Costa Rica – Talamanca: Bribri Cacao Tradition

A Deep-Rooted Connection to Cacao

The Bribri people of Talamanca (southeastern Costa Rica, near the Panama border) have a long-standing spiritual and cultural relationship with cacao. In their cosmology, cacao is sacred:

• They believe the first cacao tree emerged from the blood of the goddess Sórkura (also called Sibö), who transformed into the cacao tree to provide for humanity.

Cacao is considered a female entity, and its branches are never burned for firewood. Only women are allowed to prepare and serve the sacred drink within ritual contexts .

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🍫 Ceremonial & Everyday Use

• Cacao plays a central role in purification rituals, ceremonies marking puberty, and traditional medicinal practices .

• It’s incorporated into folk medicine for skin care and fever treatment, beyond its symbolic significance .

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💚 Agroforestry & Cultural Resilience

• Bribri agroforestry systems cultivate cacao beneath forest canopies, supporting biodiversity, soil regeneration, and sustainable food sovereignty .

For the Bribri, cacao is more than a crop—it’s a lifeline intertwined with identity, economy, and ecological balance. Disruption of cacao systems threatens both culture and environment .

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📚 Modern Challenges & Opportunities

• Although Bribri cacao is valued by small-scale chocolate makers abroad, the community often receives minimal financial benefit from these markets .

Emphasizing ethical sourcing and profit-sharing with Bribri cooperatives can help preserve both their traditions and agroforestry systems.