Here are some of my favorite medicinal teas and infusions to brew for using in conjunction with cacao. These teas can be used as the base to any of your elixirs in place of water. For a hot beverage, use a hot tea; for cold, use a brewed tea that you've already chilled. A few other favorites aside from what are mentioned below include yerba maté for energizing, nettle leaf for a super mineralizing infusion, oatstraw for calming and resetting your nerves, and red raspberry leaf for women's health.

Gynostemma:

Perhaps my own favorite teas, Gynostemma is a plant in the holly family that is wellknown throughout Asia as Jiaogulan, the Longevity Tea, or Miracle Herb. Like ginseng, this strong adaptogen contains saponins, which are powerful compounds that are highly medicinal. It's a balancing adaptogen, so calms you or increase your energy, depending on your state. It increases strength and endurance, reduces stress and uplifts the mood. It's good for the brain, immune system and fighting off cancer, and is one of the most enjoyable tonics for health and well-being that I know. While loose leaf gynostemma is lovely, I most often use this herb in a blend called Longevity Tea made by Spring Dragon, in which the leaves are infused with a naturally sweet and potent blend of five synergistic herbs. I have had it happen countless times that I open a hot thermos of this tea, and those around me are immediately enchanted by the beguiling aroma and ask me all about it. Then they taste it and vow to buy some stat! I drink it on its own almost daily, though it also makes a truly superb base for cacao elixirs. The already-brewed leaves are tender, and if you have a high-speed blender, they can be emptied from the tea bag and blended into your elixirs for added nutrition.

Chaga:

As mentioned in the tonic herb section, chaga is a highly valued medicine most commonly prepared as a tea that makes a delicious base for chocolate drinks of all sorts. . Obtain wild-crafted chunks or coarse powder of this giant tree mushroom, add plenty of water, and simmer the brew for a couple of hours on low heat before straining the dark and potent tea. The tea is so high in antioxidants that a jar in the refrigerator lasts for a few weeks. Remember that you can reuse the chunks for another batch or two (or three!) of less potent tea as well, so don’t compost them after their first simmer; use them immediately or store the chunks in the freezer until time to reuse.

Pau D’Arco:

Pau d'arco is a tree-bark from the Amazon most famous for its anti-fungal properties, though it has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties as well. It is a very tasty herb to include in teas and is safe and beneficial to drink often, even everyday. It is really nice simmered with cinnamon and vanilla for a delightful, very medicinal brew to use as an elixir base. It's medicinal properties are most potent when it's simmered as a decoction for 30 to 60 minutes. Like chaga, the plant material can be simmered several times.

Rose:

Homegrown or purchased, organic dried roses make a delightful infusion that can be used with cacao. Simply pour hot water over the roses, cover and infuse for 10 minutes or longer, then strain the brew and put the floral-scented tea to use as a yummy base for extra heart-opening cacao beverages. Whole rosebuds are usually more fragrant than the plain petals. For decorating elixirs or the top of a batch of Essential Chocolates, you can separate the petals from the buds or keep some dried petals on hand for this.

Damiana:

Damiana is a fragrant and calming herb that is delicious paired with cacao. It's best known for being a natural aphrodisiac and for balancing hormones and can also be used as a tea regularly to assist in alleviating depressed feelings, anxiety and PMS or simply to smooth out emotions and promote an immediate feeling of well-being. Try brewing a strong infusion, maybe paired with rose, to use as a base for your cacao elixir and watch the natural heart-opening and connecting properties of cacao magnify amongst your friends.

Product Recommendations
• my all-time favorite herbal tea ever: Spring Dragon Longevity Tea which is a potent formulation that includes gynostemma.
• pau d'arco loose tea
• red rosebuds
• chaga chunks

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