Paleo Comfort Drinks

It's been chilly here in San Diego; we're hitting the high 40s at night during these bitter depths of winter.  I thought it'd be nice to whip up something hot for the early darkness on these short days and share it with you.  

Let's start with what ya might need to have in the pantry, then get into whip-it-up mode.

Shopping List

Pantry Staples

- Turmeric powder
- Cinnamon powder
- Ground ginger
- Black pepper
- Unsweetened cacao powder
- Reishi mushroom powder
- Vanilla extract
- Raw honey or monk fruit sweetener (optional)

Fresh Produce

- Fresh ginger (1–2 pieces)
- Lemons (2–3)
- Dried lavender flowers (optional, for the Chamomile Lavender Tea)

Tea and Herbal Ingredients

- Chamomile tea bags
- Peppermint tea bags

Nut Butters and Milk Alternatives

- Coconut milk (canned, unsweetened)
- Almond milk (unsweetened)
- Almond butter (unsweetened, natural)

Specialty Items

- Coconut cream (or get full-fat coconut milk and scoop the cream layer)
- Collagen powder (unflavored)
- Bone broth (chicken or beef)

Optional Spices for Extra Flavor

- Additional cinnamon sticks (for garnish or steeping)
- Star anise (optional for enhanced flavor)

Recipes

1. Golden Turmeric Latte

Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut milk or almond milk
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of ground ginger
- Pinch of black pepper
- Optional: raw honey for sweetness
Instructions:
Heat the milk in a saucepan. Whisk in the spices and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Sweeten with honey if desired.

2. Chamomile Lavender Tea with Coconut Cream

Ingredients:
- 1 chamomile tea bag
- 1 tsp dried lavender flowers (optional)
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tbsp coconut cream
- Optional: a touch of raw honey
Instructions:
Steep the tea bag and lavender in hot water for 5–7 minutes. Stir in coconut cream and sweeten lightly with honey.

3. Reishi Mushroom Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
- 1 cup almond or coconut milk
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cacao powder
- 1/2 tsp reishi mushroom powder
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Optional: raw honey or monk fruit for sweetness
Instructions:
Heat the milk, whisk in cacao, reishi powder, and cinnamon until smooth. Sweeten as desired.

4. Warm Lemon Ginger Elixir

Ingredients:
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
- 1 cup hot water
- Optional: raw honey or stevia
Instructions:
Add ginger and lemon juice to hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes. Sweeten if desired.

5. Almond Butter Hot "Milk"

Ingredients:
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Optional: vanilla extract
Instructions:
Heat almond milk, then blend with almond butter and cinnamon until frothy.

6. Peppermint Collagen Tea

Ingredients:
- 1 peppermint tea bag
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 scoop collagen powder
- Optional: coconut cream for richness
Instructions:
Steep the tea, then whisk in collagen powder and coconut cream.

7. Bone Broth Latte

Ingredients:
- 1 cup bone broth (chicken or beef)
- 1 tbsp coconut cream or ghee
- Pinch of turmeric or black pepper
Instructions:
Heat bone broth and blend with coconut cream or ghee. Season with turmeric for added benefits.

8. Hot Vanilla Coconut Milk

Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Optional: pinch of cinnamon or raw honey
Instructions:
Heat the coconut milk, stir in vanilla extract, and sweeten to taste.