Lattes and Drinks
These lattes and drinks are not quite the coffee versions you’re used to seeing at your local coffee shop. They are nutrient rich, creamy, and truly delicious homemade drinks that will elevate your everyday. Making these at home can quickly become a self-care ritual, as the time it takes to make yourself (or a loved one) a comforting mug of warm milk is such a treat. They come in a rainbow of colors too, from green matcha and golden turmeric lattes to upgraded hot chocolates and mood lifting drinks in hues of blue, pink, and yellow.
The Base
These nut and seed milks are great to have handy for smoothie and latte making. In all the recipes in this book, you can easily replace my suggestion with whichever nut or seed milk you like and have on hand. And there are more nuts and seeds than listed in the recipes here—you can easily use the same methods to make pumpkin seed milk, pecan milk, and so on. Just make sure to start with raw nuts and soak them well for six to eight hours beforehand.
To make a simple adaptogenic latte, warm up one or a combination of the following milks, add your powders of choice, and blend well, using a whisk or milk frother. Add a little raw honey or pure maple syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon powder, and sip slowly. Deep breaths optional.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is absolutely delicious and oh so versatile. From curries to smoothies, coconut milk adds creaminess and a sweet tropical touch. Choose between a sweetened and unsweetened version, depending on your needs. Straining is optional.
Makes 4 servings (about 32 ounces)
3½ cups filtered water (or less if you prefer a thicker result)
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
Pinch of sea salt
For a sweet version, add:
1 to 2 Medjool dates, pitted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Place the water, coconut, and salt in a high-speed blender. Add the dates and vanilla, if using.
2. Blend on high speed for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture seems smooth.
3. Strain the milk mixture through a nut milk bag suspended over a large bowl. You can also skip this step, if you like! You’ll just have a slightly thicker, richer, and more filling nut milk.
4. Store in a lidded container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. Make sure to shake or stir before pouring, as the milk will separate as it sits.
Hemp Milk
No soaking or straining required for this seed milk, which makes it the easiest of all the milks to make at home.
Makes 4 servings (about 32 ounces)
4 cups filtered water
½ cup raw hemp seeds or hemp hearts
Pinch of sea salt
For a sweet version, add:
1 to 2 Medjool dates, pitted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Place the water, hemp seeds, and salt in a high-speed blender. Add the dates and vanilla, if using.
2. Blend on high speed for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture seems smooth.
3. Store in a lidded container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. Make sure to shake or stir before using, as the milk will separate as it sits.
Almond, Walnut, Hazelnut, or Cashew Milk
These nut milks do require an additional step—soaking the nuts before blending. This allows for the nuts to soften and makes them a lot easier to “milk.” It also helps remove some of the phytic acid, an antinutrient that makes the nuts harder to digest.
Makes 4 servings (about 32 ounces)
1 cup raw almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, or cashews, soaked overnight or for 6 to 8 hours in filtered water
3 to 4 cups filtered water
Pinch of sea salt
For a sweet version, add:
2 Medjool dates, pitted, or 2 teaspoons raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Drain and rinse the soaked nuts.
2. Place the nuts, water, and sea salt in a blender. Add the dates and vanilla, if using.
3. Blend on high speed for 1 minute, or until the liquid looks like milk.
4. Strain the milk mixture through a nut milk bag suspended over a large bowl. Discard the pulp or save it for a different use.
5. Store in a lidded container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Make sure to shake or stir before using, as the milk will separate as it sits.
Beauty Chai
Skin, Hormones, Energy
The spices found in traditional chai tea are warming, comforting, and exciting all at once. This version also includes some great skin-benefiting ingredients: pearl for that glowing-from-within skin, collagen to plump and increase elasticity, and maca for hormone balance and energy. The spices are anti-inflammatory and blood sugar balancing, and the heat from the pepper and ginger are great for boosting your digestive fire.
Makes 1 serving
½ cup warm water
1 tablespoon sliced fresh ginger
1 tea bag (black tea, dandelion root, rooibos, or chai blend)
1 cup nut milk (page 100)
4 cardamom pods, smashed
1 cinnamon stick, or ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon pearl powder
¼ teaspoon maca
¼ teaspoon rhodiola
1 tablespoon collagen peptides
1 teaspoon raw honey
1. Place the warm water and ginger in a small pot and bring to a simmer. Turn down heat, add the tea bag to the water, and let steep. After 5 minutes, remove the ginger and tea bag.
