We made our favorite hot chocolate a shake. Adaptogens are not just for summer. They’re great all year round.
This delicious shake is only one blender away, 10 Minutes, and ten ingredients. We’ll show you how to make it!
What is an adaptogen?
It’s a good question and one I had wondered about until a couple of years ago.
An adaptogen is a plant (usually an herb, root, or mushroom) that may help your body adapt to stress (whether
I don’t suggest adaptogens to replace other stress-reduction techniques like yoga, breathing exercises, outdoor activities, and therapy. They can help you to reduce stress.
I have personally found that adaptogens are most effective when combined with other daily routines such as reducing caffeine intake, eating balanced meals, and doing yoga, walking, meditating, or journaling.
What does Adaptogen taste like?
All adaptogens have a different taste (and can taste differently to other people, depending upon their palates). In my experience, the flavor of adaptogens is not very pleasant. This is why I like to mix them with sweeteners, cacao, or carob powder.
What Adaptogens Should I Try First?
Despite not being an expert on adaptogens, I’ve been taking them with great results for many years. If I had to pick, I would suggest starting with these three adaptogens because they are more readily available and easy to integrate into your daily life.
- Ashwagandha is An herb used widely in Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medicine. It is known for helping our bodies adapt and possibly lowering cortisol. It has a slight bitter taste. Add to hot chocolate or smoothies in small amounts (we usually don’t exceed 1/2-1 tsp).
- Maca is a root vegetable that grows in the Andes and has many health benefits, from boosting libido and hormone balance to increasing energy. It is easy to enjoy because it has a malty flavor that’s almost like caramel. It’s great in smoothies, energy bites, and shakes.
- Reishi Mushroom is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is also known as “The Queen of Mushrooms.” Reishi helps our bodies relax during stressful times. It is also fairly neutral in taste and goes well with Mushroom coffee and this shake. (We don’t normally exceed 1 tsp of reishi per serving).
This recipe also contains an adaptogen known as He Shou Wu (also called Fo-Ti). It is said to improve the health of hair, skin, and nails. Fo-Ti is a supplement that has been touted to be good for hair, nails, and skin. I am always in favor of this. It is a lesser-known adaptogen with a bitter taste. I use it in smaller quantities and sparingly (usually 1/4 to 1/2 tsp).
We used all four adaptogens in this shake: ashwagandha mushroom, maca, reishi mushrooms, and he-shou-wu. You can experiment with the ones you do have if you don’t. You can be flexible and forgiving if you start small and gradually increase the amount of adaptogens.
The bitterness of adaptogenic herbs is balanced by the chocolatey taste (from cacao or carob) and sweetness from the dates, bananas, and cinnamon. Coconut milk adds richness to the mix and makes it blend better. The result is a dessert-like shake with some hidden health benefits!
This drink isn’t suitable for everyone. This drink requires adaptogens, which can be expensive. We decided to share this recipe because some of you really enjoy it. You can use the ingredients you already have if you don’t own all of them.
Ingredients
- For less sugar, substitute a little ice with some of the banana // original recipe states 1 3/4 cup)
- Use half as many dates or substitute stevia for the sugar.
- Carob or cacao powder is the best option.
- 1 tsp reishi mushroom powder
- 1 tsp Maca powder
- 1/2 tsp ashwagandha
- He Shou Wu 1/4-1/2 tsp
- 1 Tbsp hemp seeds
- Cinnamon, one teaspoon of ground
- Use 1/4 cup coconut milk (or substitute with other dairy-free milk).
- Thin with water as required
GARNISH
- Hemp seeds
Instructions
- Add coconut milk, cinnamon, hemp seeds, cacao powder, ashwagandha powder, reishi, maca, he-shou-wu powder, and frozen bananas to a high-speed blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. If it is having trouble blending, add more dairy-free or water.
- Add more dates to sweeten, more cacao or carob for a more intense chocolate flavor, or more maca if you prefer a malty flavor.
- Add hemp seeds to the dish (optional) and serve immediately. Fresh is best. You can freeze leftovers in popsicles, ice cubes, or ice-cube molds for up to a month and then blend them as a smoothie.
