Ok, so I have your attention.
Your hot chocolate is a bland representation of what it could be.
If you're indulging in the beauty that is sweet, hot chocolate during colder days and nights you may be missing out on the impressive capabilities this warming drink can achieve for your health and well-being.
The type of chocolate you use matters.
Raw, certified organic Cacao Powder IS the best. Cocoa, pronounced as 'koh-koh', (instead of raw 'kah-kow'...to identify it on a label look for Cacao not Cocoa) is a heat treated product that has less available minerals and lower nutrient load (if any). Most premixed 'hot chocolate' drink powders are made with Cocoa and high quantities of processed sugar (aka The Devil... 😆 just kidding,... but not 👀 ) and usually contain hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners and dehydrated dairy products.
Consuming this on a regular basis will spike blood sugar levels and make for restless sleeps, energy 'crashes' and are potentially the reason behind tension headaches, dehydration and skin issues from all that processed gluck in your system. So as we move through a season that needs our immunity at a high level, the last thing you need to be doing is dehydrating, over sugaring, having systemic distress and losing sleep.
So here it is! I give you MEM's 'Most Epic Hot Cacao' recipe...
Warm the cockles of your heart with this immune system supporting and deliciously soothing herbal blend of antioxidant boosters.
INGREDIENTS
Half a cup of brewed Epic Red Chai Tea (details are in the paragraph below...)
A teaspoon of Raw Cacao Powder
A blop/dash/splash of plant milk
METHOD
A | Brew a small pot of Epic Red Chai tea
B | Add the Cacao and stir in (inhale the vapour, it’s good)
B+ Add a mushroom powder like Reishi, or adaptogen like Ashwagandha, for a super fortifying drink
C | Blop/dash/splash in your plant milk (frothing it makes a lovely treat)
D | Sip slowly enjoying some quiet space or a comfortable chat
E | Repeat if required...
Why am I making this on a tea blend?
Epic Red Chai is a blend of Rooibos, Honeybush Tea and classic chai spices; Cinnamon, Cloves, Black Pepper, Cardamom Pod, Fennel Seed, Liquorice Root, Ginger Root and Vanilla. This combination produces a naturally sweet beverage that is mild on the palette with a heavenly aromatic. Not only are these spices the bedrock of the most gorgeous gourmand scent, they are also powerful antioxidants, calmatives for the nervous system and digestive helpers.
How to brew your tea:
Best brewed as one heaped spoonful of tea blend with one cup (250ml) boiled water and left to steep for over five minutes, it can then be strained and enjoyed cooled with a little cold water, or milk of choice. I absolutely LOVE it with Cashew or Coconut mylk.
Using a sweet tea instead of plain water naturally smooths the bitterness of the cacao powder.
Raw Cacao Powder is high in Magnesium and Potassium as well as Iron and phytonutrients (plant nutrients) which are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune supporting benefits. One of these phytonutrients is Theobromine, a mild stimulant that can help you feel more energised or lift 'brain-fog' when you're unwell. While Cacao does contain a tiny amount of caffeine, it is in such a small amount that it probably would not have any detrimental affect on sleep. However, if you are sensitive to stimulants; for example, if green tea makes you feel like going for a run, or if you have coffee and *can't sleep for a couple of days, then you maybe need to have it before 2pm and avoid any foods and drinks containing stimulants. Epic Red Chai is caffeine free and can be enjoyed any time of the day or night.
The tales of Aztec warriors boosting up for battle with raw cacao are well documented. Their kind of drink was a highly concentrated thick 'mass' of dried, ground cacao beans, sometimes with raw honey and little water or oil. It was 'jet fuel' for the body, and a completely different product to our modern day cacao powder.
Epic Red Chai blend is wonderful for anyone who is congested, has a sore throat or cough. The soothing, smoothing and calming effects of this blend help with all of the cold'n'flu symptoms. Along with deep rest to rejuvenate your Qi, it can help to **reduce the severity and length of recovery of cold weather chills, sniffles and fevers.
I hope you'll enjoy a few of these during the season of chilliness...
Stay epic! warm and loved💓
Blessings
Nette
xx
PS: This recipe is naturally sweet and any-sugar free, but if you want, you could add a little honey, xylitol or botanical syrup of choice (date, agave, rice, etc), however I suggest you try it first without the sweetener and surprise yourself 😉
*If you are breastfeeding and have a restless baby, avoid consuming stimulants because it can aggravate your baby's digestive system. The actual caffeine may not go through the breastmilk but it can alter it enough to cause issues. If you can eliminate stimulants like caffeine and sugar as a trial you may identify which one is causing an issue, if any. For others it may be cow's milk in the daily coffee that causes the problem. You'll only find the answer by elimination trials.
**Always speak to your trusted health practitioner if you fever for over a 24hr period or are sick for over three days, as you may need professional advice and consultation.