I know that the title of this post is certainly a mouthful to say but then we are talking about mouthfuls of a delicious, velvety smooth chocolate drink much better for you than a cadbury’s drinking chocolate or other commercial hot chocolate mix, so I’m allowed to get away with it. *wink*
A Guilt Free Comfort Food
With the weather cooling here in Melbourne as we head toward winter, we may start to crave foods that warm and fill the belly. So, today I decided to try a recipe and it was soooo good I decided to tell you about it. The great thing about this hot chocolate recipe is that you get a health kick out of it and even though it is called a “hot” chocolate, it is actually raw, as you will see from the end result. There are no dairy or animal products used and you can substitute as you see fit.
You can also adjust quantities so that you can make one for friends or family at the same time. It is so filling that you’ll only want one cup. If you are not familiar with some of the products used here then that’s ok, you can most likely come across them in your local organic or health food store. Sometimes you just need to ask, or leave a comment for me at the end of this post and I will do my best to source the product for you.
So, let’s see why I called this the best raw vegan superfood hot chocolate drink.
Have you got a big mug out of the cupboard yet?
Comparing Apples For Apples – Crappy Apples Vs Superfood Apples
I sometimes like to compare real food against, well, let’s just call them ‘the others’ and have included an ingredient list from one drinking chocolate drink just so you can see the difference in what you are putting into your body.
I’ve chosen to use the Cadbury drinking chocolate product as a comparison as this is a popular consumer product as far as commercial hot chocolate drinks go.
Drinking Chocolate Ingredients Comparison:
As you are probably aware, ingredients are listed in order of quantity. So, whatever is first on the list, is mostly what makes up the mix. Something I have never liked is what I like to call the ‘blanket ingredient’ where it allows manufacturers to put whatever the heck they want as that ingredient. So ingredients such as “natural flavor” or “natural colour” or even just “flavor” are ‘blanket ingredients’. The aren’t tell you what these are. They claim it is to protect their recipe but seriously, really?
Cadbury Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa powder, Mineral Salt (Potassium Carbonate), Flavour. May contain traces of Gluten, Dairy, Soya, Nuts and Seeds. Chocolate contains Cocoa Solids 21%. Source: https://www.cadbury.com.au/Products/Other/Drinking-Chocolate/Drinking-Chocolate-Ingredients.aspx
Just have a look above at the Cadbury ingredients. First ingredient is sugar. This would be white processed sugar where any goodness that was in it, was stripped out in the process. Potassium Carbonate as alkalizer and ‘fluffing’ agent = large quantities can cause health problems. Flavour = who knows and symptoms of a reaction to food may come without you realizing!
I think I’ll pass on the sugary fluffy ‘crappy apple’s thanks and opt for the ‘superfood apples’ as described below.
Raw Vegan Hot Chocolate Ingredients: Filtered Water, *Chia Seeds, *Panela Sugar, *Raw Cacao, *Raw Maca Root Powder, *Ground Cinnamon, *Ground Cayenne Pepper. (* notes organic ingredients)
As the ingredients in my recipe for the raw vegan superfood hot chocolate are quite detailed, I have included information further down this post. All I can say is that “these apples ain’t the same as dem apples when it comes to comparing hot chocolate ingredients.”
I’m positive that after you try this recipe, you’ll be making it again.
How To Make The BEST Raw Vegan Superfood Hot Chocolate Drink:
Before you get started, there are a few of things you will need to do. One of them is optional based on time and ingredient preferences.
Optional:
Make your own nut milk. This takes at least a day because you will need to soak the nuts overnight to activate them but I encourage you to do this as it is SUPER easy to make your own milk. Otherwise, just substitute with rice milk or almond milk. Aside from a Blendtec, there isn’t much else you need to make your own nut milk, except for a nut milk bag.
A Quick Video To Make Almond Milk Using a Blendtec.
Generally, I just soak my raw almonds overnight, rinse them the next day and throw them in my blendtec with water. Strain them in the nut bag and add a teaspoon sunflower oil and 1 tablespoon pure organic maple syrup. It’s even quicker than in this video.
