Cocoa

See dark chocolate milk for preparation.

Dosages based on cocoa strain

The caffeine content in the table is base on the calculation from various cocoa varieties.^[1]

Several mixtures of cacao are described in ancient texts, for ceremonial or medicinal, as well as culinary, purposes. Some mixtures included maize, chili, vanilla (Vanilla planifolia), and honey. Archaeological evidence for use of cacao, while relatively sparse, has come from the recovery of whole cacao beans at Uaxactun, Guatemala.^[2]

Ceremonial cacao, along with retreats centered around its use, has been experiencing a surge in popularity in recent years.

• Anandamide^[3]
• Caffeine^[3]: 230 mg / 100 g^[4]
• Phenethylamine^[5]
• Phenylalanine:^[3] 0.941 g/100 g^[4]
• Putrescine^[6]
• Salsolinol^[3]
• Serotonin^[3]
• Theobromine:^[3] 2060 mg/100 g^[4]
• Theophylline^[7]
• Tryptamine^[3]
• Tryptophan:^[3] 0.293 g/100 g^[4]
• Tyramine^[3]
• Tyrosine:^[3] 0.735 g/100 g^[4]
• Valeric acid^[8]
• MAOIs
  • Catechin^[3][9]
  • Epicatechin^[3][9]
  • Tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines (THBCs)^[3]

Cocoa varieties

Caffeine content mg/g (sorted by lowest caffeine content):^[1]

• Forastero (defatted): 1.3 mg/g
• Nacional (defatted): 2.4 mg/g
• Trinitario (defatted): 6.3/g
• Criollo (defatted): 11.3 mg/g

The compounds theobromine, caffeine, and phenethylamine are the main psychoactive constituents of cocoa. Caffeine and theobromine are metabolized by xanthine oxidase and phenethylamine is metabolized mainly by monoamine oxidase B.

Theobromine has a half-life of 10 hours but over 16% may be unmodified 48 h after a single dose of 10 mg/Kg.^[10]

It may take 4-8 weeks of caffeine abstinence to reset tolerance in regular users.^[11]

Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.

It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.

It is recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this drug. Although cocoa is relatively safe when ingested orally, snorting cocoa is very damaging to nasal passages and therefore it is not recommended to snort cocoa powder often, in large amounts, or potentially even at all.

Snorted cocoa has been used as a "party drug" in Europe, usually as a legal and subtle replacement for MDMA or cocaine.^[12][13] Cocoa solids is a very bulky substance. Insufflation of cocoa solids in the respiratory tract can cause inflammation.^[14]

Overdose

The LD₅₀ of cocoa powder in humans is estimated to be around 25-100_{(This information has a large range of numbers (ex. 25-100) that is unjustified or unsourced and/or it is a very vague statement.)} grams per kilogram of body weight.^{[citation needed]}

Dependence and abuse potential

Because cocoa can act as a powerful (compared to other weaker stimulants on their own) stimulant, it can be considered addictive, but less so than compounds such as amphetamine and DOx compounds. Caffeine dependence and withdrawals have been documented. ^[15]

Dangerous interactions

monoamine oxidase inhibitors or reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase could potentially boost the actions of phenethylamine^{[citation needed]} or, more dangerously, raise levels of monoamines to very high amounts which could cause high blood pressure or less potentially, serotonin syndrome.

Cocoa powder can be legally obtained likely in every country, although some countries have restrictions on the sale of caffeine.

• Responsible use
• Caffeine
• Phenethylamine

• Theobroma cacao (Wikipedia)
• Cocoa bean (Wikipedia)
• Cocoa solids (Wikipedia)
• Dark chocolate (Wikipedia)
• Chocolate (Erowid Vault)
• Theobroma cacao (Chocolate) (Erowid Vault)