Turmeric Mocha

Creamy turmeric hot chocolate with a jolt of strong coffee? Sign me up!

A while ago, a friend of mine gave me something called MUD/WTR.

This is marketed as a coffee substitute and is made of lots of good for you things like turmeric, cacao, and some ground up mushrooms. You mix it with hot water or milk and it makes for a creamy, chai-like drink that is supposed to give you energy just like coffee, but without the caffeine.

Before I continue, there are a few things I want to say here. First, I actually really liked this product, which is why I linked it here (I’m not getting anything for it, promise!) I would not buy it again, however, because it’s just a bit too expensive for as often as I’d probably like to drink it.

Second, I have no desire or intention of giving up coffee. Ever. I can give up a lot of things, but coffee is not one. If you are interested in that, more power to you, but it’s not me. In fact, when I do drink the MUD/WTR, I put it in my coffee, and it is delicious.

So all that. I wanted to make something kind of similar, but not expensive and set out on a mission. I quickly realized that buying all of the ingredients was out of the question for two reasons. First, well, expense. Second, I have so many spices, seasonings, and packets of powder that go into smoothies/dishes/hot drinks that I just can’t.

So I decided to use what I did have. Cacao powder. Check. Turmeric. Check. Cinnamon. Check. Good sea salt. Yes. A tiny bit of black pepper — for real — yes!

I added a tiny bit of maple sugar for sweetness to balance out the bitterness from the cacao and turmeric and started with a turmeric hot chocolate of sorts. I used oat milk, but any type of milk you like will work. You can totally drink the hot chocolate without the coffee if that’s your thing. It’s delicious, but may need a bit more sweetener? Your call.

From there I added it to some extra strong brewed coffee and then topped it with more steamed milk for an extra creamy, coffeehouse affair.

Is the same as the fancy drink above? I mean, no, but I wasn’t expecting it to be the same. There is a reason it’s expensive, and I can appreciate that. But this one is delicious, nutritious, and perfect for a cold winter day when you want something a bit different from your normal coffee.