Cacao has been revered in South and Central American cultures for many thousands of years. Civilisations as far back as the Mayans and the Aztecs used it in religious ceremonies, and today it is still regarded by many as something sacred.

But it's only comparatively recently that cacao ceremonies have started being practised in the UK.

Laura Durban is a Cacao Priestess, leading monthly cacao ceremonies in Glastonbury, and she is a passionate exponent of both the physical and mental benefits of cacao.

"We all know that eating chocolate makes you happy," explains Laura. 'But chocolate is very processed and contains lots of sugar. It you take away the sugar and the processing there is an abundance of antioxidants, as well as the naturally occurring 'love chemicals' that you find in chocolate. Cacao helps our body produce more of these hormones. It stimulates the heart. It is not like a drug, it is very subtle."

"This is not a path I expected to go on," said Laura. "I very much planned to be employed as a teacher and live a conservative life. I never expected to even go to a cacao ceremony, let alone lead one.

"I started taking cacao because I researched the scientific benefits – it has a lot of nutrients and antioxidants that can help cleanse the liver and the kidneys. So I started taking it for almost medicinal reasons. I found that it stopped my sugar cravings. I study art, and I found that cacao got me into a flow state that is very rare for me. I started to create rituals for myself around drinking it, and then I started sharing those with friends, and it has all gone from there."

Cacao ceremonies can differ, depending on who is leading them

There is no set form to a cacao ceremony, it will be different depending on who is leading it. But all will involve drinking some special ceremomial cacao.

"The spirit of cacao that can be different for everyone," says Laura. "I am just facilitating but I encourage everyone to make their own connection. We drink together, we open the circle and depending on the intention and the energy of the day I guide a meditation – sometimes this might involve a drum journey.

"I like to give everyone enough time to see where the process takes them. Some people experience more childlike play and laughter, while others might be able to tap into emotions that have been neglected for a while.

"But even if you think you won't get anything out of it on a spiritual or emotional level, it will help your brain to function better and if you are open to going a bit deeper you might find challenges or issues in your life might soften."

Find out more about Laura and the cacao ceremony HERE.