With the arrival of cooler weather, I just want to curl up with a hot cup of tea or even better-hot cocoa!
One way to supercharge your hot chocolate is to add tonic herbs! These herbs can really help boost your immune system and keep you feeling great all winter long.
The easiest way to add herbs are through capsules or droppers, for ease of use. Some of my favorite herbs to pair with chocolate are:
- chaga
- reishi
- he shou wou
- ashwaganda
- maca
I like to buy my herbs from a respected source like Gaia or Dragon Herbs, but there are lots of great sources. You can even make your own tinctures if you’re so motivated!
The marshmallows here are Dandies, which are vegan. Be careful to read ingredients when you’re shopping for ingredients like this because many marshmallows contain gelatin from animals!
Give your marshmallows a toast over an open flame for that extra cozy touch!
- 8 oz. unsweetened coconut milk (we use So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk)
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup or stevia to taste (a little goes a long way)
- 1 Tablespoon maca powder
- 2 Tablespoons raw cacao powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch chili powder
- 1 dropper reishi extract (we make our own from wild harvested reishi, but you can purchase from a company like Dragon Herbs)
- 1 capsule each rhodiola and holy basil (I like Gaiam herbs for the flavor and potency. Open the capsules into the drink before serving)
- 2-4 Dandies vegan marshmallows to garnish each cup (optional)
- Mix all the ingredients together in a blender and heat in a saucepan before serving.
- You can store the blended drink in your refrigerator and heat it as desired. It will keep nicely for a week or two. It is also delicious iced or as a base for a smoothie with a banana or two!
- Because there is caffeine in the chocolate and maca is a very energizing substance, I do not recommend drinking this late at night.
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This sounds lovely. I will surely make it
Wow, it looks great. I love maca for its great health benefits and energy boosting qualities, but its taste is not always great and not everyone likes it, so I try always taking it with morning smoothie or salad or hot drink. Will try the recipe and will report the results here, thanks.
Thanks, Sarah! I love maca too, and in combination other herbs it can be a very powerful tonic. I look forward to hearing your input!