Sa’ bribripa ikuá tchéke, iwö̀ wa kanèwẽ se’ kuóie, ena alàkölpa tsṍwã. Ie’ bitsétã.
In Bribri culture, this tree is cultivated and protected in Indigenous territories due to its ancestral significance. It is associated with traditional agricultural practices, the transmission of cultural knowledge, and respect for the natural world. Its fruit, the cacao (tsuru’wö), holds great importance in purification ceremonies and is considered the sacred drink associated with the creation of the world in bribri philosophy.
iNaturalist. (n.d.). Theobroma cacao. iNaturalist Costa Rica. https://costarica.inaturalist.org/taxa/64340-Theobroma-cacao (Accessed 25. July 2025)
The information in this entry is based on oral interviews with two elders of the Bribri community. No recordings were made; the content was documented through notes taken during the conversations (Sabino Díaz, Anastasia Segura adultos mayores de la comunidad y Alí García Segura).
Due to the oral nature of bribri culture, recordings were not permitted; the information was documented through notes taken during conversations with community elders (Alí García Segura).
Tsulë’, ie’ dilitã, e’kũẽ́k se’ wã itso’ ù tsiní yuwók ena pö́ ie.
E’ bléke se’dör wa kua’tché ena itsíkène bulé böiki tã.
Di’bö, e’ dör se’ kṹne ẽ̀rpa e’ wö́kila shõ̀õ tóttòla.
