This drink is one of my all time holiday favs.  My siblings and I always looked forward to our mom making us hot cocoa to warm our bellies on cold winter days, especially around the holidays.  

Download the recipe below.

Ahhh...latte.  A drink that I often crave, but have recently been denied, due to gut sensitivies and hormone imbalances.   I discovered when I drink coffee, I become very irritable and quite anxious. Unfortunately, for many people, myself included have had to find other beverages which would satiate the senses while providing health benefits.

Two years ago, I discovered chicory root, which when roasted, tastes very much like coffee.  There are so many ways to use this wonderful root.  If you aren't familiar with chicory, you may find the following information helpful.

Chicory is a actually a plant. Its roots and dried, above-ground parts are used to make medicine. Chicory is used for loss of appetite, upset stomach, constipation, liver and gallbladder disorders, cancer, and rapid heartbeat.  It is also used as a “tonic,” to increase urine production, to protect the liver, and to balance the stimulant effect of coffee.

Some people apply a paste of chicory leaves directly to the skin for swelling and inflammation.
In foods, chicory leaves are often eaten like celery, and the roots and leaf buds are boiled and eaten. Chicory is also used as a cooking spice and to flavor foods and beverages.

Now that you know a little more about chicory and it's benefits, let's talk lattes.  There are so many ways to use chicory when preparing lattes.  You can add alternative milk or coconut cream (Click Here for my "Thai Coconut Made 3 Ways" video).  You can also add fats such as coconut butter, coconut oil or ghee for rich, complex flavors.   

If you have a copy of my recipe book, "FEED: Living Food Recipes to be Made and Eaten with Love", just hop on over to the "Breakfast, Juices, Smoothies and Beverages" section for coffee recipes and more.  

I hope you enjoy this drink, and a complementary recipe (below), as much as I love developing recipes that not only taste great but can be our medicine, too.

Regina xo