by Phoebe Preuss | Jan 13, 2025 | Artisan Chocolate, Chocolate manufacturers Melbourne, Events, Organic Drinking Chocolate, Wellness Blogs, Wholesale Chocolate
At Living Koko, we’re passionate about the power of cacao. It’s not just a delicious treat or an indulgent snack—it’s a gift from nature that has been cherished for centuries for its healing properties. As cacao has grown in popularity, we’ve come to realize that many of its incredible health benefits are often overlooked. So, let’s dive into the top five health benefits of cacao that you may not know about.
1. Boosts Heart Health
Cacao is a natural source of flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that has been shown to promote cardiovascular health. Studies suggest that the flavonoids in cacao can help improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure, and lower the risk of heart disease. By regularly consuming high-quality cacao, you can help support your heart and circulation, leading to a more vibrant and healthy body.
2. Enhances Brain Function
Cacao contains compounds like theobromine and flavonoids, which have been linked to improved cognitive function. These compounds increase blood flow to the brain, supporting better memory, focus, and mental clarity. Whether you’re tackling a busy workday or engaging in creative projects, cacao can be your brain’s best ally. Its mood-boosting properties also help reduce mental fatigue and increase alertness.
3. Promotes Gut Health
Did you know cacao can be good for your gut? Raw cacao is rich in prebiotics, which are essential for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. A balanced microbiome is crucial for digestion, immunity, and overall well-being. Cacao encourages the growth of good bacteria, contributing to a healthy digestive system. So, indulge in a square of dark chocolate or a cacao smoothie to nourish both your body and your gut.
4. Improves Mood and Reduces Stress
Cacao is often referred to as a natural mood enhancer, and for good reason. It stimulates the production of endorphins and serotonin, the “feel-good” hormones that promote happiness and relaxation. This can be particularly helpful during stressful times, offering a natural and delicious way to uplift your mood. Cacao also contains magnesium, which helps to reduce stress and improve sleep quality, making it an ideal treat for relaxation after a long day.
5. Supports Skin Health
While cacao is often associated with indulgence, it also has incredible benefits for your skin. The antioxidants in cacao help protect against skin damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to premature aging. The high levels of polyphenols in cacao may even protect the skin from harmful UV rays. By incorporating cacao into your diet or skincare routine, you can support your skin’s health from the inside out, giving it a radiant and youthful glow.
Cacao is far more than just a delightful indulgence—it’s a powerful superfood with a wide range of health benefits that can enhance your life. At Living Koko, we’re committed to bringing you the best, sustainably sourced cacao so you can experience its full potential. Whether you’re enjoying it in its purest form or as part of a delicious chocolate creation, cacao can be a delicious and nutritious addition to your lifestyle. Embrace its health benefits and let it elevate your well-being!
by Phoebe Preuss | Apr 9, 2024 | Chocolate manufacturers Melbourne, Events, Wellness Blogs, Wholesale Chocolate
For each of us, Mothers’ Day holds different significance and can bring up mixed emotions – positive and negative. The day can be used as an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the many different kinds of mother figures in our lives, whether they be biological mothers, surrogates, aunties, friends, sisters, mentors, fathers, or the untapped mother within each of us.
Positive mother figures embody the values of nurturing, caring, loving, protecting, teaching, holding, guiding, and giving life. Largely, these values involve one’s energy being given out to other people, which, while virtuous and caring, can be exhausting and strenuous on body, mind and soul. I often think of all the times I did not support my mother in ways she needed. Being without life experience and awareness I didn’t recognise the selflessness she portrayed and the expectations I held on her. Sometimes I feel that a lot of the gift packs and practises I create and share is what I would have loved to have offered my mother and my mother friends during their time of exhaustion and need.
A beautiful way to honour and thank the mother figures around you – and even the quiet motherly voice within yourself – is through healing and restorative self-care practices.
Far from being an indulgence, self-care is essential for each of us to be able to function properly day-to-day, particularly when we’re faced with stressful situations or are caring for other people.
A self-care practice is different for each individual, and it’s about more than having a nice bubble bath and a glass of wine. Genuine and nurturing self-care is holistic and is about taking the time to reflect within and listen to what your body, mind and soul needs to calm, centre and reenergise.
