about ayu
ayu was born from a love for Sri Lanka, pure cacao and the small moments where we allow ourselves to pause and feel.
We believe in simplicity, transparency and respect for the nature. That's why ayu is made from 100% cacao and nothing else. The cacao comes from Sri Lanka where it's grown, produced and packed by people with deep roots in the island.
For us, ayu isn't just about the taste and nourishment of cacao, but about the land, the hands and the communities behind it. The cacao is minimally processed to preserve everything it naturally holds and to honour the way cacao has been used for generations: as something that brings people together, grounds them and opens the heart.
With ayu, we want to build a company that gives back. That's why we donate 10% of our profit to local causes in Sri Lanka and when you buy a bar, you help decide who we support. So far, we've raised:
Behind ayu are Lasse & Emma
We, the founders of ayu cacao, are a couple - two quite different people who are remarkably alike.
Spontaneous, energetic, sensitive, curious, caring and just a little rebellious.
We never felt that we fit within the lines that had been drawn for us.
Maybe that's exactly why we found each other - in our curiosity and our desire to do things our own way.
Lasse is the visionary with his endless stream of ideas, and Emma is the one who brings them to life. Together, we create more of what we ourselves have been missing.
We are a quiet protest against being too busy to truly experience life.
The team behind ayu is made by people who found one another through something that simply felt right and who now want to share it with others. It's built on a shared belief that small moments of presence can make a profound difference both for the mind and the body.
Factory manager
"We source fresh cacao pods directly from local farmers and oversee the entire process ourselves from fruit to bar. pH levels are carefully monitored throughout to ensure the highest possible quality. Profits are reinvested into the local community."
Head of community & farm relations
"Our community project supports local cacao farmers and their families through training and guidance, helping them grow cacao more sustainably while improving quality and earning better prices for their harvest. This creates more stable livelihoods and greater financial security for each family."
The heart of our production in Sri Lanka.
"I began exploring cacao without fully understanding its power. After a cacao ceremony I experienced a profound sense of love and connection that showed me cacao is a natural medicine worthy of deep respect."
Farmer
"My family and I grow our cacao entirely without chemicals or pesticides. Every pod is harvested by hand and only the finest beans are carefully selected and transformed into pure 100% cacao paste with no additives. We are proud to share our high-quality cacao with people around the world."
Farmer
"I grew up with cacao. My father started growing it as a hobby, and when I took over the farm at a young age, cacao became my passion. Working with cacao and spending my days surrounded by nature feels far more meaningful and rewarding than sitting behind a desk all day."
Factory worker
"We sort every cacao bean by hand, one by one. Each bean is carefully inspected to ensure the highest possible quality. Then we check them all again to make sure everything is just right. Only the very best beans are selected."
A description of the team behind ayu. A brief introduction to the people, values and work behind the products.
Ambassador in Amsterdam
"I am Sanne-Marije from the Netherlands. I enjoy creating spaces where people can slow down, find stillness and come closer to themselves. I love working with ceremonial cacao as a simple way to connect with myself, away from the mind, into the heart and feeling more present and energized"
Ambassador in Gothenburg
"Hi beautiful people! My name is Adina, and I am a behavioral research expert and breathwork facilitator with a master's degree in psychology. I feel most like myself when I dance. I looove spring, and I firmly believe life is most beautiful when you bring in a little (okay, perhaps a lot) of childishness and whimsy to it"
Ambassador in Stockholm
"Hello, how sweet to meet you here! I'm Saga. I get excited about sooo many things in life that I hardly know where to start: photography, surfing, dancing, baking, tennis... Fun fact: I don't even like dark chocolate, and yet I couldn't help falling in love with the flavours of ayu"
Ambassador in Stockholm
"Hello! In the late summer of 2025 I left Sweden for Sri Lanka in search of a place to start a community focused hostel. During these months I became close friends with Emma and Lasse, and we quickly decided to embark on the ayu journey together. I love to be out exploring in the Swedish nature with a fishing rod in my hand and preferably together with my life partner, Saga"
