Caffeine-Free Super Potions Are Taking Over The Internet. Here's How To Make One For Yourself
When people try to break their reliance on caffeine (even experimenting with giving it up all together) it quickly becomes apparent how much its purpose is about the morning ritual rather than a simple caffeine fix. My husband grinds his own beans every morning, and the sound of the whirr of the beans and the aroma of bittersweet fresh coffee filling our house has become one of my favorite things to wake up to. He calls it his morning meditation—the boiling of the water, the grinding of the beans, filling the filter with water, and waiting for the fresh coffee to drip through.
While I don't personally drink caffeine, my morning Dandelion Vanilla tea is my signal to my brain and body that the day is about to begin. These days, though, there are far more exciting options for a caffeine-free kick to start your morning. Insta-star Lee From America shared her adaptogen-rich concoctions on the 'gram during her #caffeinefreeweek and the potions, for what they lacked in caffeine, were abundant in brain- and body-healing superfoods.
Want to make a caffeine-free latte of your own? There are a few easy rules to follow:
1. Pick your base.
This can be as simple as hot filtered water, or warm nut, seed or coconut milk of choice, or as complicated as herbal coffee or brewed caffeine-free tea (I love rooibos and honey bush for their natural sweetness).
2. Pick your superfood mix-ins.
This step is optional, but it really adds the ritual element, and it allows you to tailor your potion to your needs. You can play around with adaptogens like ashwagandha and pine pollen, add protein like collagen or hemp powder, or go for detoxifying greens like chlorella or spirulina (unicorn vibes, anyone?). Most of these powders have fairly mild flavors, although the algaes have a bit of an oceanic taste. Also, remember these are potent, so start small with just a pinch of each, and see how your body reacts before adding more.
3. Add a fat.
Whether you go with simple coconut oil, ghee, or something more specialized like Bulletproof's Brain Octane Oil or Pure Indian Foods ghee and MCT oil blend, you need fat to really bring your potion together. Frothing in some fat makes the drink have a more homogeneous texture and adds a rich, satisfying latte-like foam. Simply add a heaping teaspoon of your fat of choice and use a foamer, blender, or aggressive mason jar shake (with the lid on!) to emulsify.
Liz Moody is an author, blogger and recipe developer living in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated with a creative writing and psychology degree from The University of California, Berkeley. Moody has written two cookbooks: Healthier Together: Recipes for Two—Nourish Your Body, Nourish Your Relationships and Glow Pops: Super-Easy Superfood Recipes to Help You Look and Feel Your Best. She also hosts the Healthier Together Podcast, where she chats with notable chefs, nutritionists, and best-selling authors about their paths to success. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Food & Wine & Women’s Health.