Obsessed with helping you feel truly alive... one decadent sip at a time

Because it all starts within...

We don’t do cacao (or life) like everyone else.

You don't have to either.

INTRODUCING

Our founder

Does your life feel half lived, like something deeper is missing? Mine did too. 

I’m Dr Ifey Ihonor - a doctor-turned herbalist, and the founder and chief cacao elixir maker at 8 Within.

It was only when an encounter with ceremonial cacao in a Costa Rican jungle transformed the way I saw myself that I finally realised what the missing piece was. 

Before then, I’d travelled the world in search of my life’s purpose. This journey (from India to Indonesia, Hawaii and Costa Rica) led me to study herbal medicine with native teachers across the globe - and that’s how I ended up drinking real Mayan cacao in Costa Rica one Thursday morning in February 2023.

I was so blown away by how things fell into place once my mind-blowing experience with cacao changed my perspective about life, so I started 8 Within. 

My goal? 

To help others experience the truly transformative power of cacao and plant medicines... from the comfort of their homes.

Dr Ifey fuses science with ancient traditions, so our cacao elixirs are grounded in science, but elevated by plant alchemy and honour cacao’s sacred history.

The 8 Within difference

We believe cacao doesn’t have to taste bitter and gritty for you to get the best out of it. That’s why we combine the most potent pure cacao with premium, organic ingredients to elevate (rather than water down) cacao's magic.

  • We use certified organic, high-quality cacao beans in their whole form - never processed cacao powder
  • Our ceremonial-grade cacao comes from northern Peru - close to the Jaen region where records show cacao was first used ceremonially
  • Our cacao is incredibly high in cacao’s key heart-opening, energising substance: theobromine. It contains around 6 times more theobromine than other types of cacao
  • We only use plant extracts that have been scientifically shown to improve your state of mind
  • We use generous doses of these plants - so you can actually feel them working

“Ridiculously delicious”

There’s a reason our customers describe our elixirs as "ridiculously delicious”“the best cacao I’ve ever tried” and “creamy cacao that’s rich and divine”.

  • We use the whole bean with all of its cacao butter for extra creaminess.
  • We carefully blend pure cacao with a dash of spices, fruit extracts and coconut nectar to dial up cacao’s natural fruity and caramel notes, while balancing its bitterness

There’s no processed sugar, milk, artificial flavours or any other funny business in these blends.

Just all-natural plant magic.

Meet Ceremonial Cacao

An ancient & sacred superfood from South and Central America.

She helps you feel awakened, uplifted and incredibly alive.

We take advantage of cacao’s natural vasodilatory (blood vessel opening) action by adding medicinal plants that make you feel calmer, happier, and more focused.

When paired with cacao, the active compounds in these plants quickly spread around your body and get to work faster.

What are the mind-elevating compounds in cacao?

THEOBROMINE

A gentle stimulant and vasodilator. It energises and increases blood flow to the heart and brain

PHENYLETHYLAMINE

Increases your body's levels of feelgood chemicals, serotonin and dopamine

INDIRECT CANNABINOIDS

Three indirect cannabinoids that encourage the production of the bliss chemical anandamide

TRYPTOPHAN

Turns into 5-HTP, which is used to make the happy chemical serotonin

TRYPTAMINE

Converts to DMT – the ‘God’ molecule – which can help shift your perspective of the world

Ethics & Reverence

Our cacao is organically shade-grown and hand-selected by local farmers - using traditional practices that support the region's natural biodiversity.

The farmers are paid a fair wage for their time and work.

In keeping with Andean tradition, the local women lead the process of turning cacao beans into paste.

Frequently asked questions

Real ceremonial-grade cacao should taste bitter because it contains polyphenols, which protect your cells and organs from damage. But we know cacao’s naturally bitter taste can be hard to swallow, so we’ve mixed ours with mouth-watering spice and fruit pairings you simply won’t find anywhere else (think sweet dark cherry and Ceylon cinnamon OR wild fig and maple). The end result is a decadent, rich and creamy cacao that tastes incredible.

We use ceremonial cacao that's got 6x more theobromine (that's the substance in cacao that makes you feel alive and energised) than your average cacao. And that means you can really feel ours working.

Then, we take advantage of cacao’s natural vasodilatory (blood vessel opening) action by combining it with medicinal plants that have been scientifically shown to make you feel calmer, happier, and more focused. When paired with cacao, the active compounds in these plants quickly spread around your body and get to work faster. That’s why we call our cacao ‘enhanced cacao’.

Our price reflects the quality of the ingredients we use and, most importantly, the fact that we source these ingredients sustainably and fairly. For example, our ceremonial-grade cacao is made using sustainable practices and with reverence to cacao and its rich history (e.g. each cacao pod is hand picked by farmers). These farmers are paid fairly for their work and the money we pay gives back to the local community while preserving the biodiversity of the area.

Our cacao has been lab tested for safety and meets EU standards for absence of heavy metals, with below detectable levels of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic.

Cacao has 4 key compounds that have been scientifically shown to work on receptors in the body to improve mood in different ways. These include the substances phenylethylamine, tryptophan, tryptamine and a group of indirect cannabinoids. We have amplified the effects of these mood-enhancing substances by adding active doses of plant extracts that are known to improve mood, such as Mucuna pruriens and Nymphaea caerulea.

To get the maximum effect from our enhanced cacao elixirs, try taking a ceremonial dose (35g) on an empty stomach. It’s safest to avoid taking coffee and other sources of caffeine within 6 hours of cacao. You don’t need to take cacao every day - you can take it whenever you need an uplift. However, it can be beneficial to take smaller amounts of cacao (15-20g daily) for a sustained mood boost and for its heart and brain benefits. But keep in mind that cacao is not suitable for everyone. Check with your doctor if you are unsure or if you have any medical conditions or take medication/supplements.