“Koko Samoa” is a traditional Samoan hot beverage that has become an integral part of Samoan culture over generations. It’s considered a national drink, often served as a welcoming gesture in traditional gatherings. It is made from the same stuff as chocolate, except for the sugar which you can add to your own tastes.

Absolutely! If you’re familiar with cacao paste, cacao mass, cacao liquor, or ceremonial cacao, you’ll appreciate our single-serve pods. The difference lies in the flavor. Just as chocolate and coffee have varied roasting methods and flavor profiles, Samoan cacao paste, affectionately known as koko Samoa, boasts a darker roast with smokey notes reminiscent of wood fire traditions. So even if you are the "furthest thing from being Samoan" it’s delicious with sweetener like dark chocolate, or for the purists, enjoy it plain.

No, our single-serve pods are crafted for a pure, velvety finish with no gritty bits like traditional Koko Samoa. Our research and customer feedback indicated a preference for a smoother texture, enhancing the rich, chocolatey flavor. Apologies to the nibble fans!

Absolutely, but people all around the world are loving this, from Japan and Germany to Dubai and Austria. Koko Samoa is much like Mate in South America—a national treasure. Though the Mayans, Mexico, and the Philippines (tablea) have their versions, if you love dark chocolate, you’ll likely enjoy this cultural experience.

Our Koko Samoa is made using methods similar to those of chocolatiers. We dehusk the cacao, barrel roast it, grind it into a paste, and set it into convenient-sized pods. Traditionally, Koko Samoa is made by roasting whole cacao beans over an open fire, then grinding them into a paste with a mortar and pestle. This paste is then mixed with hot water to create a rich, flavorful drink.

Yes. We source the cacao for our single-serve Koko Samoa from Samoa.

Yes, The Koko Samoa Drinking Chocolate includes cacao butter, ensuring a rich and authentic ceremonial-grade quality.

Yes, it is owned by Lasi, who is of Samoan descent and has traveled the world to bring this exquisite product to life.

No, there are no added sugars, allowing you to enjoy the pure, natural flavor of cacao.

The drinking chocolate is naturally bittersweet, offering a rich and delicious flavor, but you can add a sweetener if you prefer a sweeter taste.

The price reflects the premium quality of the cacao, the proprietary process that retains the natural goodness of cacao butter, and the commitment to health and luxury.

Beyond being a luxurious drink, it can be used in smoothies, desserts, and gourmet recipes, adding a sophisticated chocolate kick to various culinary creations.

Unlike others, The Koko Samoa retains the natural cacao butter, offering a smoother, richer texture and more health benefits.

Cacao has something similar to caffeine in it called theobromine, and the effects can be similar. Caffeine and theobromine are both alkaloids. Cacao beans usually contain about 1% theobromine. Like caffeine, theobromine blocks adenosine receptors, increasing alertness but isn’t as potent as caffeine. Theobromine has also been identified as one of the compounds contributing to chocolate's reputation as an aphrodisiac.

We make our Koko Samoa Drinks to be as convenient as possible, so we do get the Koko much finer than normal. So it dissolves quicker in hot water without too much effort and stirring. There are little to no bits to chew (pegu koko).

Many people look at the colour of the Koko however that’s not always an accurate sign. Cacao that is rich in cacao butter (like the Koko from Samoa) tends to get a marbled effect when exposed to air but that is usually the cacao butter drying to a different colour than the actual cacao grind. Cacao that has dark sections and light sections doesn’t necessarily mean it has aged too long. 

If the cocoa has remained dry and looks to be free of mould, then your sense of taste is the best way to tell if it is still good. When cacao is no longer good, the chocolatey taste tends to disappear.