Everybody loves drinking hot chocolate on a cozy winter day. This recipe is for those who want to enjoy that same delicious experience while kicking it up a notch with the addition of some of our favorite heart-opening and supportive herbs, making for a beautiful heart-centered experience.
This Heart Opening Hot Cacao can be consumed as a substitute to coffee or other stimulants, as cacao has an exhilarating effect on the nervous system and heart. It can also be a wonderful addition to any mindful movement or creative practice, such as yoga, dance, music, hiking, etc. This drink can also be enjoyed ceremoniously as a part of a self-love or community-connecting ritual.
Cacao is rich in antioxidants and contains theobromine, caffeine, and other phytochemicals that promote feelings of wellbeing, joy, connection, and energy. Albizia bark helps to ground and calm the nervous system, bringing feelings of optimism and wellbeing. Rose petals contain antioxidants and help to strengthen vasculature, while also softening and supporting the emotional heart. Hawthorne berries again are rich in antioxidants and bring physical strength and emotional courage to the heart. Cinnamon bark brings warmth and circulation to the body, directing this formula deeper into the heartspace.
Ingredients
Makes 2 servings
4 tbsp Raw or Roasted Cacao powder (I prefer roasted)
1 Tbsp Albizia Bark
1 Tbsp Hawthorne berries
1 Tbsp Red or Pink Rose petals
Pinch of Salt
12 oz Water
12 oz Milk
**Optional ¼ tsp cayenne pepper powder for an extra spice kick
**Optional 1 tsp Mucuna Pruriens powder for extra mood-boosting action
**optional honey or other sweetener to taste
Directions
Step 1
Add water to a small saucepan along with Hawthorne Berries and Albizia Bark.
Step 2
Bring this to a low simmer for around 15 to 20 minutes with a lid securely on (so that the water does not evaporate).
Step 3
After 15 - 20 minutes, remove the lid and add in rose petals. Let this steep for around 3 minutes.
Step 4
After 3 minutes, strain out all of the herbs, then add the liquid back into the pot with the milk. Turn heat to low/medium, and whisk in cacao powder, cinnamon, and salt (and cayenne and/or mucuna if desired).
Step 5
Add honey, maple syrup, or other sweetener if desired.
By Stephanie Selz, Clinical Herbalist
Stephanie is a Clinical Herbalist at Rebecca’s Apothecary. Born by the oceanside and shaped by the mountains, Stephanie has been a Boulder resident for 11 years, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at CU Boulder. She received her Clinical Herbalism certification from the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism in 2023 after completing their 2.5 year program, and has been at Rebecca’s Apothecary for five years.