This morning I attempted to rise out of bed, only to find my head searing from a headache a la caffeine deprivation. I haven’t always been a devout coffee drinker, but I’ll admit to indulging in my favorite hot almond milk latte for the past 6 months. There’s just something inescapable about the aroma of a breakfast room.
Lately we’ve seen a surge in popularity of adaptogen elixirs as coffee substitutes– teas, hot cocoas, and elixirs doused with Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi, Ashwagandha, Cacao, Cordyceps, the list goes on. Some familiar players in the adaptogen game are Four Sigmatic, Moon Juice, and Sun Potion. This week MUDWTR, a new contender in the arena, has caught my attention. Their recipe calls for all the above ingredients plus Masala Chai, Turmeric, Sea Salt, and Cinnamon. The starter pack arrives in a sleek black packaging and even includes a free electronic frother. But before I hit “purchase” on my monthly subscription box, I probe around in my health foods basket at home and fish out the ingredients I already have.
That list includes:
- Dandelion Chai Tea from Traditional Medicinals
- Cacao Powder (1 heaping tsp)
- Sun Potion Yin Power (1/2 tsp)
- includes Organic Reishi Mushroom, Wildharvested He Shou Wu Extract, Wildharvested Pearl Powder, Tocos, Organic Ashwagandha Extract, Wildharvested Pine Pollen, Wildharvested Astragalus Extract, Organic Shatavari
- Cinnamon (1/2 tsp)
- Turmeric (1/2 tsp)
- Sea Salt (a pinch)
- Agave Nectar (to taste)
- Almond Milk (1/2 cup)
Okay, so I have all the ingredients necessary to make my adaptogen tonic.
- Let’s start by steeping half a cup of Dandelion Chai Tea and setting that aside for now.
- Heat up half a cup of your favorite nut mylk so that it’s warm, not hot.
- Add dry ingredients to the nut mylk (Cacao, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Sea Salt, and whichever adaptogens you have on hand) + optional Agave Nectar
- Grab your blender; I use a Nutribullet. Blend the nut mylk mixture for a few pulses or until integrated.
- Pour nut mylk mixture into Chai Tea and stir. You may also choose to reheat the tea if it has cooled down significantly.
And there you have it! An adaptogen elixir on par with the top companies on the market. I particularly like this creation because the heaviest notes stem from the cacao and spices. I’ve had gnarly experiences in the past where I put a bit too much adaptogen powder in my drink and end up with brain fog and jitters (not what we want). So I recommend staring your portions off small, then working your way up.
I’d love to know what you think of this elixir– enjoy!
Leave a Reply