When skincare, self-care, and wellness merge, it’s no doubt that what we eat affects our skin, mood, and overall health. Everything is interconnected, after all! Recently we discovered the wonders of adaptogens and how they can benefit the body and mind for a balanced lifestyle. If you don’t know what adaptogens are, don’t despair! They’re a fancy term for medicinal plants and herbs that help the body cope by “adapting” or modifying its response to stress and fatigue. In the body, it can stimulate the central nervous system and help calm your mood to keep tackling your task list. Win-win situation! To reap all the benefits of adaptogens, here are recipes for six calming drinks that not only give you all the nutrients you need but also taste amazing!
Disclaimer: If you’re taking any medications, have food sensitivities, allergies, medical conditions or are pregnant, we encourage you to use your personal judgement and/or consult with a medical professional before trying out any of the recipes.
1. Black Goji Berry Lemonade
If you’re familiar with butterfly pea flower tea, you’ll be delighted to find the black goji berry having similar properties! The black goji berry is the rare cousin that tastes sweeter than the regular red one. It also has potent antioxidants and adaptogenic properties so that your body and mind can feel their best! The cool thing is, just like the butterfly pea flower, this berry gives off a beautiful deep blue-purple color when steeped properly. Don’t forget to squeeze in some lemon juice to see the drink change colors!
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons dried black goji berries
- 4 cups filtered hot water [between 122-140 degrees Fahrenheit or 50-60 degrees Celsius]
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Honey [to taste]
- Warm water [for melting the honey]
- Ice cubes
Directions
- Give your goji berries a rinse under cold water
- Transfer your goji berries into a pitcher and fill it with hot water. Let the berries steep for at least 5 minutes or until the water turns blue-deep purple in color and they get plump.
- In a separate bowl, mix your honey and warm water.
- Add your honey water into the pitcher and stir well.
- Toss in your ice cubes into the pitcher (we’re making lemonade after all!)
- Add your squeezed lemon juice and watch the drink turn from a bluish-purple into a beautiful pink!
- Stir until well incorporated and enjoy!
2. Goji Berry Ginger Tea
Packed with amazing nutrients and antioxidants, it’s no wonder that goji berries are touted as a “superfood” ingredient! These berries taste warm, sweet, and slightly tart that pairs well in hot tea with a light sweetener. We think it makes an amazing hot cup of ginger tea for those cold and dreary snuggle-in-bed-with-a-book days.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dried goji berry
- 3 cups hot water
- ½ inch ginger [thinly sliced]
- ¼ cup rock sugar [or other sweetener]
Directions
- Give your goji berries a rinse under cold water and drain
- Transfer your goji berries into a pot and add 3 cups of water and your ginger slices.
- Heat the mixture until the water starts to boil
- Turn off the heat and remove from the stove.
- Add rock sugar and stir until well combined.
- Cover your pot and let the mixture steep for 10-15 minutes. For best results, let steep up to an hour.
- Ladle into a cup and enjoy!
3. Honeysuckle and Chrysanthemum Tea
If light and floral teas are more your thing, this delicate honeysuckle and chrysanthemum tea is one that can help you during winters. Both flowers have excellent anti-inflammatory properties and are great sources of antioxidants. Chrysanthemum is great for lowering fevers, while honeysuckle can help soothe headaches and sore throats. Not bad for a tea that tastes great!
Ingredients
- 3 handfuls of dried chrysanthemum flowers
- 1 pinch of dried honeysuckle
- Rock sugar or honey [to taste]
- 1.5 liters of water
Directions
- Rinse flowers to get rid of dirt. Drain and set aside.
- Add your water to a large pot and bring to a boil
- Turn off the flame and add your flowers and rock sugar. Stir until well incorporated.
- Let steep for 30 minutes.
- Strain out the flowers and ladle the tea into a cup. For honey, stir in a spoonful before serving.
4. Korean Pear Harvest Punch
Also known as “Daechu cha,” this punch is a delicious drink that does more than excite your taste buds. This punch’s star ingredient is the daechu (otherwise known as dried jujube/red dates), filled to the brim with amazing nutrients. It’s rich in vitamins A and C, as well as flavonoids, fiber, and potassium. Best of all, this drink not only tastes wonderfully warm and honey-like, but it’s one of the go-to drinks for anyone with a sore throat and cold/flu symptoms. Drink it hot for a wind-down, or serve chilled with a splash of ginger ale for a fizzy treat!
Ingredients
- 25 pieces of dried jujubes, sliced
- 1 large asian pear, quartered and seeded
- 3 inch piece ginger, thinly sliced
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
- 3 quarts of water
- Honey or brown sugar to sweeten [to taste]
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts [for garnish]
Directions
- In a large pot, combine jujube, pear, ginger, cinnamon sticks, and water. Cover the pot and bring to a boil.
- Once the pot is boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least an hour.
- Turn off the heat and strain the softened ingredients before removing.
- Add your sweetener and stir well.
- Ladle into a cup and garnish with pine nuts.
- Alternatively, you can store in the fridge to cool and serve chilled.
5. Turmeric, Ginger & Lemon Tea with Honey
For all things spicy, this potent drink is enough to help tone down inflammation and soothe sore throats. You know that feeling when your throat’s feeling “caught” and itchy, but nothing works to relieve? I can promise you that this will target that itch in the first sip! I can promise you that this will target that itch in first sip! Turmeric, ginger, and honey are wonderful anti-inflammatory ingredients that can warm up. And if that isn’t enough, the lemon juice makes a great addition due to the high vitamin C content (A.K.A, the secret ingredient that gives your sore throat that much needed relief!)
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon turmeric powder
- 1 inch ginger [peeled and thinly sliced]
- ½ freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Dash of black pepper [freshly ground preferred]
- 3 cups water
- Honey [to taste]
Directions
- In a pot, bring ginger slices, turmeric powder, black pepper and water to a boil.
- Once the pot is boiling, turn off the heat and add your lemon juice. Stir until well incorporated and ladle into a cup.
- Add honey to taste (or you can drink straight without it like a healthy boost shot!)
6. Sleep Tonic
When stress makes things more difficult, why not sip a warm cup? This drink is great for calming the nerves thanks to the adaptogen ingredient ashwagandha. Also known as Indian Ginseng, this herb has an extensive history of relieving stress, increasing energy levels, and improving concentration. To make things more delicious, the all-spice powder gives a wonderful addition and make your entire kitchen smell like a chai wonderland!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups of water
- 1 medjool date [pitted] or 1 teaspoon of raw manuka honey [or other sweetener]
- Dash of all-spice powder [cinnamon, nutmeg, clove]
- Ashwagandha root powder [or you can try this powder from Moon juice]
- Dash of cinnamon powder [as garnish]
Directions
- Add all ingredients into a blender and whizz until creamy. Transfer into a pot. (If you don’t have a blender, you can stir it in a pot until well incorporated)
- Heat gently until warmed. Turn off the heat before it starts to boil.
- Serve in a cup topped with cinnamon powder
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