When I see snow on Mingus Mountain, I know it is winter.
Nothing beats the freshness of brewing up a hot drink for myself and customizing it the way I like even though I can get drinks similar to these at my local coffee shop or restaurant.
Both are energizing in their own ways, but they contain no caffeine. I often recommend reducing or eliminating caffeine to spare the adrenals, and avoiding coffee because of its irritating effects.
I used to love Caffix in the winter, but when I went gluten-free, that had to go too. I was so happy to find Dandyblend, which is similar, but better with the dandelion, and does not have any gluten.
Both of these drinks are great instead of coffee. They fulfill the ritual aspect of that first morning cup, and I find, are satisfying. The Dandyblend is versatile in that it can be made regular strength, or concentrated like espresso. You can also add any kind of milk or steamed milk, if you like your drink that way.
Chai Spice Drink
This is stimulating without caffeine for those cold winter days or nights.
3 quarts filtered water
5 – 3” cinnamon sticks
30 whole peppercorns
20 whole cloves
30 green cardamom pods (or brown seeds)
12 slices fresh ginger
Bring to a boil Simmer 30 – 60 minutes.
Drink warm with the milk of your choice – my favorite is coconut milk.
Cool leftover and refrigerate.
Dandyblend
instant herbal beverage with dandelion
- full-bodied richness
- no caffeine
- no acidity
- no bitterness
- gluten-free
Ingredients: extracts of roasted barley, rye, chicory root, dandelion root, and beetroot
Yes, it really is gluten free. They use a water extraction process so that the gluten containing constituents remain separate. They periodically submit samples of Dandy Blend to Elisa Technologies Laboratory in Florida, one of the most respected gluten testing labs in the United States for analysis, and so far, every test has come back gluten-free.
Recipes and more information here and online at dandyblend.com
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