raw hot chocolate;

[usuel]

is it possible? i drink peppermint tea constantly as i dont consider boiling water & adding a teabag to it "cooked." i'd like to do the same with chocolate as i used to love it, & i still do too!

[subbacultcha]

Sure, there are loads of recipes for 'warm' chocolate floating around, you can use the search feature and I'm sure something will pop up.

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, if you add the herbs to water that is still at boiling point...you are actually cooking the herbs. Same if you used raw cacao, etc. and added boiling hot water, that cacao and other ingredients are no longer raw/living.

So, as subbacultcha stated, you can warm the water until it's warm enough but not so hot that if you rested your finger in it that it would burn you...that is considered too hot if it's at that point.

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Also, could/would you please use a standard font size (12 pt)...the small text is very hard on the eyes to read. Thanks!

[ferg]

For me, having a cuppa herbal teas is one of the things that helps get me through the winter... I do not stress about it being "cooked"... its just not worth it... tea is very beneficial to ones health... full of antioxidants. So, please just enjoy. You are still eating better than 99.99% of the population.

Cacao on the other hand, even tho raw, is not a healthy food; I would not recommend it. cacao is a stimulant. Not as strong as coffee, but its stimulating "qualities" are easy to spot when your body is not used to eating such foods. Try using carob powder in your recipes. Carob powder is made from a fruit and has a taste like chocolate. It is naturally sweet. Instead of being a stimulant, carob is a mineral rich food and has a calming effect. So, like most raw-foodists, I used carob powder in my recipes. . Just because something is raw does not mean it is heathly for you.

Do some research... being 100% is not the be-all and end-all.

[EZ rider]

I enjoy drinking a warm (120f) cup of clean water on a cold morning to warm me up. The clean warm water washes my palette clean and dosn't stimulate my appetite. In fact I find that it reduces my appetite.

[Rawkinlocs]

Hey, just wanted to say that no one is judging you if you choose to consume hot herbal tea...many raw fooders do. But you asked a question. Also, I wanted to say that there are claims out there that raw cacao is good for you and there are claims that it is not...this is true for a LOT of things that raw fooders consume, including such things as sprouts, certain veggies, onions and garlic, etc.

So, you really have to simply do what feels right to you...the more raw you eat, your body will begin to let you know what's right (for YOU) and what's not right (for YOU). Don't ever just take any one person's word for anything...learn but also learn to tune into and listen to your own body.

[usuel]

oh thank you so much.

[ferg]

Hey, just wanted to say that no one is judging you if you choose to consume hot herbal tea...many raw fooders do. But you asked a question. Also, I wanted to say that there are claims out there that raw cacao is good for you and there are claims that it is not...this is true for a LOT of things that raw fooders consume, including such things as sprouts, certain veggies, onions and garlic, etc.

So, you really have to simply do what feels right to you...the more raw you eat, your body will begin to let you know what's right (for YOU) and what's not right (for YOU). Don't ever just take any one person's word for anything...learn but also learn to tune into and listen to your own body.


Absolutely agree Rockinlocs... you really have to think for yourself... what feels good to you... it is going to be hard to be 100% raw for the rest of your life everyday... but, I do believe that you can achieve optimal health even if you are not 100%... just make the right choices... for me, some days I am 100%, some days not. When I choose to eat cooked, its always steamed veggies, baked potatos or veggie soup... that is pretty much it for me; and I feel no different on those days where I eat these cooked veggies than when I am 100%. My rule of thumb is absolutely no wheat, dairy or cooked grains. And I beleive that is what has helped me achieve optimum health.... to me, what I don't eat is as important that what I do eat. And its not about depriving yourself...please don't fall into that trap.

The best thing about these boards is sharing the information and respecting everyone's opinion, even if it is different from your own. Take what you can and leave the rest.
Cheers everyone... enjoy this journey... its the best!

[charis]

My husband makes the best hot chocolate ever! This is his recipe:

Put approx 1 cup of almonds in the vitamix along with 4 cups of water. Blend real well and then strain out the almond pulp (nut milk bag, strainer or cheesecloth). Put the milk back in the blender. (the almond pulp is good for crackers later)

Add:
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp vanilla (optional)
2 tblspn coconut oil (optional)
2 heaping tspn of raw honey
1 heaping tspn of maca powder
4 tblspn of raw cocoa powder

Turn on Vitamix to high and leave going for 3-4 minutes. The vitamix will warm the drink up. Serves 2-4.

[fuggles]

Hi, check my posts, I made a thread about this a few months ago.

[jules88]

What is the purpose of the maca powder? How does it taste without? I have heard that you either love it, or hate it. I will try it without, just because I am dying for some hot cocoa and don't have any maca, but just wondering what maca does for a recipes.