Sometimes you need a little help relaxing, and that's where these adaptogenic elixirs come in. Adaptogens are plants that help the body cope with stress. You can use them in a variety of ways, but one of the easiest is to stir them into a drink. While coffee amps you up, these warm adaptogenic drinks will help soothe your nerves.
13 Adaptogenic Drink Recipes
If you're new to the world of adaptogens, you might want to start with 'moon dust'. Making your own is really not difficult, and you can simply add it to your (already) favorite drink. But if you want to try something new...
...whip up one of these recipes and take a break. You deserve it!
1. Pearl Powder Strawberry Iced Latte
A real beauty elixir, this latte supports skin elasticity with collagen from pearl powder, healthy fats from hemp, and antioxidants from strawberries.
Pearl powder is good for you both on the inside and outside. And yes, it really is a powder made from pearls, just like those found in jewelry. Freshwater pearls are ground into a super fine powder that’s easily absorbed and used by the body.
Pearl powder is primarily made of calcium and has trace minerals such as sodium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, aluminum, and copper. It also contains many amino acids, including the eight essential amino acids that cannot be produced in the body but are required for health [source]. In Chinese medicine, pearl powder is used as an anti-inflammatory [source] and in Shen tonics for nervousness, anxiety, and tension.
Pearl powder beauty benefits
Recent scientific data supports the antiaging effects of pearl powder. A 2018 study showed pearl powder increased both the level and activity of antioxidants when taken as a supplement [source]. So not only will your body be producing fewer free radicals that cause cell damage and speed up aging, but it will also scavenge more of them.
Emerging research shows how pearl powder can speed up wound healing and stimulate collagen production [source] while it increases moisture levels in the skin [source]. Pearl powder also may reduce the enzyme that causes the production of pigment (melanin), helping reduce the appearance of dark pigmentation.
Pearl Powder Strawberry Iced Latte Recipe
—1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
—½ cup rose water
—2 strawberries
—2 teaspoons pearl powder
—2 teaspoons hemp powder
—1 teaspoon maple syrup
—1 teaspoon coconut oil
—¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
—Ice cubes and dried rose petals to serve
1. Add all the ingredients into a blender and process to obtain a smooth liquid.
2. Add ice cubes into serving glasses, and pour the liquid over.
3. Garnish with dried rose petals and serve
2. Adaptogenic Midnight Milk
Insomnia is no match for this relaxing nighttime elixir made with a combination of ashwagandha, schisandra berries, and rose petals to help relax your mind and ease you into a restful sleep.
This helpful recipe comes from Agatha Noveille's The Complete Guide to Adaptogens. You've undoubtedly seen adaptogens everywhere lately—we even have a primer here, but if you're eager to learn more about how you can use these powerful medicinal herbs to better your health, you need this book in your life.
If mixing up a drink with all those ingredients every night sounds the opposite of relaxing to you, don't worry: you only have to gather up all those ingredients once, to make a big batch of Midnight Milk powder which is then stirred into warm milk when needed.
Keep a jar in your medicine cabinet to have on hand for whenever stress is keeping you up at night—one batch makes 60 servings of milk. So even if you're drinking it every night, you still get two month's worth in one sitting.
Midnight Milk Powder Recipe
—¼ cup powdered ashwagandha
—¼ cup powdered schisandra berries
—1 cup powdered rose petals
—1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
—1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Midnight Milk Recipe
—1 cup plant milk
—¼ - 1 teaspoon Midnight Milk Powder
—Honey to taste
To make the powder
1. Blend together all the ingredients and store in an airtight container in the pantry until you are ready to use.
To make the milk
1. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of milk until warm. Be careful not to scald or cook the milk.
2. Pour the milk into a mug, and stir in 1⁄4 – 1 teaspoon of Midnight Milk Powder (as desired).
3. Sweeten with a little honey, and drink in the evening or as part of a bedtime snack.
3. Reishi-Chai Latte
Mushrooms are immune-boosting wonders! Reishi, also known as the “the mushroom of immortality,” [source] is often used for its ability to support the immune system and help keep the body in balance, among its many other beneficial properties [source].
