Shakao at all times of day, and often report that it both:

a) Helps them feel sustainably energised without a crash (likely, due to circulatory stimulants like Cayenne Pepper and Theobromine in Cacao).

b) Helps them sleep which may be attributed to the magnesium content of cacao. Some also choose to leave a window of a few hours before bed as they sometimes feel alert after a Shakao. You'll have to see what works for you.

At the end of the day, this isn't a magical medicinal cure. It's just some good-tasting-healthy-goodness with the gift of some really good ingredients ;)

See what works for you. We love it at all hours!

Nope. No added sugar so you can tweak it to your taste!

Some like it black, some with a dash of milk; sometimes hot, and sometimes on ice.

We personally recommend adding some milk and a dash of something sweet for your first Shakao - our favourite is raw honey! Check out our serving suggestions for your first Shakao on the back of our labels.

Yes. We source the finest organic ingredients from around the world! All of our ingredients aren't irradiated through customs, they're handled with care, and grown using Organic farming techniques to ensure they retain their nutritional quality, composition and flavour.

Quality and integrity is important to us. We've sampled and trialed ingredients from various suppliers in the RnD process so we produce a quality product that we're proud to share.

One of our favourite ingredients is our Organic Cacao from Peru which is cultivated using organic farming techniques without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilisers. We've tried so many cacao's over the year's and this is by far our favourite!

We've left out any sweeteners/sugars so you can tweak it to your taste. Enjoy black, white, hot or iced. Here’s where to start.

MAKE YOUR FIRST SHAKAO LIKE THIS

1. Stir two teaspoons of SHAKAO with a dash of hot water in your favourite mug to make a paste.

2. Add a dab of something sweet if you like. (A teaspoon of raw honey is our favourite and what we recommend for your first SHAKAO).

3. Add 250ml of your milk of choice. Stir until mixed.

MILK TIPS -

WARM CUPPA: Heat milk to 55-65°C (just before it’s too hot to touch).

ICED: Add cold milk with a few ice cubes, stir and enjoy!

ON ADVENTURES: Take a spoon or two of powdered coconut milk, cows milk or other. Add two heaped teaspoons of SHAKAO, some hot water and give it a stir. Enjoy the little explosions of flavour if you haven't fully stirred it! Pre-mix at home, add rapadura or similar if you like it sweet!

Whatever tickles your fancy!

We've shared it with friends who love it hot at all times of year and some who will only drink it cold. It really depends on your taste and preference.

A warm Shakao is warming! The warmth of the cayenne pepper, ginger and black pepper are enhanced with the heat, not to mention the circulatory stimulants of Theobromine (in Cacao) and cayenne pepper which all contribute!

You'll notice more of the earthy flavours of the turmeric and cinnamon, and a balanced blend of the 'chai' inspired flavours when it's warm. This is our preference for winter and cool nights by the campfire!

On a stinking hot day, iced is best! With a dab of honey, the chocolate notes of cacao stand out and bring a much more mild flavour. This is a great option for those who don't like it 'too spicy', but love a refreshing and healthy chocolate flavoured cuppa.

We make it right here in Bright VIC, our little mountain town in the Australian Alps!

Between adventures, time on the property and with mates we are mixing, stamping, packaging and shipping out Shakao from our little base here in the Alps.

We're grateful for our little community here, and it's not uncommon to see a few of us getting a day of mixing done before heading out for a paddle, climb, jiu-jitsu or cook up around the fire.

Say G'day if you see us around! Instagram: @shakao_cacao

Think of cacao as the raw, healthy older brother of cocoa. Both come from the same plant but cocoa goes through an extra process where it is heat treated and loses some of the nutritional value; cocoa is often milder in flavour and used alongside sugar in chocolates and confectionary.

We use an ethically sourced Organic Cacao from Peru which retains its nutritional value, traditional roots from the ancient South American culture, and incredible flavour profile.

Although we are big believers in "everything in moderation, including moderation", we always suggest seeing a professional when it comes to health and your personal circumstances during pregnancy.

Many of our ingredients are packed with supportive nutrients like: zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, flavonoids (to name a few) which are all beneficial for supporting a mother's adrenal and immune health during pregnancy.

Best to check in with a health professional. Also, congratulations! :)

No. "But, what we do offer is a particular set of skills that makes us a nightmare for people like you, we will find you and we will........say g'day?". - Liam Neeson(-esque)

In all seriousness: We do occasionally send out little travel packs (which are a great sample size) to wholesale partners and give away bits n bobs where we can.

If you're after a little sample size to try out, check out our Travel Pack (7 servings) which will give you a few shots at making the perfect Shakao for your taste, and have a bit left over for a hot date, loved one or next adventure. You can also drop into one of our partnering stores or cafe's to try it out.(LINK THIS)

If you're looking for support for a trip, adventure, or have enquiry about working with us then flick us an email!

Yes, indeedy! You can check out a list here of cafe's and independent retailer's who stock or serve Shakao.LINK HERE

These partners are like family, so say g'day, from us!

If you're interested in working with us, send us an email or fill out the contact form!

Great question! There's no right or wrong here; black, white, hot, iced, with or without something sweet, bulletproof (with organic grass fed butter) dirty (with coffee), in a cake, brownie, bliss ball, cocktail or shot it!

We suggest having your first Shakao with milk and a dash of something sweet (raw honey is our favourite). Check out the back label to a bag of Shakao for serving suggestions, blog for recipe ideas, or drop into a cafe that serves Shakao to have one made for you!

If you've got any new recipes, ideas, or things you've been experimenting with feel free to flick us an email or tag us on instagram (@shakao_cacao)!