Guest Recipe: Hot Raw Cacao

This is my favorite breakfast drink. It is grounding and earthy, like coffee, without the sharpness or stimulation. Raw cacao is not roasted, so not as sharp or quite as warming as roasted cacao. It feels nourishing and is delicious. It nourishes blood and pacifies vata, without aggravating kapha (if you add a pinch of saffron or cinnamon, or a touch of cayenne pepper and omit the salt) or pitta (especially if you add vanilla or a pinch of cardamom and omit the salt).

12 ounces boiling water
1 heaping teaspoon organic, raw cacao powder (I like Navitas brand)
1/8 teaspoon organic maca (I like Navitas brand here, too)
¼ teaspoon organic lucuma powder (again, Navitas brand)
1–2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1⁄8 teaspoon salt (optional; omit for pitta or kapha)
Milk, cream, or milk alternative, to taste
Optional: 1⁄8 teaspoon vanilla; a pinch of saffron, cinnamon, or cardamom; a touch of cayenne pepper; or a thin peel of orange rind, about 1–2 inches long and ½ inch wide

Mix the cacao, maca, lucuma, salt, cream, and maple syrup well in the bottom of a mug. Add the boiling water and vanilla or spices if using. Mix well.

This recipe originally appeared on Claudia’s website.