Cacao Tea 101: How to Brew It and Its Health Benefits [2025]

Cacao tea is a hot drink that gets its great, chocolatey flavor from cacao beans. Unlike many teas that come from plant leaves, cacao tea is brewed by steeping cacao beans in hot water. When you brew a cup from crushed cacao beans and skins, you’ll see how different it tastes from other herbal teas and how special the flavor is, a flavor you probably never experienced when drinking other herbal teas. has a special flavor. Cacao tea is delicious and an excellent alternative to sweet chocolate drinks. It is also a good option for people looking for a warm and soothing drink during cold weather.

In this article, we will explore what cacao tea is and how to make a tasty cup of this fantastic tea at home. We will also discuss its health benefits that make this tea a great alternative, maybe, to several herbal teas you have ever brewed.

What is Cacao Tea?

Cacao tea is a hot drink made from cacao beans. These beans have a shell that contains the beans inside. Unlike regular teas that are made from the leaves of the plant, cacao tea uses the whole cacao bean (ie, both the skin and the seeds) to give the tea an amazing taste and great aroma. The process of brewing cacao tea is similar to brewing coffee. Both are brewed out of ground beans to obtain the flavor.

There are several types of cacao tea:

Whole cacao bean tea
Crushed beans without skin tea
Cacao bean shells tea

All are tasty and, honestly, a new tea flavor experience, but I suggest you try all three to see which one suits your taste best.

How to Brew Cacao Tea?

To prepare cacao tea from whole beans, the first step is to roast the cacao beans. Coffee roasteries handle this part, and you just have to purchase it. However, you can also roast them yourself in a regular oven, but it’s a lengthy process.

Next, you need to grind the beans. You need to use a spice grinder, blender, or mortar and pestle to do this properly. Grind the beans almost completely to powder or fine granules, but be careful not to overdo this. If you grind them too much, then the beans will become like a greasy paste, which forms a greasy layer on the surface of the tea when you brew a cup.

Crushed and Ground Cacao Beans for Cacao Tea

After grinding, add the cacao bean pieces to a French press, fill it with hot water, and let them steep slowly. The amount and duration of brewing this tea depend on your taste and how intense you want it to be. Here, you have to experiment. This brewing process transfers the flavors and properties of cacao beans to water.

Your tea is now ready to drink. If you don’t have a French press, you can brew the tea in a regular cup, but since you have to separate beans from liquid, you should strain it into another cup after the tea is brewed.

Tips For Brewing a Perfect Cup of Cacao Tea

Brewing cacao tea comes with some caveats you should consider if you’re looking for a perfect brew.

One is the steeping time and temperature. To achieve the best taste, brew your cacao tea for about 7 and 10 minutes. This allows the chocolate flavors to release into the water. Also, pay attention to how much cacao you add to the cup. If you brew the tea with too much cacao, it may taste bitter and heavy, which is not pleasant at all. The perfect ratio can be 1 or 2 teaspoons, but you should experiment and see what suits you best.

Water temperature is very important too. Unlike regular teas that require boiling water, the water temperature for brewing cacao tea matters. It should be boiling hot. In fact, boiling water will give the tea a bitter taste that will impact its amazing taste and aroma. The ideal temperature for brewing cacao tea is between 80°C and 90°C. Hot water just below boiling temperature helps crushed beans release their flavors and beneficial compounds into the cup.

And last is that even cacao tea grounds can be used for brewing again. If the first cup of tea is well brewed, you can use the grounds to brew another cup. This will help reduce the waste of ingredients. If you brew a second cup, the taste will be softer and very different.

What Can You Add to Your Cup of Cacao Tea?

To make the taste of cacao tea more distinctive, you can add various additives to your cup instead of sugar:

One of these additives is cinnamon, which gives the tea a warm and spicy taste.

Adding dried orange peel is also an interesting choice if you want to experience a whole new taste.

You have a selection of milks to add to your cacao tea as well. Almond or oat milk to give your drink a special and wonderful taste.

If you are interested in more complex flavors, you can use vanilla extract or even black pepper. Trust me, it’s a game changer when it comes to the cacao tea experience.

Health Benefits of Cacao Tea

Although cacao tea has a simple, down-to-earth appearance, it has several properties and health benefits. One of the most important compounds in cacao tea is theobromine, A natural compound similar to caffeine, but with more gentle and lasting effects. While coffee suddenly gives you energy and then makes you tired, theobromine in cacao tea releases the energy slowly, helping you feel awake and relaxed simultaneously.

Theobromine compound promotes heart health, increases concentration, and improves mood. Research published on Medical News Today shows that theobromine dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, and helps the brain function better.

In addition, cacao tea is rich in antioxidants, which fight against free radicals and regenerate cells in the body. It also greatly reduces inflammation, improves liver function, and helps with skin health & beauty.

Famous Cacao Tea Brands in the World

There are currently several leading brands that produce cacao tea:

MiCacao, which offers exclusively cacao skin tea in America
The Cacao Tea Co. is also a well-known manufacturer in the United Kingdom.
Vedas Cacao Tea, an Amazon best seller that offers flavored cacao tea, like cinnamon and vanilla.

Conclusion

Cacao tea is a simple drink that has many properties, both physically and mentally. This tea is also considered a healthy, tasty, and side-effect-free alternative to many caffeinated drinks. Whether you want to use it to start the day, for moments of relaxation in the evening, or even in friendly gatherings or meditation, cacao tea is an excellent choice. Features such as high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effect, chocolate aroma, and light feeling after drinking, have made this tea one of the healthy trends. Access to cacao tea is no longer difficult with reliable brands operating in the global market. Try it, maybe it will become your favorite drink! If you have had any experience drinking cacao tea, I would be happy to know what you think.