When you search elixir on google it comes up as a magical and medicinal potion, which in some cases it can be, but here’s how I like to define an elixir.
Elixir: a blended drink, warm or cold, containing herbs, spices, plants or plant extracts that amplify the nutrient content and physiological effects that the body experiences.
Even though the word, elixir, sounds super extra and fancy, chances are you have made your own without knowing it. These drinks have been used for centuries as home remedies to supply the body with extra nutrients and immune support. Some elixirs that you might recognize are steeped herbal teas, honey ginger lemon tea, chicken bone broth and veggie broth.
I was first introduced to this herbal infused, blended drink, when I worked at a local health food store in Sherwood Park, AB. The owner of Harmonic Arts, Yarrow Willard, Clinical Herbalist, had come in to teach a workshop on their amazing products and demonstrated by making a mushroom elixir. Say what, mushrooms in a drink??? Yep, a creamy, chocolatey, frothy dairy free drink that was slightly sweet and oh so satisfying. I was super intrigued and fascinated that this was such a simple and delicious “vehicle” for getting some of these antioxidant and nutrient dense superfoods into your body.
I started to experiment with my own elixir concoctions and found that this was just what I needed to slowly ween myself off of coffee. I also found that by making an herbal infused tea base and adding a plant based source of fat I was stabilizing my blood sugar enough to feel satiated until about 11:00 a.m., a bonus for someone who would wake up craving carbs.
Over the years of concocting, I have found that some of my favourite ingredients to add into my own elixirs are:
- Dandy blend (a caffeine free coffee replacer made from dandelion, beet root and chicory)
- Herbal teas such as Harmonic Arts Adapted Gems tea or Chai tea
- Gelatinized maca root powder
- Medicinal mushroom powders or mushrooms teas such as Harmonic Arts 5 mushroom blend powder
- Cacao powder
- Coconut milk, cacao butter, cashews, almond butter or coconut oil
- Collagen powder
- Food grade essential oils; i.e. peppermint or lavendar (only 1 drop)
- Occasionally raw honey, maple syrup or erythritol but honesty I love the rich flavour of elixirs without the sweeteners
- Vanilla extract
Well if I’ve intrigued you to give your own elixir a try, check out my favourite elixir to date, my Dairy-Free Peppermint Mocha Elixir.
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