The Changing Landscape of Cacao:
What It Means for Aztec Healing Cacao...
In 2024, the world has seen a significant rise in the cost of cacao, driven by various global factors.
Unfavourable weather conditions in key cacao-producing regions like Africa and Peru, along with transport challenges, have disrupted supply chains.
As cacao is a global commodity, these issues have led to notable increases in prices worldwide, and the cacao market has recently reached historical highs. This surge has had ripple effects across industries, especially for those of us who cherish and use cacao for its healing and ceremonial properties.
A Global Cacao Shortage
The first three months of 2024 witnessed prices more than doubling due to the most severe supply shortage in 40 years, with an estimated 450,000-tonne shortfall—around 10% of the global cacao crop. This unprecedented shortage has impacted availability and pricing for everyone, from large-scale chocolate manufacturers to small producers like Aztec Healing.
Why Are Prices Increasing?
Several factors have contributed to this rise:
Declines in African Harvests
Ghana’s Struggles: Ghana, the world’s second-largest cacao producer, has faced a nearly 40% drop in production for the 2023/24 season. A combination of severe winds, irregular rainfall, and the illicit smuggling of cacao have all played a role.
Disease Outbreaks: West Africa, home to much of the world's cacao production, is also grappling with outbreaks of cacao diseases such as black pod, which are expected to reduce yields even further in the next season.
Peru’s Weather Challenges, Difficult Conditions -: In Peru, unusual weather patterns have created transportation difficulties and limited access to cacao plantations, putting additional strain on global supplies.
What This Means for Aztec Healing
Despite these challenges, we at Aztec Healing remain committed to offering high-quality, ceremonial-grade cacao to our community. Each 600g bag of our ceremonial cacao is carefully sourced, cleansed, and blessed with Palo Santo to maintain its spiritual integrity. We believe that cacao is not only a commodity but a sacred offering. Our prices remain steady to honour our commitment to accessibility, while we continue supporting sustainable, fair trade practices in the cacao industry.
Looking Ahead
The projections for the remainder of 2024 suggest that cacao prices will stay elevated as supply issues persist. However, we remain hopeful. Through collective action and innovation, we can work together to support cacao farmers, stabilise the market, and ensure that this powerful plant medicine remains available for all those who seek its healing benefits.
Thank you for your ongoing support and trust in Aztec Healing.
Together, we navigate these changes, grounded in the belief that cacao will continue to serve as a powerful ally in transformation, healing, and connection.