Christmas is near and nowhere is that as obvious as in the Philippines. Stores, malls, buildings and homes have been decorated weeks ago and I finally caved and put up our own Christmas tree last weekend. And with all the twinkling lights came the craving for seasonal hot beverages that taste like Christmas. A few experiments later I am happy to share with you this delicious drink that has no coffee, no dairy, no refined sugar but still tastes like it’s snowing outside and the holidays are here.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 tbsp roasted chicory root *
- 1/2 tbsp roasted dandelion root *
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp coconut nectar
- 1/4 cup almond milk or coconut milk
- 1 tsp unsweetened cacao powder
- 1 drop of pure essential peppermint oil (I use Young Living’s Essential Oils)
Preparation:
- Place the chicory and dandelion root in a small saucepan with the water and bring to a boil
- Reduce to a simmer, cover and boil for minutes
- In the meantime, heat up the milk in another small saucepan
- Add the coconut oil, coconut nectar, peppermint oil and cacao powder to a blender
- Strain the chicory and dandelion coffee and add to the blender with the milk
- Blend on high for a few seconds and pour into a mug
- Sprinkle with cacao powder and imagine you’re seeing snowflakes outside your window
* Dandelion root has liver cleansing properties and Chicory root contains inulin, which is a “prebiotic” that feeds the beneficial bacteria in our gut. Using these as a coffee alternative turns this peppermint mocha into a healing beverage which I love. However, in case you have no access to these, use 1 cup of coffee or decaf instead, depending on your preference. Teeccino is another great brand that works well: use two teabags to brew a strong cup.