Definitely:
- Boil your kettle and put the hot water in your mug so it can be nicely warmed ready for you to put your hot chocolate drink in once you have made it. Pour the hot water out just prior to putting your ready-made vegan hot chocolate drink into your mug.
- Soak your 1/4 cup chia seeds in 1/2 cup filtered water for 15 minutes to 1/2 hour. I tend to do this directly in my blender so you don’t have to shift them once the liquid thickens.
My recipe is adapted from one I originally tried here.
Ingredient Quantities:
1/2 cup filtered water
1/4 cup chia seeds
2 cups nut milk or substitute
2 Tablespoons Raw Cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon Raw Maca root powder
2 Teaspoons Rapadura sugar (or coconut sugar, soaked dates or other substitute, depending on your liking)
1/2 Teaspoon ground ceylon cinnamon
Pinch Cayenne pepper
Method For Producing Chocolatey Yummy Goodness:
Leave soaked chia seeds (including water which will have made seeds into a thickened gel by now) in blender and add all other ingredients. I used my Blendtec blender to make this. If you have a Blendtec then choose the beverage setting, arrow up to the hot chocolate setting and press go. This heats the mix to a warm temperature without destroying the nutrients. It is such a great temperature that when you take a taste, it makes it seem even creamier than if you had a HOT chocolate drink.
What’s So Good About the Superfoods?
Here is a brief run down on the superfood ingredients I have used for this recipe. Remember that eating a high raw diet means you are not cooking at high temperatures that deplete the nutritional content and therefore obtaining more nutrients from the foods.
Chia Seeds
- Omega 3 ALA
- Omega 6 LA
- Protein
- Dietary Fibre
- Gluten Free
These are an ancient seed that come in different varieties and are becoming more mainstream. I was surprised to see them in my local supermarket in the health food section (Woolworths). They have a variety of uses and I use them to make crackers in my dehydrator, in cereals, green smoothies and desserts, oh as well as my hot chocolate. They are a great ingredient to have as part of your raw food pantry. Chia seeds have more Omega 3 and dietary fibre than any other food from nature, according to the Chia Co. The recommended daily serve of chia is 15g or 1 tablespoon.
Raw Cacao powder
- Fats
- Carbohydrates
- Protein
- Dietary Fibre
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Iron
- Sodium
- Gluten Free
The raw cacao is not the same as processed cocoa which is found in supermarkets. It has a much higher anti-oxidant value than processed cocoa and retains many more nutrients as you can see from the points above. It is a stimulant so be aware at what time of day you decide to drink a hot chocolate. You will find this product at your organic store or health food shop.
Maca Powder
- Protein
- Fats
- Carbohydrates
- Sodium
- Vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids
Maca powder is derived from from the root of the maca plant; the official name being Lepidium meyenii. Aside from what I have listed above it is packed with vitamins, minerals, enzymes such as iodine, copper, manganese, zinc, and has 19 amino acids and much more. Because of it’s unique alkaloids, it may help stimulate the master gland thereby balancing and optimising the entire endocrine system. Like all foods, use in moderation and best consumed with iodine rich foods.
Cinnamon
- Manganese
- Calcium
- Protein
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
- Vitamins, minerals, amino acids
There are two commonly known types of cinnamon being ‘ceylon’ and ‘cassia’. While they are different and from different plants, both have health benefits. Cassia does have more naturally occuring coumarin which is known to be a strong blood thinning agent whereas ceylon contains very little of this compound so is a much better option for cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is sweeter and the stick is made up of lots of layers.
Cinnamon is also classified as a anti-microbial food which means it helps stop the growth of bacteria which includes candida. It is known to help blood sugar and thus diabetes sufferers.
Cayenne Pepper is known for its many health benefits. It has trace vitamins, minerals, protein, omega 3, omega 6 and carbohydrates. It does add peppery heat to the drink so be aware of this, especially if you are making a raw vegan hot chocolate for other people.
If you are concerned about using any form of sugar then you can always use stevia which is natural plant based sweetener.
Let me know what you think.
Give yourself the power to roar!
Eileen.