Reishi Chai Latte Recipe
—1 black tea bag
—½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
—⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
—1 teaspoon reishi mushroom powder (or an immune-boosting mushroom blend would also work)
—Large pinch ground cloves
—1 cup dairy-free nut milk
—2 teaspoons maple syrup
—Optional: frothed dairy-free milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon to garnish
1. Heat up the nut milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When it just starts to simmer, turn off the heat, and add the tea bag to the hot milk.
2. Let sit for 3–5 minutes, then remove the tea bag and add the spices, mushroom powder, and maple syrup. Whisk well to combine. Garnish with frothed nut milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
4. Moringa Morning Latte
Some say that moringa is one of the most nutritious plants on the planet. It has historically been referred to as the “Wonder Tree” or “Miracle Tree” [source] in many parts of the world, and now studies confirm that moringa is a potent antioxidant and nutritional powerhouse that can help bring the body back into alignment [source].
Most of moringa’s superpowers come from its impressive nutrient profile [source]. In addition to antioxidants, it’s high in B vitamins, vitamins C and A, iron, magnesium, and zinc. And since most of us are considered “overfed but undernourished,” moringa can help balance a whole host of nutrient deficiencies when used as a supplement.
Because it’s so high in antioxidants, moringa is a potent anti-inflammatory [source]. It’s chock full of quercetin, a natural antihistamine [source] that is used in the treatment of arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and other inflammatory conditions. It also contains chlorogenic acid, which balances blood sugar and prevents cortisol spikes in the body [source].
Morning Moringa Latte Recipe
—1 cup almond milk
—1 teaspoon moringa powder
—1 teaspoon honey
1. Combine moringa and honey in the bottom of a mug. Pour 1 cup of hot almond milk into the mug and stir to combine.
2. Or, if you would prefer to go the tea route, simply replace the almond milk with boiling water and steep for 5 minutes before drinking.
5. Refreshing Reishi Cooler with Hibiscus & Berries
If you're trying to cut down caffeine, but still want the taste of a yummy pink drink, this recipe is for you. Bonus: it also gives you your daily dose of probiotics.
Reishi Cooler Recipe
Serving: Makes two 20-ounce drinks
—16 ounces of water
—1 hibiscus tea bag
—1 passionfruit tea bag
—2 teaspoons reishi powder
—1 tablespoon honey (use more or less to taste)
—Fresh strawberries, sliced
—½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
—Ice
1. Bring 16 ounces of water to a boil, pour over tea bags and steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and place tea in refrigerator to cool for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, slice a couple handfuls of strawberries and set aside.
3. Once tea has cooled, remove from refrigerator and add in the reishi powder stirring to blend fully. Add a drizzle of honey to taste and stir.
4. Fill two 20-ounce (or larger) glasses with ice. Fill each glass halfway with tea blend.
5. Add sliced strawberries to each glass and top with coconut milk. Give it a good stir to combine coconut milk and tea mixture, add in a reusable straw and enjoy!
6. Adaptogenic Smoothie for PMS Relief
This smoothie is designed to support your body throughout the luteal phase of your cycle, using apples for vitamin C and soluble fiber, magnesium-packed almond milk and cashews to curb cravings, coconut oil for healthy fats, and adaptogenic mushrooms support a peaceful state of mind.
Made with chaga and reishi mushrooms, this recipe is designed to help your body cope with the hormonal imbalance that causes PMS. Chaga, for its calming, stress-reducing, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties, and reishi, for its plant sterols that act as hormone precursors and its liver function support.
Adaptogenic Smoothie Recipe Recipe
—1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
—1 organic apple, cut into chunks
—1 tablespoon cashew butter
—½ teaspoon chaga powder
—½ teaspoon reishi powder
—2 teaspoons bee pollen
—1 teaspoon cold pressed coconut oil
1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and garnish with bee pollen.
7. Turmeric Tocos Adapt-o-Latte
While tocos is famed as a skin superfood due to its ability to plump and hydrate the skin and contribute to collagen synthesis, its nutritional prowess goes far beyond a pretty face.
Tocos, short for tocotrienols, is made from the hulls of brown rice. Turns out that humble rice bran is a super-rich source of vitamin E, which is a fat-soluble vitamin key for glowing skin!
Vitamin E is a powerhouse antioxidant which works to combat oxidative stress, enhance immunity, improve cognitive function, help prevent cardiovascular disease and even lower risk of cancer. If you aren’t already sold, I should mention that tocos legit tastes like vanilla ice cream…specifically, the astronaut kind since it’s powdery. You can add this sweet and creamy skin food to just about anything!
