Cacao - How to prepare your morning Cacao

Every day I start the day off with a glass of cacao, you can make it from powder or paste, the instructions differ a bit for both so check the difference below!

Cacao Powder Drink

Ingredients

1 TBSP Cacao Powder

To taste Maple Syrup or Honey - Not required

20 oz Water

Instructions

On the stove, bring water up to 160 F, do not boil, this will burn the cacao

Add the cacao powder to water and mix well

For best flavour, add sweetener if desired, and let simmer on low for 5 min

You can add optional things to your cacao:

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Vanilla

Coconut Oil

Cacao Butter

Maca Powder

Once simmered, add to go mug and enjoy

**Tip

For me mornings can be busy so I will put the water on medium, and can go work out for 20 min, when I come back the water is to temp, and you can finish your cacao. This is meant to be the easiest form of making it. If you have small children and don't feel safe leaving the stove unattended, you may use a kettle to bring the water to temp - remember don't boil it changes the flavour of the cacao, then add to a pot to finish for the simmer. Or skip the simmer step, it doesn't allow the flavours to fully release with out the simmer, but is not necessary

Cacao Paste Drink

Ingredients

1 TBSP Cacao Paste

To taste Maple Syrup or Honey - Not required

20 oz Water

Pot

Immersion blender - whisk or blade style

Stove

Instructions

On the stove, add paste to water in a pot and bring water up to 160 F slowly over medium heat, do not boil, this will burn the cacao.

Stir occassionally to ensure the paste is melting and not burning to the bottom of the pot

Once fully melted, use an immersion blender to froth up cacao and mix well. This can be a whisk style or blade style, I personally like the blade style

Once simmered, add to go mug and enjoy

You can add optional ingredients to your cacao:

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Vanilla

Coconut Oil

Cacao Butter

Maca Powder - don't add too much, cacao already is a natural mood enhancer, too much

maca added can create a jacked up nervous system, 1/4 - 1/2 tsp is perfect of normal maca, less

for gelatanized. This is the perfect coffee replacement duo!

Tip

Paste is most commonly used in ceremony, it can open your heart, create connection and so many other great things, powder can as well its less concentrated, better for every day consumption. Paste is wonderful for a weekend treat, or if you run out of powder. It is also phenomenal in chocolates, see this link to the chocolate recipe -> Chocolates.