Interview with Tereza Tydlitátová, author of The Story of Cocoa

Celebrating Summer with Ceremonial Cacao

As we welcome summer, one beloved beverage certainly comes to mind: cacao. But not just any cacao— we’re talking about ceremonial cacao, the real deal that carries flavor, strength, energy, and healing properties for our souls. One of our featured artists, Terezka Anna Tydlitátová, has beautifully captured this essence in her new collection, Cacayo. After introducing her radiant works inspired by cacao, it’s time to delve into a conversation with the artist herself. Grab a cup of authentic cacao as we explore the journey behind her book and the captivating illustrations that seem to carry the messages of Mother Cacao.

Terezka, can you describe your artistic beginnings? Have you always been drawn to art?

I’ve been painting and drawing since I was a child; it was a more understandable way for me to express myself and also a relief, an escape from the pressures of this world.

Where are you from, and what has shaped you the most?

I was born on Vyšehrad in Prague by the Vltava River, which is still one of my favorite places. My childhood was shaped by a loving and strong family environment and spending a lot of time in nature. Instead of going on vacations by the sea, we went hiking in the forests of Brdy and Šumava, which I loved. When I was fourteen, we moved out of the city, allowing me to be in the forest even more often.

I’ve always felt a certain conflict between my inner perception and experience of the world and what was considered the general reality. Through creating, painting, and drawing, I could express my feelings more fully; it felt like I could fit better into it than into everyday life. Later, studying art had a significant impact on me, as did my journey to South America, where I paradoxically tried to free myself from some of the influences of my studies and work.

I know you have an educational background in art; tell us more about what you studied.

I initially studied book illustration and graphic design in Pilsen at the Institute of Art and Design, now known as the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty. Then I spent four years at the UMPRUM in Prague, studying film and TV graphics under the guidance of Jakub Zich, Lukáš Fišárek, and Zuzana Bukovinská.

Do you have any inspirations in painting? Any styles, historical periods, or artists?

I’m inspired by art brut, folk, and indigenous art from various cultures, expressionism, and street art. I also admire book illustrations, particularly those by Petr Sýs, and surrealism.

Your paintings feel deeply intuitive and visionary. Can you describe how they came to be? Do you envision them beforehand, or do you start painting and discover your work as you go along? So, do you not know what the final result will be at the beginning? Or is your process a combination of both?

Most of my works are created intuitively. It begins with the intention of what I want to depict, and then painting or drawing becomes a lively process of tuning into the transfer onto paper. The core of the cacao story developed this way, while the completion was more of a combination of both approaches.

I know your travels in South America have significantly influenced you. Where did you travel, and how long did you stay? Feel free to elaborate!

First, my friend and I traveled through parts of Peru, exploring the jungle, the coast, the mountains, and even a bit of desert on a crazy trip with almost no money and three weeks. I later returned to Peru to live for several years, specifically in Iquitos, a city at the confluence of three rivers, surrounded by the Amazon rainforest.

Did you meet any interesting ethnic groups or shamans there? Please tell us more about it.

I met my teacher there, who is a curandero tabaquero, meaning that his main ally and medicine is tobacco, specifically Nicotiana Rustica, which is used quite differently in the local context than what we know of tobacco usage in North America.

I had the opportunity to learn and work with tobacco and the barks of other local medicinal trees through what are called "diets." In this context, it means going into isolation for a designated period, eating a very light diet—like fruits and vegetables without salt—and spending time drinking the chosen medicine, contemplating, praying, or even painting. These are deep dives into oneself, guided by the wisdom of the plant or tree, and they should be conducted under the supervision of an experienced curandero because they often open very intense personal processes, and the plant medicine itself needs to be navigated safely and well.

The collection of illustrations and paintings you present was created as an illustration for your book *Kalagua: The Story of Cacao*. What does this story personally mean to you?

I understand it as a tale of how we can lose our sensitivity and our wonderful ability to perceive ourselves in connection with the world around us, to feel and respect ourselves and the world in context. It's about experiencing and joy. It speaks of the cruelty that such loss of connection and the hunger to rediscover those links can cause, and the path out of such a cycle. The entire story is essentially a labyrinth of healing—for me, at least—and the process of drawing and writing the book about Kalagua was similar. It took me seven years; I could only produce a piece at a time and had to wait and live through some experience before I could understand the next part and paint it.

Your experiences with the sacred plant cacao were key to your creative process. How do you perceive cacao today, and how have these experiences influenced you?

I never experienced the cacao ceremony in the traditional sense, and the entire story emerged from my gentle personal encounter with the plant and the subsequent long processing of that “touch.” I believe that a cup of cacao or good hot chocolate carries echoes of the sacred power that offers a caress to the soul. It allows a person to pause, daydream, and perhaps recall childhood moments, gently soothing their pains and evoking times of pure joy and engagement, whether that was through dancing, playing, drawing, jumping in the mud, or observing tadpoles in puddles. Maybe a small piece of that joy can return to their lives, and when it falls on fertile ground, it can gradually grow and rekindle some of our forgotten tones, shades, and senses—coloring and filling our stagnant daily routines, helping us to feel meaning in this perception again.

Can you describe a moment or experience you had with cacao? What do you perceive as the main message of this beautiful and intelligent plant for our lives and our time?

I remember the first moment I started writing the story; I had no idea what was coming or if it would even work. I just prepared the space, myself, and my writing and painting tools, sent out a request, closed my eyes, and waited for the influx of information. Instead, I felt the presence of a small child, who was already grown but was an enormous, sad little boy who told me, “I will tell you my story.” And that’s how it all began.

Your illustrations have wonderfully harmonious yet wild colors—did you absorb this vibrant palette in South America? Or were you close to it even before?

I think I was drawn to it even before, but the jungle taught me how to use it.

Recently, you became a mother to a beautiful daughter. Nevertheless, I’ll ask: do you have any artistic visions or plans for the future?

I have many visions; lately, it’s been a significant challenge for me to finish things and find time and will to imprint my visions on paper. With the arrival of little Sofia, I now cherish moments with her the most. It’s a great gift to watch and perceive the world alongside her awe and absolute, full experience of all emotions—anger, joy, vulnerability, and complete trust—as she rediscovers everything anew. Every day is a great inspiration for me in perhaps the most ordinary things. However, I look forward to keeping an eye on my unfinished project about Czech rivers and hope to illustrate the story of tobacco and perhaps other plants as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Tereza, for this beautiful and colorful conversation filled with the scent of cacao. Now you understand where her stunning illustrations came from and how the paintings in the Cacayo collection were born—they are directly derived from the book. If you want to fully illuminate this story, invite them into your home. Since Tereza’s book has resonated with many, we’re also providing a link to her beautiful book *Kalagua: The Story of Cacao*.

Find the book here:

https://www.malvern.cz/tereza-anna-tydlitatova--kalagua--pribeh-kakaa/