One look at these adaptogen drinks and my heart was all in. Since I’m all for anything that supports a healthy stress response, here are 5 antioxidant-rich recipes that are too good not to share.

“No category of herbs holds more potential for overworked, overstressed Americans than adaptogens. They are a bridge that can carry us over stressful situations with our health intact.” — David Winston

Please note that I am not a nutritionist or medical expert, so I cannot offer my advice regarding any serious ailments; it’s always best to seek expert advice for health concerns. This is just me sharing my favorite finds in hopes of inspiring greater ease through harmonizing treats.

Adaptogenic herbs, also simply called adaptogens, have been used for thousands of years to nourish and balance the body, particularly the immune and adrenal systems. Adaptogens can be found in various forms, including capsules, powders, tinctures, and the herbs themselves.

As stated in this post from Mountain Rose Herbs, “When taken daily as a tea or extract, these herbs can help improve your mental functioning and allow your body to adapt more easily to stressful situations, relieving an overactive adrenal response.”

The herbs, however, “cannot replace the benefits of good restful sleep. These herbs are of better use to our health and healing when paired with the appropriate need or used as gentle tonics.”

Basically, adaptogens can nourish with antioxidants, provide mood-boosting and hormone-balancing benefits, impart energy and resilience, and stabilize overworked bodily systems—but they're not cures or replacements for overall well-being via restful sleep, a well-balanced diet, and visits with your doctor.

If you love your morning coffee, mid-day pick-me-up, or evening tea, these adaptogen drinks might awaken your curiosity (and your taste buds). They truly are beautiful to look at. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to try something new.

5 Wholesome Adaptogen Drinks to Brighten Your Day

1. Adaptogenic Hazelnut Latte

A morning elixir from The Green Life.

Ingredients:

For full instructions with yummy-looking photos, go to the original post recipe here.

“We need to wake up and fall in love with the Earth.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

2. Vegan Pink Moon Milk

A dreamy sleep tonic from Heartbeet Kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces almond milk (preferably homemade)
• 4 ounces unsweetened Montmorency tart cherry juice
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ashwagandha powder
• dried culinary rose petals

For full instructions with (pink) photos, go to the original post recipe here.

3. Golden Milk Cocoa

A warming and restorative drink from Local Milk.

Ingredients:

• 2.25 cups milk (or milk alternative)
• 1/4 cup cocoa, sifted
• about 2 tablespoons turmeric
• about 1 tablespoon ashwagandha powder
• about 1/2 cup honey or to taste
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or ghee, divided (1/2 T per mug)

For full instructions and photos, go to the original post recipe here.

“In herbalism we don’t ascend, we deepen.” — Jesse Wolf Hardin

4. Magical Adaptogenic Matcha Latte

A magical-looking recipe from Breakfast Criminals.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 teaspoons matcha powder
• 2 cups brewed Indigo Herbs astragalus tea as the base, you can also use hot boiled water
• 1 heaping tablespoon coconut manna or coconut cream
• 2 scoops grass-fed collagen peptides (skip this to make a vegetarian version)
• 1 teaspoon Indigo Herbs maca powder
• 1 teaspoon Indigo Herbs Ashwagandha powder
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder
• Optional: 1 teaspoon MCT oil

For full instructions with (green) photos, go to the original post recipe here.

5. Cocoa Tonic

A healing blend from In the Making by Belén.

(2 cups)

Base-recipe:

• 1 tablespoon raw Cacao powder
• 2 cups nut milk unsweetened (almond, cashew, macadamia…)
• 1 teaspoon Maca powder
• 1 teaspoon Tocos powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Reishi powder
• 1/2 teaspoon virgin coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon coconut palm sugar or maple syrup (optional, if you wish a sweet taste)
• A pinch vanilla powder
• A pinch Himalaya salt crystals

Additionals:

(Adding a pinch)

• Dried rose petals
• Ginger powder
• Cardamom powder
• Turmeric powder
• Cinnamon powder
• Cayenne powder
• Mucuna Pruriens powder
• Ashwagandha powder

For the full instructions with beautiful photos, go to the original recipe post here.

“They are good people to know, these plant people.” — Robin Rose Bennet

. . .

Tell me:

Which of these adaptogen drinks do you want to try?

Tell me in the comments. I read every single one, and I'd love to know!

With love,

Jen

P.S. Want a whole chapter of yummy recipes that are clean, easy, and help you fall asleep? Get my book Sleep Rituals for 100 at-home practices, including snacks worth savoring and sharing.