Hot Chocolate for the... well, everything...

 

Every so often, overwhelmed by a sweet tooth and a singular love and respect of decadence, I'll put away the Elder, Nettle, Green, Rooibos, Honeybush or White Tea and make up a big pot of Hot Cocoa to share with friends.  Inevitably, within a hour someone will be pulling me aside, quizzically asking me, "What did you put in that stuff?"

 

Sometimes, under the spell of mischievous faeries, I sneer suggestively and reply, "Sorry, can't say...", or ask hesitantly whether they've been looking for a job (he he).  The real answer, though, is:

 

Cocoa.

 

People no longer remember that Cocoa is a powerful, sacred, medicinal and darned tasty plant.  The chocolate of mass appeal in our country is but a shadow of true Cocoa, being mostly refined sugar, and even the gourmet hot cocoas sold at exhorbinent prices abound in artificial flavors and ingredients.  Fortunately, anyone can easily, and within minutes, whip up a cup or pot of steaming Cocoa that not only tastes better than virtually anything they could buy, it's good for them to boot.

 

Good for you Cocoa?

 

Indeed.  This simple recipe provides a tasty drink with immune stimulating and even anti-viral/antibiotic properties, and also offers a plethora of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

 

Ingredients (for one cup):

1 spoonful unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Non-Irradiated/Organic)

1 spoonful Organic/Wildflower Honey

Enough hot water to fill a mug

For the antiviral/antibiotic effect:

Propolis extract (about 30 drops - 1 squirt - or to taste)

 

Making a pot?

4 cups water

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup unsweetened Cocoa Powder

4 "squirts" Propolis extract

 

Optional flavorings:

A teaspoon (or so) Royal Jelly

A pinch of Cayenne (traditional Aztec admixture)

A pinch of Nutmeg

A bit of Vanilla extract

 

...or you can substitute Blackberry or some other flavored Honey (very good), or for a real kick, Blackberry liquor.  Cozying up in front of the fire with your sweetie?  A few squirts of Maca tincture might be nice… Just tonight (well, tonight when I'm writing this, not necessarily when you're reading this) I added some of the Elderberry syrup my friend Nelle made for me... unutterably good.  Your imagination is all that limits the possibilities.  

 

To prepare:

Put a scoop of Cocoa Powder in a mug, add more or less an equal amount of Honey (you can adjust the Cocoa-to-Honey ratio to make the drink sweeter, or more bitter, if you prefer), a squirt of Propolis Extract, and any optional flavorings.   Add hot water and drink up.  

 

The Cocoa (of course) provides the flavor (and the chocolate-euphoria), the Honey sweetens it up and possesses antibacterial, antibiotic, antiviral,  antiinflamatory, anticarcinogenic, anti... well, the list goes on and on.   The Propolis is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiallergenic, antioxidant, antiblah blah blah...  AND it contains all the known vitamins except vitamin K and all the minerals needed by the body except sulfur.   If I were to go on about adding Royal Jelly, it would be totally overwhelming... so I direct you to Stephen Buhner's Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers, in which he covers the delightful health giving properties of bee products in great detail in his chapter on Mead.

 

Propolis Extract is available at most Whole Foods & health food stores, and in addition to its medicinal virtues acts as a sort or Creamer/Vanilla substitute.  Should you not be able to find it, though, the Cocoa is still quite good for you without it, having more of a "Dark Chocolate" flavor.   You can also often find honey with Propolis (and sometimes Royal Jelly) already mixed into .

 

This Cocoa (with the Propolis) is incredibly good at combating sore throat from colds and flus - even strep - and bringing back your long lost voice... Drink it when its easier to croak than talk.  And, if you have children who've yet to appreciate the flavor of Echinacea, you'll have NO problem getting them to slurp down some nice, immune-stimulating hot chocolate.

 

You can also make an insanely good "hot fudge" by heating Honey over very low heat in a saucepan, mashing up some fresh Blackberries (or whatever-berries) in it, and adding Cocoa power to taste and desired consistancy.

Enjoy!