Pantry Files: Cacao Collective Co-Founder, Yasmin Basili-Miller
In this edition of Pantry Files we speak with Yasmin Basili-Miller, the co-founder behind Cacao Collective who is a driving force behind the rapidly rising trend of this extremely nutritious coffee alternative in Australia. We love everything about Cacao Collective and we all quickly jumped on the cacao bandwagon when we were introduced to them! We are particularly proud to be partnering and supporting this female-founded, small Australian business that upholds incredible ingredient integrity and supply chain ethics.
What’s the story behind Cacao Collective?
Cacao Collective started as a cliche ‘side hustle’ in the garage. It began because we were obsessed with drinking cacao and basically needed to find a cheaper alternative to our daily routine.
We came across an incredible fair trade, organic Peruvian supplier and decided to order 5kg to try. From the moment I opened the box, I got a huge waft of this rich, chocolate aroma. It was heaven! That was the moment I knew we’d stumbled on an opportunity.
Our first intention was to order a small amount and sell it to friends, family and acquaintances. Before long, we were selling out and decided to take on a large amount of stock. It was a scrappy start, we hand labeled bags, hand chopped and shaved. It was a total labor of love, and honestly, we had no idea it was going to fast become the brand it is today.
How were you first introduced to cacao?
Bali was my first introduction to cacao - whilst in Ubud there was a cafe where it would be a popular drink on the menu.
We’d also been to ceremonies, but truthfully, I didn’t really enjoy cacao in a ceremonial sense. For me personally, I had been a caffeine junky for years and was in need of an alternative that would give me the benefits of coffee without the side effects I experienced (anxiety, jitters, crashes etc).
I wasn’t a huge fan of chai or teas, so finding ceremonial grade cacao was such a game changer!
Mitch (former founder) actually introduced me to it two years prior to beginning Cacao Collective. And I’ve pretty much been drinking it every day since.
Has anything surprised you about your journey/success to date?
I suppose everything about it has in some way surprised me. The amount of support and love we’ve had from customers and community has been so heartwarming and has helped us grow so much.
Can you tell us a bit about the difference between ceremonial cacao and other forms of cacao such as powder?
Ceremonial cacao, or cacao paste, is a pure form of cacao. When cacao is processed into powder through heating and pressing much of its nutrients, fibre and natural fat are removed. We explain the difference on our blog here.
What are some of the benefits of consuming cacao daily?
There are so many benefits to drinking cacao that it would be difficult to mention them all here. Cacao is one of the most nutrient-dense plants on the planet and includes high quantities of the minerals magnesium, zinc, iron, copper and manganese. Ceremonial grade cacao is high in antioxidants and is extremely beneficial for our skin as well as heart health. It is also low in caffeine but rich in theobromine, a natural stimulant. You can read more about these benefits on our blog.
What does fair trade mean to you and Cacao Collective? How does your business uphold these ideals in practice?
The chocolate industry in itself has a very dark side to it. Exploitation of farmers is common among large corporate bodies, particularly along the Ivory Coast.
Fair trade for us has always been important and is something we care deeply about. From day one, we’ve been committed to a win, win, win model: the farmers win, we win and so too do our customers.
It means that everybody wins at every point of the supply chain. From the farmers, to the handlers, shippers and so on. Each party involved is fairly remunerated for the part they play.
For us, we pay most attention to our farmers, we pay a premium to ensure that farmers are fairly remunerated for their harvest. On top of that, a portion of profits go back directly to them to provide support for farming tools and education.
Our supply is fair trade certified and is monitored under a registered body to ensure that we are always in line with our efforts.
What are some of your daily rituals for well-being?
I walk a minimum of 10k steps everyday without fail. Usually first thing along the coast. This for me is my medicine. It helps me organise my thoughts for the day ahead and feel inspired to begin.
I go to my community gym every day and ensure I’m surrounded by good people. Community is one of my most important pillars as an entrepreneur who’s often working at home alone.
I remind myself and write down why I do what I do. I remind myself of the vision I have for Cacao Collective and take a moment to be thankful that I GET to do this. On the days that are difficult this makes the biggest difference.
What are some of your favourite staples we might find in your pantry at home? Besides cacao of course!
You’ll find an array of nutraceuticals, adaptogens, tinctures, tonics and supplements! I’m obsessed with well-being.You’ll find organic decaf coffee (because I love the taste and drink it at night time) and true protein powder (my absolute favorite).
What’s next for Cacao Collective?
We have some new products in the pipeline that still incorporate cacao which I’m super excited about but can’t say much more on.
We’re about to launch into local stores across Queensland which I’m also so excited about!
We’ve also got some fresh Perth events planned for the new year to support our community and offer a more experiential way to enjoy cacao.
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