Cacao Elixir
Why do we crave chocolate?
There is something incomparable about the deep, rich, warming sensation that comes from drinking a hot chocolate or the bliss of letting a small square of melt in your mouth. Flavors and smells often conjure memories, and chocolate is a classic delight that many of us associate with pleasure and being warm, safe, and comfortable. Sometimes, we crave chocolate because we seek this sensation of comfort.
Other times, craving chocolate can indicate that your body needs certain nutrients that are naturally present in cacao plants, like iron and magnesium. Unfortunately, your typical chocolate is made with refined cocoa powder (not cacao), which takes away a lot of the wonderful nutritional and energetic benefits of cacao. On the other hand, using a raw cacao to make your own elixir is a great way to connect with your heart, give yourself a treat & support your body with essential minerals.
Health Benefits
Cacao, the unrefined version of cocoa, and comes from fermenting the cacao beans that grow in tropical climates. It is considered to be a superfood for its amazing profile of antioxidants and flavanols, which are especially known to benefit the cardiovascular system. This superfood heart tonic boasts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, heart-opening, and mood-boosting benefits.
Studies show cacao consumption reduces the risk of heart disease-related deaths, and cacao is known for it’s energetic ability to strengthen and open the heart. Cacao ceremonies, a tradition from Latin and South America, involve sitting with this beautiful ingredient as plant medicine in a ritual with others. When you drink cacao, take a moment to connect with the spiritual and medicinal properties of this plant by focusing your attention on feeling your heart opening.
Cacao is the highest plant-based source of iron. This is one reason why women crave chocolate during their moon time, and why cacao itself is a nutritious ingredient to incorporate into your diet, especially is you are plant-based or vegan. Cacao is high in magnesium; B vitamins; vitamins A, C and D; and calcium, zinc, copper, and potassium.
Compounds in cacao like tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylethylamine are associated with serotonin uptake and are sometimes called “happiness chemicals”, contributing to the mood-boosting effects of cacao.
Cacao has been shown help to stabilize glucose levels, so having this drink in the morning instead of coffee is a good way to set yourself up for a more balanced day. Cacao contains a moderate amount of caffeine, but the uptake of caffeine is more balanced by the presence of natural fats.
Making a Cacao Elixir
Elixirs are essentially magical potions—they are drinks that use medicinal ingredients to create a certain effect in the body. You can make an elixir with cacao by adding different medicinal mushrooms or adaptogens, which have stress- and energy-modulating properties, to balance your individual needs:
For a cognitive boost, try Lion’s Mane to increase focus and concentration;
For a more calming effect and for anyone with anxiety, consider adding reishi mushroom powder, which has a beautiful synergy with cacao;
For those looking for a bit more energy or additional hormone-balancing properties, consider looking into ashwagandha (“Indian ginseng”) as an adaptogen to add to your cacao elixir.
Additionally, this recipes uses chicory root “coffee” (I buy a gluten-free variety which is available in Europe and can be purchased online here; you can also find this in many health food stores) and adds healthy fats. Chicory root is incredibly high in prebiotics, which are the fibers that probiotics, or healthy gut bacteria, feed on. A diet high in prebiotics is beneficial and necessary for creating and maintaining diversity in the microbiome. The chicory root gives the cacao a slight coffee-like bitterness and makes it more similar to a mocha. You can leave this out for a richer cacao flavor. Adding tahini or another nut butter is also optional, but helps to stabilize blood sugar and makes the minerals in the cacao more bioavailable.
Download the PDF below to make this recipe whenever you want. Feel free to experiment with using different adaptogens, plant-based milks, and sources of natural fat (like nut butters).