The ancient superfood in our energy balls carries a powerful story of history, struggle, and hope.
When you bite into one of Claire’s Amazeballs containing raw cacao, you’re experiencing thousands of years of history and supporting struggling farming communities with every delicious bite.
From Sacred Currency to Colonial Commodity
The Maya called cacao “kakaw” and believed it was a gift from the gods—so precious that cacao beans served as currency. The Aztecs continued this tradition, with Emperor Montezuma drinking dozens of cups daily from golden goblets. For these civilisations, cacao was medicine, money, and spiritual sustenance rolled into one.
The Spanish conquest transformed cacao from a sacred indigenous crop into a colonial commodity, creating exploitation patterns that persist today. Many regions that once supplied cacao under colonial rule still struggle with poverty and unsustainable farming practices.
Today’s Crisis: Small Farms, Big Challenges
Modern cacao farming is dominated by smallholder farmers working tiny plots of 2-5 acres. Despite chocolate being a billion-pound industry, most cacao farmers earn less than £1.50 per day—receiving only a fraction of the final product’s value.
These families face overwhelming challenges:
-Climate change: making traditional growing regions unsuitable
-Wild price fluctuations that make planning impossible
-Poor infrastructure leading to 30-40% post-harvest losses
-Limited investment in equipment and storage facilities
When cacao farms fail, the consequences ripple globally. Forests get cleared for other crops, rural communities migrate to overcrowded cities, and centuries of agricultural knowledge disappears.
Claire’s Ethical Choice
We source our cacao ingredients from companies because they share our commitment to doing things right. We love the brands Naturya and Sevenhills. For example, our premium cacao suppliers beans from Ghana and the Ivory Coast, selecting only the highest quality varieties.
What makes them special:
- Hand-harvested beans processed using traditional methods
- Low-temperature processing (never exceeding 45°C) to preserve maximum nutrition
- - Recycled packaging to minimise environmental impact
- Charitable work supporting children in Kenya
- Complete transparency throughout their supply chain
Their raw cacao retains all the superfood benefits that made this ingredient sacred to ancient civilisations—antioxidants, minerals, and natural compounds that nourish both body and soul.
Your Energy Ball, Your Impact
Every time you choose one of our cacao energy balls, you’re voting for a better food system. Your purchase supports:
- Responsible sourcing from established West African growing regions
- Traditional processing methods that preserve quality and nutrition
- Environmental sustainability through recycled packaging
- Global charitable impact beyond cacao communities
- Transparency in the supply chain
While not all our energy balls contain cacao, those that do represent a conscious choice to honour this ancient superfood’s heritage while supporting its sustainable future.
Building a Better Future, One Bite at a Time
The challenges facing cacao farmers are complex, but they’re not insurmountable. By choosing ethically-sourced products and staying informed about our food’s origins, we can help create a world where farmers earn living wages and agricultural systems work in harmony with the environment.
Your cacao energy ball might seem like a simple snack, but it represents a choice to honour cacao’s sacred history while supporting positive change. Every bite connects you to ancient wisdom, supports modern farmers, and invests in a more sustainable future.
Because at Claire’s Amazeballs, we believe that good food should do good—for you, for farmers, and for our planet.
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