Ingredients
Clickable links on the titles
Raw Cacao
High in magnesium, potassium and considered an antioxidant, raw cacao is go to in this recipe. You want to go raw because that’s where all the nutrition is. Cocoa powder, often found inexpensive in the baking isle of the supermarket, has been roasted and processed which depletes a lot of cacao’s essential nutrients.
Ceylon Cinnamon
Did you know most cinnamon on the supermarket isn’t even “real” cinnamon!? I heard at a health show once that some brands will mix BRICK powder with cinnamon to make it cheaper. That scarred me for life so I’m fully converted to high quality cinnamon now. I’m sure not all brands do that, but most supermarket cinnamon is under the cassia cinnamon which just means it’s taking different parts of the cinnamon tree from various places. Ceylon Cinnamon only comes from Indonesia or Sri Lanka from the cinnamomum verum tree.
Health benefits include: stabilising blood sugar levels, thinning the blood to prevent blood clots and heart disease, fights bacteria and fungi in the body, and it has a stronger, spicier flavour that tastes delicious and is usually how I associate what cinnamon should be like.
Hot Chill Powder
Okay this one you can be less picky about the brand, just make sure the only ingredients are chilis. Hot chili powder increases heat in the body, which stimulates and increases your metabolism. It also adds the nicest kick to the hot chocolate and keeps your warm on cold days.
Grass-fed Collagen Hydrolysate
This is optional, especially if you’re vegan, but if you can I highly suggest adding this to the recipe because it adds protein to the drink which makes it filling, and collagen has a whole list of healthy benefits for the skin, hair, teeth, bones and nails. It helps keep the elastin in our skin and our own collagen production, which can deplete as we age, and the protein keeps our teeth, nails and bones strong. Plus, adding it to a hot drink makes it frothy when blended which just makes it so much more delicious.
Reishi Mushroom powder
I know this one sounds weird to someone who has never heard of this before but bear with me. First of all, the powders are flavourless so won’t affect your drink. Second, there are so many incredible benefits to reishi mushroom that it is a strong stable in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s considered the “Queen of Mushrooms” because of it’s extended health benefits to the female hormonal system and it boosts our immune system though affecting the genes in our white blood cells. Reishi has been more popularly known lately by something that helps to reduce stress, anxiety and help you sleep better. It’s a calming agent but can be taken any time of day you feel you need a mind reset.
The next ingredients are to add to your own liking:
Almond Milk (or milk of choice)
I’ve been using almond milk for years so I guess I’m a creature of habit in that regard. However, you can use coconut milk, oat milk, or hazelnut milk to add a creamier texture.
Coconut Sugar (or sweetener of choice)
If you like a sweeter drink, this is your time to add in. I personally like coconut sugar because it’s low glycemic (low blood sugar life) and has a subtle sweetness that doesn’t over power the beverage.
Let me know if you try this recipe at home, and if you add your own twist to it! I’m always excited to see how people make their recipes their own and become their own alchemists in the kitchen.
Happy drinking!
M xx
