I love trying alternatives for coffee to mix up my morning routine. From our organic yerba mate and herbal coffee, to fun recipes like our Roasted Chicory Coffee, or stirring some of my beloved maca powder into a fresh fruit smoothie, there is no reason to get stuck in a morning rut! While some coffee alternatives, like this one, still have a little caffeine in them, their herbal constituents lead to a different sort of alertness, and often they are not associated with the jittery coffee stimulation some people experience.
A while back in the office, our Events Coordinator, Mason, had the brilliant idea of filling our tea press with roasted cacao powder instead of coffee. The results were wonderfully stimulating, and exceptionally delicious (as you can imagine). Since many people ingest chocolate daily, why not incorporate it at the most convenient time of day when the effects of unadulterated theobromine will get you delightfully zipping along to your duties. This inspired me to try another brewing method, and we couldn't help but toss some of our favorite herbs in with the brew. If you like more of a "cocoa" drink and like adding milk and sugar, I would suggest the tea press method. If you are more of a black coffee drinker, try the cacao pour over!
Theobroma, the Latin name for cacao, translates to food of the gods. Precious cacao was believed to impart wisdom and strength by the Mayan people and was used to make a ritual beverage for marriage ceremonies. It was also used as a form of currency in the Aztec Empire, traded secretly for 100 years in Spain, and eventually considered a staple food in Europe and the United States.
Spicy Cacaoffee Tea Press Recipe
Serves 2-4. Pictured left.
Directions:
Cinnamon Cacaoffee Pour Over Recipe
Serves 2-4. Pictured above right.
Directions