Magic Superfood Elixirs

I've been inspired by Daniel Vitalis's visit to Dallas and his ElixirCraft to create my own warming, superfood elixirs.  Wow, are these yummy, warm, hearty meals in a cup!  Here's a basic recipe to get you started and some links for you to play with ...

Melissa's Magic Superfood Elixir

Step 1: The Super Herb Tea Base

8 Cups	Pure Water
1/4 Cup	Pau D'Arco bark (antifungal)
1/4 Cup	Cats Claw bark (antiviral)
1/2 inch	Galanga (you could use Ginger, but Galanga is more anti-inflammatory and a little peppery.  Find it at your local Asian grocery store)
1/4 Cup	Goji Berries, chopped so their seeds are exposed (high in anti-oxidants, lightly sweetens the tea)
1/4 Cup	Coconut Flakes (fat that can withstand heat and keeps giving you energy after the sugars have burned off)
1	Vanilla Bean shell (save the scooped-out vanilla bean seeds for later in the process)

Bring all ingredients to a low, simmering boil for at least 45 minutes and up to 12 hours.  Strain off fibers and put liquid into your high-powered blender.

Step 2: The Nut Milk

5 Cups	Super Herb Tea from above
1/4 Cup	Cashews (soaked and rinsed)
1/4 Cup	Almonds (soaked and rinsed)
1/2 inch	Galanga (you could use Ginger, but Galanga is more anti-inflammatory and a little peppery.  Find it at your local Asian grocery store)
1/4 Cup	Coconut Flakes

Blend all ingredients until smooth.  Pour through a fine mesh strainer, nut milk bag or the cheaper version which is a paint strainer bag available at your local hardware store.  Compost the fiber left in the strainer.  Pour the remaining liquid back into your blender for the next step.

Step 3: The Magical Superfood Elixir

	Nut Milk from above
1 Tbsp	Maca
1 Tbsp	Tocotrienols
1/2 Cup	Chia gel (1 Tbsp Chia Seeds soaked in 1/2 Cup water).
2 Tbsp	Cacao Powder (optional if you want a chocolatey drink)
1/8 tsp	Sun Fire Salt
7	Whole Dried Clove Flowers
1	Whole Dried Anise Flower
1 inch	Cinnamon Bark
1/2 tsp	Nutmeg
1 Tbsp	Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup	Vanilla Agave Nectar (or honey or sweetener of your choice)
	Vanilla Bean seeds from step 1 above

Blend all ingredients until smooth.  Drink warm immediately or chill for storage for a day or two.  Enjoy!

:)

OK, so how do you play with this basic recipe?  Simply, you can try out different herbs.  I've already done one I liked with Dandelion Root and Nettle Leaf instead of the Pau D'Arco and Cats Claw.  It's best not to mix too many superherbs at once, so I'd suggest you stick with one or two at a time.  I like learning about and getting my herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.

And this RainTree Nutrition site has excellent info on herbs and their medicinal uses.  You can also just go to your local natural food grocery store and buy a medicinal tea ... I like the Alvita brand.  Healing mushrooms like Reishi can be a fun addition with your herbs too.

When you make your tea, you could add some spices in there in addition or instead of in step 3.  I like adding my cinnamon bark to the tea base.

I suggest you always have some kind of berry in your tea ... blueberries can be fun to play with for their antioxidant qualities too.  And I'd keep the coconut flakes as part of the base since they are the best "heatable" oil.

For Step 2, try playing with different nuts.  Brazil nuts and macadamia nuts are nice alternatives for a creamy taste.  For Step 3, play with adding all kinds of superfood powders, though I wouldn't personally add any greens as they often don't taste so good warmed. :)

Have fun creating your own magical elixirs!