It doesn’t have to be complicated or onerous, it can be made up of little activities that help us replenish our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy. Here are just a few ideas that can help unwind and recharge, so we can show up as our best selves in our daily lives.
- Start your day right with a simple morning ritual. Rise half an hour earlier than usual and pick a couple of things to spend some mindful time with. Brew yourself a cup of something delicious whether it be tea, coffee…or of course our favourite, koko! Use your favourite cup or mug and take a few moments to inhale the scent of the brew, feel the warmth in the cup and the sensation of the liquid in your body. Take some deep cleansing breaths and set some intentions for your day, or even do some journaling.
- Nourish your body. While cooking dinner every night can be calming and fun for some, if it’s not your idea of self-care then make it easy for yourself. Meal-prep some healthy meals for the week when you have some time, or order some meal kits. Focus on eating whole foods high in nutrition, without denying yourself your favourite treats. Eating high quality dark chocolate is a perfect example – savour every bite and know that you’re getting the health benefits of antioxidants, iron and magnesium, all in one delicious package!
- Slow your brain down throughout the day. Meditation can be a challenge and it’s not for everyone, but taking a few moments to sit quietly and focus on one calming thing can be so energising. Focus on your breath, a mantra or calming phrase, or silently give thanks and appreciation to your body, the earth and the mana – the spirit of life and energy. The ancient practice of giving gratitude combined with deep breathing and quieting your mind has played a central role in many cultures for eons for good reason – it works.
- Turn your bathroom into your own private day spa…even if it’s just for a short time. Whether you have an hour or just a few minutes, you can make the simple process of having a shower a more relaxing task to reset your body and mind. Light a candle or scent diffuser, grab your favourite body products and make your shower a mindful and present experience. Notice the different scents, textures and sensations and use the time to ground yourself and reset. Packed with organic, natural ingredients, our Koko Smooth range of body and face scrubs, masks and serums are the ideal way to give yourself a mini escape from the outside world, while giving your skin some alofa– love.
Incorporating restorative self-care practices into our daily routines can have a significant impact on our overall well-being, and these are just a few easy ideas. So, take some time for yourself and try out these practices, or gently suggest (or gift!) some of them to someone in your life who might need some nurturing.
by Phoebe Preuss | Jan 20, 2024 | Artisan Chocolate, Cacao Body Scrub Products, Chocolate manufacturers Melbourne, Drinking Cacao Shop, Drinking Chocolate, Events, Organic Chocolate Shop, Wellness Blogs, Wellness Event
Click here for link to tickets,
Feb 23rd 6.30pm – 8.00pm with cacao drinks to end.
$20+BF
We invite all women, men and non-binary peoples to join us in an evening of Pasifika Movement & Intentional Cacao. Pasifika Indigenous Dance movements help to nurture us at a fundamentally grounding level. In Samoa, Koko (Cacao ) is offered to deepen social connection. We invite you to come experience:
🌱 Koko reflections on gafa (genealogy) and malaga (journey)
🌱 Understanding le masina (the full moon)
🌱 Te ha ~ Breath work
🌱 Collective story telling through movement
Moving together as one recognising our position within an eco-system and opening ourselves to kincentric ecologies and cyclical rhythms of our moon. (Pasifika movements, language and frameworks drawn from different parts of Polynesia; Ori Tahiti, Hawaii & Samoa)
This is an outdoor event, if there is heavy rain it will be cancelled and full refunds distributed. Light rain we will still go ahead. Bring water bottle, pareo (sarong), and cup for cacao drink after class
by Phoebe Preuss | Jan 20, 2024 | Chocolate manufacturers Melbourne, Events, Wellness Blogs, Wellness Event, Wholesale Chocolate
Fipe Preuss: Living Koko co-founder, Pasifika movement guide, Space Holder and Cacao Creative. – (Wahine Toa o te Po offerings details here)
Living Koko is honoured to offer wellness practices that go beyond engaging with our beautiful koko plant medicine products. Our Wahine Toa (“wah-hee-ne toh-ah”) workshop is a sacred and intensive experience that we offer to those looking to deepen their connection to themselves and sisterhood. Taking its name from a Pasifika phrase meaning a woman’s strength, Wahine Toa is a gender and non-binary inclusive event to support and guide those who connect with feminine energy. Our most recent workshop was held on Saturday 19 August, with 16 women joining us for what was a powerful and moving day of reflection, movement, breathwork, ceremony and connection.
