24. When Research Meets Real Life Practice, and a Thesis on Cacao, with Daillen Culver

Today we get to hear from anthropologist Daillen Culver who wrote her masters thesis on ceremonial grade cacao and the ceremonial cacao movement.

Her research is fascinating and today she shares with us how she went about it, what she found and so much she has learned along the way.

We spoke about:

Her Masters Thesis on the emerging market for ceremonial grade cacao.

Her research and findings.

Her time in Guatemala

Is cacao medicine?

Being on the ground with the farmers.

Understanding where our cacao comes from.

The current global climate of cacao.

What it means to truly have a relationship with cacao.

Cacao as a doorway to working with the plant realms.

Cultural appropriation.

Ceremonial consumption behind cacao.

The possible future of cacao.

Daillen is an anthropologist, a somatic practitioner, and writer. Her work takes an interest in cultural research, embodied practice, and creative inquiry, with a central focus on how people cultivate resilience, meaning, and connection in times of social and ecological upheaval. Her academic research centers on Indigenous food systems and agroecological practices in Latin America.

To contact Daillen:

Email daillenc@gmail.com

Instagram @daillenc

If you are interested in her 2027 Cacao Cultural Immersion Retreat sign up to the Interest Form HERE

Dalileo Cacao was mentioned several times, you can see their website here: https://dalileocacao.com/

Also Fly Kakao sells Guatemalan Criollo Cacao which is sourced from Dalileo!

You can purchase it here: https://www.flykakao.com/products/pure?variant=39526785482848

(Not an affiliate link, Fly Kakao is simply one of my favourites)