2. Add the nut milk, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick and gently warm, being careful not to simmer or boil the milk.
3. Strain into a mug and add the adaptogen powders and collagen. Whisk well to combine.
4. Add the raw honey and sip!
Meaningful Matcha
Energy, Stamina, Antioxidant Boost
Matcha is a great pick-me-up drink and an excellent, less acidic alternative to coffee! Expect less jitters but lots of focus and energy for the day. It is paired here with moringa, another powerful green powder chock-full of antioxidants, protein, vitamins, and chlorophyll. Make this a warm drink on a cold morning or use cold milk and pour over ice for a refreshing summer drink.
Makes 1 serving
2 teaspoons matcha powder
1 teaspoon cordyceps
1 teaspoon moringa leaf powder
¼ teaspoon Mucuna pruriens
¼ cup warm water
1 cup coconut milk (page 98), warmed
1 teaspoon coconut sugar or coconut nectar
1. Combine the matcha, cordyceps, moringa, Mucuna pruriens, and warm water in a mug.
2. Whisk well until all the powders have dissolved and there are no lumps.
3. Add the warm coconut milk and coconut sugar. Stir and sip.
4. If making an iced version, use cold milk instead of warm and pour over ice. If using coconut sugar, you might want to add that in in step 1 to allow it to dissolve in the warm water.
Charcoal Latte
Detox, De-bloat, Hangover Helper
Support detoxification with this spooky-looking latte for the brave. Charcoal helps pull and transport out toxins from your body, making this a good drink the morning after a night of cocktailing. It’s also a good remedy for a funny or bloated tummy.
Makes 1 serving
1 cup nut milk (page 100)
1 teaspoon activated charcoal
¼ cup warm (not boiling) water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon raw honey
1. Warm the nut milk in a small pot or a milk steamer.
2. Place the charcoal in a mug and slowly, while stirring, add the warm water and warm nut milk. Add the vanilla and honey.
3. Stir until well combined and sip.
Good Mood Matcha
Antioxidant Boost, Mood, Skin
This cup of matcha may indeed lift your mood and give you an energy boost, all while tasting totally luscious and delicious. This is my personal go-to, everyday recipe. No fuss, totally yummy—and it delivers!
Makes 1 serving
1 teaspoon matcha powder
1 heaping tablespoon coconut butter
10 ounces warm (not boiling) water
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon Mucuna pruriens
1 teaspoon reishi
1 scoop marine collagen peptides
1 teaspoon raw honey
1. Place all the ingredients in a blender that tolerates warm liquids. I like to use a mesh strainer for the matcha and add it slowly to avoid any lumps, but if you’re in a rush, just throw everything in, close the lid, and blend it all up.
2. Pour into a beautiful mug and sip slowly.
Tahini Maca Latte
Harmony, Hormone Balance, Beauty Boost
The creamy richness in this recipe comes from tahini, a sesame seed paste that is loaded with calcium and healthy fats. This creamy, sweet, and luscious drink is a real treat, and with maca and pearl, you’ll feel glowing and harmonized to boot.
Makes 1 serving
1 tablespoon tahini
2 Medjool dates, pitted
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish
⅛ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon maca
¼ teaspoon pearl powder
1 cup warm water
1. Place all the ingredients, except the warm water, in a blender that tolerates warm liquids, then pour the water on top. Blend on high speed until frothy and creamy.
2. Pour into a cup, sprinkle with cinnamon, and enjoy!
Pink Latte
Blood Sugar Balance, Digestive Support, Heart Health
This is not just a pretty drink! That beautiful pink hue hints at some amazing antioxidant powers and heart support hiding within. The powdered beets are great for blood purification and stamina. Ginger and cinnamon provide digestive and blood sugar support, and both the hawthorn berries and beets are known to support the heart.
Makes 1 serving
1 teaspoon beet powder
1 teaspoon hawthorn berry powder
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon raw honey
½ cup warm water
¾ cup nut milk (page 100), warmed
1. Place all the powders and honey in a mug or bowl and mix.
2. Add the warm water and whisk or blend with a handheld milk frother until the powders have dissolved. Top with the warm nut milk.
