Warm and comforting coffee replacing tonic. Dandelion Coffee

mmmmmm….warm delicious comfort in a cup on this very blustery day!

What on earth is a tonic.  Well it is a drink made from nourishing herbals and plants that help to heal the body.

Tonic beverages have been around for ages but I was first introduced to them by Dara Dubinae.  I discovered her on you tube, she has an amazing array of video tutorials on easy and beautiful raw food creation.

This tonic uses a super versatile Dandelion root drink called Dandy Blend.  My hubby always laughs at the tagline on the bag “All the Goodness of Dandelion in and Instant”!!  As though the world has been searching for this forever!  I have to say, however,  I am sooooo happy to have the goodness of dandy blend in an instant on this super cold rainy day!

Dandy Blend is a lovely fast dissolving powdered drink mix.  It has Dandelion Root, chicory root and a few other lovely detoxifying herbs.  It is not coffee, I don’t want you to go into this thinking that it is.  Dandelion and Chicory have a hearty bitter flavor that is reminiscent of coffee though.

I first tried dandelion “coffee” at a very cool little place, I think it was something like the Bike Shop Coffee Shop in Keswick a little town in the heart of the Lake District in Northern England. This was about 16 years ago so I don’t know if the shop still exists.  I just loved it (the shop, the town and the drink)!

Anyhow Dandy blend can be drunk all on it’s own for a delightful comforting beverage or with your choice of cream and sugar.  But I wanted to boost the nutritional goodness of this and really make a healing tonic that also satisfies that afternoon coffee craving.

These ingredients are perhaps a bit obscure for the general kitchen cupboard but all can be found online for reasonable prices.  Keep in mind all of these ingredients will last you a long long long time.

Both Reishi and Chaga mushrooms are huge in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory qualities and immune boosting goodness.  Chaga actually grows around here (Minnesota) if you ever go for walks in the birch forests of Northern MN you have probably seen this and not even known it!

here is the magic… dandy blend, chaga mushroom powder, cocoa powder and reishi mushroom powder. A little hot water and milk and or sweetener of your choice. Voila!

Afternoon Herbal Booster in a Mug!

Dandy Blend – 2 Tbl

Reishi mushroom powder – 1/2 tsp

Chaga mushroom powder- 1/2 tsp

cocoa powder – 1 tsp

1 1/2 cup water (hot or cold, I prefer hot for this one)

Stevia – or sweetener of choice – to taste

almond milk or coconut milk or other milk you like – to taste

Stir if hot – blend if cold

this is what I love for my hot coffee beverages, if I want sweetener. I usually don’t sweeten, but on the occasion I do this is sooo decadent! you only need about 2-3 drops!

You might be interested in this old post all about Caffeine the good and the bad!