Turmeric Adapt-o-Latte Recipe
—1 tablespoon coconut or almond butter
—1 tablespoon tocos
—½ teaspoon of any adaptogen powder you like, such as reishi, chaga, maca, ashwagandha, etc. (optional)
—½ teaspoon ground turmeric
—¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
—⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
—Sprinkle of ground nutmeg
—Sprinkle of ground cardamom
—1 pinch sea salt
—1 pinch black pepper
—4 drops of liquid monk fruit
—1 scoop collagen peptides (optional)
—12 ounces boiling water
1. Combine all ingredients in a powerful blender and blitz until smooth and frothy.
8. Maca + Holy Basil Elixir
Start your day with this Adrenal Elixir, made with maca powder and holy basil extract, for an all-natural energy boost—without the caffeine.
Because our bodies use cortisol to help us wake up and get moving in the morning, our adrenal glands are naturally more active during the early morning hours. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to nourish our systems with a healthy breakfast.
To keep our adrenals healthy, we should be fueling our bodies with antioxidant-rich foods, lean protein, and calming herbs. This simple caffeine-free elixir is packed with vitamins and minerals, protein, and antioxidants to support healthy hormone regulation and help you feel relaxed throughout the day
Holy basil, also known as tulsi, falls into the class of herbs known as adaptogens, which have been shown to help the body respond to stress in a healthy way. It is traditionally used to prevent the toxic effects of chemicals and infections, heal psychological stress, and help restore the body’s overall balance [source]. This Holy Basil Leaf Extract makes it easy to add holy basil to drinks and smoothies.
Rooibos tea is a caffeine-free tea that is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals [source] and has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal plant and for promoting relaxation. In recent years, its cardiovascular benefits and antiaging effects have also made its popularity soar [source].
Maca + Holy Basil Elixir Recipe
—½ cup filtered water
—1 rooibos tea bag or 4 teaspoons loose rooibos tea
—1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
—1 tablespoon collagen protein
—1 teaspoon raw honey
—½ teaspoon maca powder
—¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
—15 drops holy basil leaf extract
—Pinch of Himalayan salt
1. Bring the filtered water to a boil. Pour the boiling water into a mug with the tea bag and allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes.
2. Remove the tea bag (or strain loose tea), then add the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.
9. Happy Hormones Sunshine Tonic
The color of sunshine, this healing tonic is designed to support hormone production and reduce inflammation. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory superstar [source], while fresh ginger kicks in with a strong antioxidant action [source].
Maca powder tames inflammation, balances estrogen levels, and boosts your mood, making you ready for all the exciting things you planned for summer [source]. Cinnamon adds a delicious taste, helps your digestion, and boosts your metabolism [source].
Plus this lemonade has plenty of vitamin C from freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice.
Sunshine Tonic Recipe
—3 cups purified water
—Juice from 1 lemon
—Juice from 1 orange
—2 teaspoons turmeric powder
—2 teaspoons organic raw honey
—1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
—½ teaspoons freshly grated ginger
—1 teaspoon maca powder
—Pinch of cayenne pepper
1. Blend all the ingredients for the lemonade of your choice until well combined.
2. Serve chilled.
10. Ashwagandha Sleep Tonic from Ascension Kitchen
If all that holiday stress is keeping you awake at night, this tonic is perfect for helping you relax before bedtime.
11. Adaptogenic Hot Chocolate from Hello Glow
If you struggle with headaches, PMS and cravings, this adaptogenic hot chocolate might become your next favorite afternoon sip. Combining a good quality, magnesium-rich dark chocolate with adaptogenic powders creates an elixir for improving your overall wellness.
12. Chai Latte with Adaptogens from The Awesome Green
This caffeine-free chat latte uses adaptogens to relief stress, which makes it the perfect drink any hour of the day. The adaptogenic stars of this drink are
13. Morning Clarity Matcha Mushroom Latte
Rather than relying on coffee to give you clarity and energy, we recommend this smooth matcha latte, improved with beauty-boosting collagen, reishi and brain-boosting lion's mane, with tasty additions of tahini, ginger, and dates.