Blue Latte
Beauty, Energy, Libido
The color of this drink seems truly unreal and magical. The blue comes from a blue algae rich in chlorophyll. The cashew milk makes the drink dreamy creamy and the hit of adaptogens provide rejuvenation and brain food.
Makes 1 serving
1 cup cashew milk (page 100)
½ teaspoon Blue Majik
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon pine pollen
½ teaspoon amla
1 teaspoon raw honey
1. Place the milk in a small pot and gently warm (be careful not to bring to a boil). A milk warmer or frother will do the trick, too!
2. Place the powders in a mug and, while whisking, slowly pour in the warmed milk.
3. Add the honey and stir. Sip and feel the joy.
Beauty Moon Milk
Sleep, Beauty, Calming
A warming cup of creamy and sweet moon milk is just what you need before bed to help your body relax, release, and calm down from a busy day. This beverage is loaded with adaptogens that are sleep inducing, serotonin boosting, and helpful for unwinding from stressful days.
Makes 1 serving
1 tablespoon coconut butter
⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
1 Medjool date, pitted
10 ounces warm water
Pinch of shatawari
Pinch of ashwagandha
Pinch of He Shou Wu
Pinch of Mucuna pruriens
1. Place all the ingredients in a blender.
2. Blend on high speed until the date is dissolved and the drink is well mixed.
3. Pour, sip, and enjoy.
Golden Latte
Anti-Inflammatory, Digestive Support, Healing
When you want a warming, comforting drink in the morning, but caffeine is not agreeing with you—this is what you want. The spices give this a great, comforting flavor and they carry amazing anti-inflammatory benefits.
Makes 1 serving
1 tablespoon almond butter or sunflower butter
1 scoop collagen peptides
1 teaspoon raw manuka honey
2 teaspoons coconut oil
½ teaspoon astragalus
½ teaspoon reishi
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
Pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ cup warm water
½ cup unsweetened almond milk (page 100), warmed
1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until creamy and frothy.
2. Pour into a mug and drink.
Reishi Hot Chocolate
Comfort and Calm, Immunity Support
Trust me, this is what your body wants on a cold afternoon. The high antioxidant content of chocolate helps protect your body from wintery colds and the creamy milk contains protein and fat, which your body needs more of to stay warm throughout winter.
Makes 1 serving
1 cup coconut milk (page 98) or any other milk of choice
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
¼ teaspoon vanilla powder or vanilla extract
½ teaspoon reishi
1. Place the milk and coconut oil in a small pot and heat until warm.
2. Transfer the warm milk to a blender along with the rest of the ingredients.
3. Blend on low speed until all is combined.
4. Pour into a mug and enjoy.
Mayan Hot Chocolate
Pleasure Boost, Aphrodisiac, Energy
Using real melted dark chocolate makes this drink extra-decadent, thick, and luscious. It has a little surprise kick in it, too! Treat yourself with antioxidants all around, healthy fats, stress relief, a dopamine boost, and a great mood boost from chocolate and Mucuna pruriens!
Serves 1 (or split it with a friend for a slightly smaller indulgence)
3 ounces chopped dark chocolate (I use 70% cacao. You could use stone-ground Mexican chocolate if you want to be really authentic and fancy!)
1 cup nut milk (page 100)
⅛ teaspoon chili powder (cayenne pepper would also work here)
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ashwagandha
¼ teaspoon maca
¼ teaspoon Mucuna pruriens
Optional: a few red pepper flakes or marshmallows to sprinkle on top
1. Place the chocolate in a small pot and melt over low heat.
2. Warm the nut milk in a separate small pot and stir the warmed milk into the melted chocolate.
3. Whisk in all the powders.
4. Pour into small mugs, top with your garnish of choice, if using, and sip very slowly with your eyes closed.
Coldbrew Iced Latte
Mood, Focus, Beauty
I love the smoothness of a cold-brewed iced coffee and, even better, the cold brew process makes for a much less acidic drink, too! This one is decked out with mood-boosting and stress-lowering adaptogens as well as the beloved pearl powder for glowing skin.
Makes 1 serving
½ cup cold-brewed coffee
½ cup almond milk (page 100)
¼ teaspoon pearl powder
¼ teaspoon Mucuna pruriens
Pinch of ashwagandha
1. Place all the ingredients in a glass and use a small handheld electric whisk to mix everything together.
2. Add ice and a glass straw. Sip in the sun!