Best cacao drink recipe for transforming your mood

Looking for a cacao drink recipe that’s simple to make, but will leave you feeling uplifted, centred and in love with life? This article shares the best cacao drink recipe you’ll ever find.

We’ve been working on upgrading the cacao experience for a while. And that’s because the number one complaint of new cacao drinkers is that cacao is too bitter for them. Number two is that drinking plain cacao every day gets boring quickly.

If these complaints resonate with you, then this is the post for you. We’ve got an amazing uplifting cacao drink recipe that will lift your mood, nourish your soul and bring you back to yourself.

It features our best-selling happiness elixir, but you can make some easy substitutions if you don’t have that specific elixir to hand (or you can try a sample of this elixir for free).  

So, grab your blender or a pan and get ready to discover one of the most delicious cacao drink recipes you’ll ever try.

Happiness cacao drink recipe

This drink not only tastes divine, it also makes you feel spectacular because it features the mood-boosting plant medicine, mucuna pruriens. 

Mucuna pruriens is also known as the dopamine bean and it’s the star ingredient in 8 Within’s happiness elixir. It helps to boost your mood because it contains levodopa - a precursor to the happy brain chemical dopamine. And dopamine is the same chemical your brain releases when you’re doing something pleasurable (like having sex, eating freshly baked cookies, or getting lots of praise from someone you admire). 

It’s flavoured with a touch of mood-boosting cinnamon and dark cherry. And we’ve also added a drizzle of tahini and plant-based cream (or cow’s milk if you prefer) for extra decadence.

Finish with a sprinkle of freeze-dried berries and you’ll be in heaven.

Without further ado, here’s the cacao drink recipe you’ve been waiting for.

Cacao hot chocolate drink recipe

Ingredients

• 35g (4 tablespoons) 8 Within happiness elixir or another pure ceremonial-grade cacao paste
• ½ tsp Ceylon cinnamon (if you aren’t using our happiness elixir)
• ¼ tsp mucuna bean extract - go for at least 20% concentration (if you aren’t using our happiness elixir)
• ½  tsp freeze-dried black cherry
• 1 tbsp white tahini
• 1 tsp coconut nectar or another natural sweetener (optional)
• 200mls water
• ½ tbsp whipped plant-based cream (or normal dairy cream)
• 1 tsp chopped dried berries of your choice

Method

1. Boil the water and allow it to cool for 1 minute.
2. Add to a pan with the cacao.
3. Stir well with a whisk until smooth and creamy.
4. Add the tahini, coconut sugar, dried cherry and mucuna bean extract.
5. Whisk well until thick and creamy (you may need to heat gently until mixed).
6. Pour into a special mug or cup.
7. Top with dried berries and whipped cream.

Variations 

To make a classic cup of ceremonial cacao, leave out the coconut sugar, tahini, cream and berries.

For a super creamy cacao hot chocolate drink recipe, swap the 200 ml of water for plant or cow’s milk.

If you can’t get hold of mucuna bean extract and you don’t have a happiness elixir, just leave out the mucuna bean extract. You won't get the added oomph from the dopamine boost, but you’ll still reap the benefits of the mood-boosting compounds that are naturally present in cacao.

How to turn your cup of cacao into a spiritual experience

Cacao is traditionally used in Mayan and Aztec cultures as a plant medicine, and is therefore drunk in a sacred ceremony as a way of unlocking inner wisdom, strength and guidance from a higher power.

The soul medicine that cacao has to offer is something you can tap into too, if it’s of interest.

Here’s how.

1. Make your cup of cacao intentionally - take your time, focus on each step with care, switch off all distractions and just connect with the present moment.

2. When your cacao is ready, take it somewhere quiet, take a minute to sit with the warm cup and set an intention for your cacao experience and day. What inspiration and guidance would you love to be unlocked from within you as you drink?

3. Take your time to sip your drink slowly and connect with each mouthful as it runs down your throat. Pay attention to the taste, texture, temperature, aroma etc.

4. It only takes 15 to 20 minutes of mindful sipping to completely transform your state of mind… especially if you’re sipping one of our enhanced elixirs. They’re infused with different medicinal plant extracts that have been chosen to put you into a specific state of mind.

This article shared the best cacao drink recipe you need to try today.