Hi I'm Irma, founder of Mamamuti
As a 'retired' homeopath and health coach I am aware that what I eat matters and that food influences my mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. Unprocessed, pure cacao has been in my life since the 90’s. It's my daily dose of love. To me, eating and drinking cacao is a cornerstone to good health. It uplifts my mood, opens my heart, gifts me better focus, supports my creativity, enhances my energy and nourishes my gut, hormones and skin. Making and sharing cacao truly gives me the fuzzies..
MY STORY
What does Mamamuti stand for?
Mamamuti means Mother Medicine. ’Mama’ honours my late Mum who passed away when I was 30. She dedicated her life as a homeopath, iridologist, teacher and writer to serve ethical natural medicine. She instilled in me an unwavering faith in the healing wisdom of plants. And ‘Muti’ means medicine in Zulu. I grew up surrounded by the Zulu women of KwaZulu Natal and they helped to raise me. Mamamuti is a tangible vessel that connects me to my heritage and all I hold dear. I wish to believe you can feel this love in the cacao I share with you.
(Photo) Rosemary, my Zulu Mama, South Africa, 2018.
The things that bring me joy
When I am not making homemade chocolate in my little concher, creating new recipes or running a cacao class, you can find me at a farmer’s market, in my veggie garden, or the local Artisan Bakery where I bake sourdough bread twice per week. Currently I call Raglan, a small beach side community on the West Coast of New Zealand, home. I was born and raised on the East Coast of South Africa in a rural area called The Valley Of A Thousand Hills. My first language is Afrikaans and I speak a teeny bit of Zulu.
MY VISION
A better future for cacao
Being in the wellness industry all my life and coming across a huge selection of cacao products I became aware that not all cacao is made or grown equal. Love and respect for cacao is key, but is easily lost in a profit and power focused economy. It saddens me that farmer exploitation, deforestation, and child slavery is rife within the cacao industry. Mamamuti is helping to change this in working with The Cacao Ambassador. Together we trade transparently with small cacao farmers, support agroforestry growing practises and educate cacao/chocolate lovers on the true origin, value, benefits and multiple uses of this ancient fruit. In this way we can become modern day cacao guardians, responsible consumers and collectively create an abundant and thriving future for cacao and its' growers.
