Your cacao questions, answered.

XOL is a whole world of cacao, made for everyday cups and good company. We’re a small Tampa-based business working with cacao from Esmeraldas, Ecuador. We roast at low temperatures and stone-grind in small weekly batches, keeping the cacao’s natural butter and character at the heart of what we make. From ceremonial cacao and creative blends to nibs, chocolate and more, we invite you to discover how much one remarkable fruit has to offer.

Our current cacao comes from Esmeraldas, Ecuador, through a cooperative working with smallholder farms. Fermentation and drying happen at origin; in Tampa, we roast at low temperatures, crack, winnow and stone-grind the beans. That connection from origin to finished cup matters to us. Cacao is an agricultural ingredient, so gentle differences between harvests are part of its character, rather than something we try to erase.

The difference starts with the bean. Many hot chocolate mixes combine cocoa powder with sugar and other ingredients. Our drinking cacao keeps the bean’s naturally occurring cacao butter, giving your cup a fuller texture and a deep cacao flavor. Pure Love is our unsweetened starting point; our blends bring their own spices, coffee or botanicals. You choose the water or milk, sweetness and strength that make the cup yours.

We roast our cacao at low temperatures and stone-grind it slowly as part of our approach to minimal intervention. Fermentation and drying happen at origin before the beans reach our Tampa kitchen. From there, we work in small batches with the aim of bringing out the cacao’s flavor and keeping its natural butter and character intact. Low temperature describes our approach to processing; it doesn’t mean the cacao is unheated or unroasted.

Start with Pure Love if you want an unsweetened cacao you can make your own. King’s Jewel brings cinnamon and a gently spicy character; Green Flare brings cacao and coffee together. If you love texture, try nibs in breakfast bowls or baking. Prefer a familiar chocolate experience? Explore our cacao bars. Each product page explains the ingredients and preparation, so you can choose by flavor, rather than feeling there’s one right way to enjoy cacao.

Start with one cacao coin in 8–12 oz of hot water or your favorite milk. Let it soften, then froth, whisk or blend until smooth. Taste before adding sweetness or spice, and adjust the cacao or liquid until it feels right for you. One coin is approximately 15 g, so there’s no block to chop or powder to measure. A weekday cup can be quick and simple; a slower cacao moment is welcome, too.

A 1 lb (454 g) bag of our cacao coins contains approximately 30 coins, or 30 cups when you use one coin per serving. Prefer a stronger cup or a larger mug? Use more cacao and expect fewer servings from the bag. This serving guide applies to the coin products; our powder, nibs, bars and other products have their own formats and preparation details on their product pages.

Absolutely. First melt your cacao coin into a small amount of hot water or milk and froth until smooth. Add cold milk or water, then pour over ice. Starting warm helps the cacao blend before you cool it down. Try a simple iced cacao, a coconut-and-vanilla cup, or a cacao-and-coffee combination. Our Recipes page has ideas when you’re ready to play with flavor.

A handheld frother makes a smooth cup easy, but you don’t need a special setup to get started. A small whisk works well: let the cacao soften in hot liquid, then whisk thoroughly. You can also use a blender that is designed for hot liquids, following its instructions. Cacao keeps its natural butter, so a little separation is normal as your cup sits. A quick stir brings it back together.

Yes—cacao belongs in much more than a mug. Melt it into desserts, blend it into drinks, or explore its depth in sauces and savory dishes. Pure Love gives you an unsweetened base, while our blends bring their own flavor combinations. Our Recipes page includes Latin-inspired drinks, Chocolate Tres Leches, cacao alfajores and savory ideas. Start with a recipe, then let your own kitchen traditions lead the way.

Yes. Cacao naturally contains caffeine and theobromine, and the amount you get depends on the cacao, the product and your serving size. Green Flare also contains coffee ingredients, so it isn’t the same choice as a plain cacao cup. We don’t publish one caffeine number for every blend or promise a particular energy response. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, check the ingredients and consider when and how much you drink.

Absolutely. There’s room for both, whether you reach for coffee in the morning, cacao later, or enjoy them together. Green Flare is our own celebration of cacao and coffee in one blend. If you’re seeking a coffee alternative, a cacao-only blend can offer a different flavor and routine, while still containing naturally occurring caffeine. Choose what you enjoy and what suits you—there’s no need to pick a side.

We value cacao as a whole food with its own flavor, natural cacao butter and plant compounds. Our low-temperature approach reflects how we like to work with the bean; it isn’t a promise of a particular health result. Amounts of naturally occurring compounds vary, and we don’t claim that a cup of XOL treats a condition or guarantees better mood or energy. We make cacao to enjoy as part of your food, culture and daily routine.

XOL can fit into an everyday routine, but the right amount is personal. Consider the serving size, the ingredients in your chosen blend and caffeine from the rest of your day. A cup doesn’t need to be especially strong to be enjoyable. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a health condition, ask your healthcare professional whether cacao and any added botanicals fit your circumstances.

Cacao naturally contains caffeine, so we don’t recommend XOL as an everyday children’s drink or make a blanket safety claim for every child. Age, serving size and individual sensitivity matter, and some blends contain coffee or botanicals. If you’re considering serving it to a child, review the specific product with their pediatric healthcare professional first. We want families to have clear information, rather than treating all cacao products as interchangeable.

Pure Love has no added sugar, sweeteners or flavorings, so its natural cacao bitterness is part of the experience. Other XOL products have their own recipes: Palm Glow includes coconut palm sugar, and our sweetened cacao bars use panela. Check the product’s ingredient list rather than assuming every XOL item is unsweetened. For your cup, you’re welcome to add a little panela, honey or another sweetener you enjoy.

Keep your cacao sealed in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, strong odors and heat. Close the bag well after each use and follow the best-by date and storage guidance on your package. Florida heat can soften cacao because it retains its natural butter, so avoid leaving a bag in a car or a sunny spot. Choose a consistently cool cupboard or another suitable storage place in your home.

Cacao’s natural butter can melt in warm weather and leave pale streaks or a mottled surface when it sets again. This may be fat bloom, which changes appearance and texture. If an otherwise sound, sealed product has simply softened, let it firm up in a cool place before using it. If you notice mold, an unusual smell, a broken seal or anything that worries you, don’t use it—send us photos and your order details so we can help.

Eligible cacao products offer a monthly option on their product page. Choose your pack size, then select the subscription option to see its current price and recurring terms before checkout. You can manage payment details or cancel through Subscriptions in your account. Need help with a skip or a change? Send us a message using the form below. A one-time purchase is always a separate choice; selecting it does not create a subscription.

We love meeting people over cacao. Visit our Market Calendar for the current schedule of XOL appearances, and check the listing before heading out because dates can change. For product questions or help with an order, send us a message using the form below. Include your order number when you have one, so we can find the details and give you a useful answer.