Enhance Your Daily Cacao Drink
10 Ingredients to add flavor & potency to your daily cup
Delight Your Senses & Your Body
Drinking ceremonial cacao on the daily is a great way to improve
your health, develop new habits and uplift your mood. Cacao is a very
synergistic plant and pairs well with many other ingredients, so here are 10 common ones that we suggest adding to your daily drink to improve it’s flavor and health benefits!
#1 Cayenne
A classic in the world of cacao ceremonies and also long used in Mesoamerican cacao beverage recipes, this little pepper packs quite the spice punch! Cayenne improves blood flow which helps bring on the effects of cacao more quickly.
Cayenne is rich in Vitamins A & C (especially fresh) and has the following benefits:
- Good source of antioxidants
- Protects the heart
- Improves digestion
- Maintain healthy weight
A small pinch is enough to spice up your cacao drink!
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#2 Cinnamon
Made from the bark of the cinnamon tree, this common spice has some great health benefits to go along with its delicious flavor. Some are
remarkably similar to cacao itself!
- High in antioxidants
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Reduces blood sugar level
Generally, Ceylon Cinnamon (sometimes known as ‘true’ cinnamon), has more beneficial compounds and is lower in something called coumarin, which can have adverse effects on humans.
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#3 Vanilla
While there is some research on the potential health benefits of vanilla, it’s just so delicious that we’d use it regardless! We recommend real vanilla extract, as it’s much more flavorful and potent,
compared to the artificial flavoring.
Vanilla can get pricey, so if you want to use this more regularly without breaking the bank, an easy (but long-term commitment) is to buy some dried beans and brew your own extract by soaking in alcohol (typically vodka) for 4-6 months or longer.
If you’re up for an extra special treat, we recommend trying out bourbon vanilla powder! Oh my, it’s next level amazing! A small pinch goes a long way.
#4 Cardamom
This tiny seed, originally from India, packs quite the taste punch and has a long history of use in traditional medicine. It’s an intense and aromatic spice, most commonly known in chai tea blends.
Cardamom is found to:
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved digestion
- High in antioxidants
- Reduces inflammation and controls blood sugar
Freshly ground cardamom is an extra special treat as the taste is unparalleled. Just a small amount either way is all that is needed to enhance your daily cacao drink.
#5 Coconut Milk
Adding coconut milk to your daily drink makes it richer, thicker and more delicious! Pure coconut milk is chock full of essential nutrients and vitamins.
Coconut milk has high levels of saturated fat, an essential component to a healthy diet. They come in the form of MCT’s (medium chain triglycerides) which have become a health craze on their own. Coconut is one of the richest sources of saturated fat.
Coconut milk can help lower bad cholesterol levels, improve blood pressure, and support healthy heart function.
Coconut milk powder is an easy option as you can just scoop and go, or a spoonful from a can works great. If using from a can, we suggest regular coconut milk, not the ‘lite’ versions that have the healthy fats removed. A spoonful of either added to your daily drink will do the trick.
Suggested Daily Drink Recipe
We suggest the following as the foundation for your daily drink recipe:
~ 1 ounce pure Ceremonial Cacao
~ 4-5 ounces of water
Heat water to just before boil, turn off heat and add cacao.
Then add the rest of your ingredients, blend until frothy, and enjoy!
#6 Maca
This south American root, native to the Peruvian Andes, is a staple food for the local Quecha and has been used for thousands of years. It has become a known superfood for its health properties.
Maca is adaptogenic, which means it helps the body adapt to stress and normalize bodily functions through adrenal health. It’s high in antioxidants and contains micronutrients which increase energy levels and stamina. Maca has also been found to improve female libido and male fertility.
A pinch of powdered maca in your daily drink will add a pleasant, earthy flavor along with all the health benefits.
#7 Ashwagandha
This evergreen shrub is native to India where its root has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine.
It's adaptogenic like maca, which will help reduce stress and adrenal fatigue, leading to a more balanced nervous system. One study found significant decreases in anxiety and overall improvements in mental health with regular ashwagandha consumption.
It can also improve thyroid function, boost the immune system and may be helpful for memory, stamina and muscle function.
A pinch of powdered ashwagandha in your daily drink will add the health benefits. The flavor is astringent and earthy, so you might want to add other ingredients to cover up that taste.
#8 Rose Blossom Powder
The rose-love connection isn’t just a pop culture myth! Rose has a long history of use in many different traditions, including Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Like cacao, these roots inform our relationship with this plant and how it becomes known in popular culture.
Rose blossom powder is made from dried rose petals. Rose blossom has a calming effect on the nervous system, helping us feel more relaxed. It has a positive effect on mood and is associated with more heart-centered opening.
Rose is high in antioxidants and is also known to improve skin health.
A pinch in your drink is a great stand-alone addition, especially on days where your hearts needs a little extra TLC!
#9 Functional Mushrooms
This one could be an entire book on its own, but to keep it simple, we wanted to make sure this one made this list as the world of fungi is fascinating, and has a very long history of human use.
These days, it’s easy to find a powdered version of many of the common functional mushrooms, including reishi, chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane, etc. The idea with functional mushrooms is that beyond the nutritional benefits that mushrooms provide, there are a wide array of medicinal properties that each one brings.
We recommend starting with a functional mushroom blend and see what benefits you notice from regular use.
The blends tend to be strong tasting so consider adding other ingredients to the mix to cover up the taste.
#10 Sweeteners
While some people enjoy the bitters in cacao (a taste often absent in the modern Western diet), many want to add some kind of sweetener to give us the chocolate taste we all know and love.
While there aren’t any sweeteners that detract from the benefits of cacao, not all sweeteners are made equal! We tend to prefer natural sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup, as they can be made locally, contain additional nutrients and aren’t overprocessed like table sugar. The effects on blood sugar are still similar, so it’s always good to be careful on amounts.
If you’re looking for an alternative sweetener that won’t spike your blood sugar, we love allulose! It has a similar taste to cane sugar, just less intense. Like other zero calorie sweeteners, allulose has no effect on blood sugar levels. Humans don’t have the enzyme to digest it, so it just passes right through. It doesn’t have any of the yuck factor of stevia or monk fruit, or health concerns of erythritol. That’s why we use it in our Eating Cacao Bar. Allulose is about 70% as sweet as cane sugar, for comparison on amounts to use.
Try Something New Today!
We could keep going (sea salt, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, etc), but wanted to make sure you had some extra inspiration for how to get started with or improve your daily cacao drink.
We encourage you try some new variations to make it more delicious and up your health game. It's also great to find the ingredients you love so you can stay stocked up to easily make your daily ceremonial cacao drink.
Some of the ingredients can be combined, while others make a delicious stand alone drink.
Let us know what you think and what ingredients you love using!
Moses Draper, Co-Founder embue cacao
I've been working with cacao for over a decade and am passionate about sharing the love & beauty that is possible with this medicine.