Drawing on revered indigenous practices and traditions from the Pacific Islands and Aotearoa New Zealand, and honouring the divine feminine energy, Wahine Toa is a full day experience and takes participants on their own unique inner journey whilst supported by sisterhood in a nurturing space. With an intent to replenish the self and soul and re-ignite the fire within, we commence the session by sipping traditional Pasifika plant medicine elixirs of kava Kava Kuo Heka from Tonga, and cacao Koko Samoa from Samoa. These are brought forward in ceremony through movement and chant and help set the awareness and intention for the day, with the heart-opening qualities of koko deepening our connection to ourselves and each other.
Through ceremony Pasifika movement, meditation and focused breathwork, our wahine sisters are encouraged to move energies and emotions through their bodies to help heal and resolve deeply held emotions, release painful forgotten stored memories, and erase unhelpful narratives. With compassion, gentleness and respect, we support our sisters through this journey, allowing them to truly feel their emotions and unburden their bodies, within a sacred space where everyone feels secure to share their story. Towards the end of the session, we sit as a group and share a meal and koko, reflect gently, connect and hold space for anyone to talk about what they have experienced.
Witnessing these incredible women work through this process is such an honour, and I love seeing the positive impact it has on them. They walk away feeling lighter, many of them journal for days afterwards and are able to let certain memories go, reframe situations and give themselves a much more gentle narrative about it. Wahine Toa is such an incredibly powerful and fulfilling experience, and a beautiful way to honour and nurture yourself if you are looking to go deeper into your self-care and breathwork practice.
We look forward to holding our new activation this February “Wahine Toa O Te Pomore” Strong women of the night – an evening half day retreat which focuses on the shadow deep inner work we all need to do. If this feels right for you, if you have heard of doing inner work but unsure how to create big shifts then this is for you. We ask that you attend with an open mind, heart and a gentl ear for your sisters.
by j9d7u | Oct 25, 2023 | Chocolate manufacturers Melbourne, Wholesale Chocolate
Australian Made Chocolate
Australian Made In Melbourne
Why we at Living Koko make the very best chocolates? Because we can and our chocolate is a delectable treat that captivates the senses with its rich, smooth texture, and an exquisite balance of flavours, often showcasing the deep, nuanced taste of high-quality cocoa. It melts in your mouth, offering a delightful blend of sweetness and cocoa intensity, leaving a satisfying, lingering impression of indulgence.
Living Koko acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are based on, Narrm (Melbourne); the Wurundjeri and neighbouring Boonwurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation, Australia. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.
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Unit 59, 56-68 Eucumbene Drive, Ravenhall. VIC. 3023, Australia - Wurundjeri Country
Living Koko - Samoa, Papauta, Apia, Samoa
by j9d7u | Oct 24, 2023 | Artisan Chocolate, Chocolate manufacturers Melbourne
Australia’s Finest Hand Crafted Chocolate Makers
Made In Melbourne And Leading The Way
Melbourne is known for its thriving food and beverage scene, and its chocolate makers are no exception.
Living Koko Located in Ravenhall and produces high-quality artisanal chocolates made from organic ingredients.
Our products are handmade and we focuses on producing delicious and ethically-sourced products.
Whether you’re looking for classic chocolate flavors or innovative new creations, Living Koko, has plenty of options to satisfy your sweet tooth.
It’s great to be an Australian company with our heritage connection specialising in handcrafted artisan chocolate. We take great pride in our craft, using high-quality ingredients and traditional methods to create unique and delicious chocolate products. Our handmade chocolates offer a wide range of flavors and textures, making them a treat for chocolate enthusiasts. If you have any specific questions or would like more information about Living Koko or artisan chocolate in general, please feel free to ask!
Living Koko acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are based on, Narrm (Melbourne); the Wurundjeri and neighbouring Boonwurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation, Australia. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.
This site is protected by SSL Security Certificate
Unit 59, 56-68 Eucumbene Drive, Ravenhall. VIC. 3023, Australia - Wurundjeri Country
Living Koko - Samoa, Papauta, Apia, Samoa
