Ceremonial cacao - how is it different from regular chocolate? True ceremonial cocoa is very different from regular cocoa, and even more so from chocolate! Ordinary cocoa is a highly processed, defatted product with a much lower theobromine content. Ceremonial cocoa comes only from native types of cocoa, that is, the original, virgin cocoa. It is in the form of a pressed, matte paste made from raw cocoa beans, deceptively similar to good, crumbly chocolate in the hands. It is gently fermented, organic in nature and full of valuable nutrients and compounds with salutary effects on the body.