It's November, and we just set our clocks back by an hour. The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping, and we know that the next five months can be particularly trying when it comes to warding off colds and the flu.
But we also know that winter is a festive, romantic, and comfortable time when spent with people we love, savoring foods that warm us up, enjoyed in the comfort of our home or with friends.
This means now is an excellent time to introduce a new routine into our schedule. It's called the Afternoon Wellness Break and offers fifteen to twenty minutes when we benefit from an invigorating warming drink like an Elderberry Virgin Hot Toddy or a sophisticated Olive Leaf Tea.
This is not a radically new idea – particularly for me. As many readers may know, I grew up in Austria, and my mum and I firmly held on to our afternoon coffee and pastry break every weekday until I left for college.
But coffee at 5:00 pm isn't such a great idea any longer, and still I'm desperately looking to bring back this lovely, quiet moment of relaxing, catching up, and enjoying a healing drink and maybe light snack with a loved one or friend or by myself tucked into my favorite corner of the house wrapped in a blanket.
Plus, the holidays are approaching, and there may be plenty of opportunities when you want to use this time of the day for a fancy Acai Berry Mocktail. But use it you must!
Check out the 5 hot wellness drinks below all made in just minutes with our high-quality herbal extracts.
AnnaKare Full-Spectrum Herbal Extracts
Herbal extracts are a concentrated form of key plant parts, from the leaves to the fruits, flowers, and roots. The best extracts are made from fresh herbs harvested at the peak of their quality and using water and alcohol as solvents for extraction to ensure a pure and potent healing product.
When using herbal extracts, it is good to know how much herb is in your extract. Look at the herb strength ratio, also called weight-to-volume ratio. The first number is the weight of the herb and the second number is the volume of the solvent.
A 1 to 2 ratio is an excellent ratio allowing for optimal saturation of the extract. This is the ratio we at AnnaKare strive for.
Full-spectrum liquid herbal extracts capture all of a plant’s therapeutic qualities. We purchase whole plants from our valued network of organic and sustainable growers and wildcrafters and grind them in house when fresh before immediately steeping and extracting them in pure water and alcohol.
Due to their richness, our liquid herbal extracts for sale contain small amounts of herbal particles.
Note: Most recipes will make enough for a single portion. Let the hot drink cool down for one to two minutes before adding the herbal extract.
1. Elderberry Virgin Hot Toddy
Elderberry extract is sourced from the berries of the Black Elderberry, otherwise known as Sambucus Nigra. When the seasons change to colder weather, it offers great support to the immune system in fighting off sickness and has been shown to shorten the symptoms of a cold.
Elderberry extract neutralizes the action of hemagglutinin, an important task that prevents viruses from binding to the cell surface allowing them to take hold and make our bodies sick.
The dark berries are also high in flavonoids which prohibit the release of histamine and is why the extract is a recommended supplement when suffering from allergies.
The addition of our organic elderberry liquid extract to this virgin hot toddy makes an excellent warming drink that doubles as a cold fighter and immune strengthener.
Ingredients:
1 cup of water
¼ inch of fresh ginger – sliced or grated
¼ tsp of ground cinnamon or one cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
¼ piece of lemon
½ piece of orange
30 drops of AnnaKare Elderberry Liquid Extract
Honey to taste
Directions:
- Bring 1 cup of water to boil. Add ginger, cinnamon, and cloves and simmer at a reduced boil for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and squeeze in lemon and orange.
- Let cool down for 1 to 2 minutes before stirring in 30 drops of elderberry extract. Pour into a cup and add honey to taste. Enjoy!
2. Hot Turmeric Lemonade
Turmeric is known for fighting inflammation, including arthritic pain caused by inflammation within the joints. As it is full of powerful antioxidants, it also helps to fight off damaging free radicals, viruses, and bacteria, plus it supports healthy aging.
This hot lemonade with our rich extract from fresh organic turmeric root is a pleasure to enjoy often to support your joints, manage pain, and increase immunity.
Ingredients:
1 cup of water
¼ piece of lemon
Pinch of ground black pepper
30 drops AnnaKare Fresh Turmeric Liquid Extract
Honey or maple syrup to taste
Directions
- Bring 1 cup of water, lemon juice, and black pepper to a boil in a small pot on the stove. Whisk together and let simmer for five to ten minutes.
- Take off the burner and let cool for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pour into your favorite mug, add turmeric extract, and stir in preferred sweetener or leave without. Enjoy!
Did You Know? Black pepper aids in the absorption of turmeric’s beneficial compounds, specifically curcumin. This is thanks to a substance called piperine, which is found in black pepper.
Healthy fats also make it easier for the body to assimilate our already highly absorbable turmeric extract, which is why you may like to alternate this delicious turmeric lemonade with a cup of Golden Milk.
Learn more about the Benefits of Turmeric for the Immune System plus find a recipe for Turmeric Golden Milk inside this informative blog post.
3. Olive Leaf Tea
Olive leaves are an ancient herbal remedy used for their oleuropein component and are renowned for their antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. Olive leaf extract supports the immune system, detoxifies the gut, promotes a healthy heart, and helps heal wounds.
Rich in antioxidants, AnnaKare’s Olive Leaf Liquid Extract uses whole organic olive leaves to ensure the highest concentration. Enjoy 30 drops as part of this delicious tea. Bonus: This tea also includes Turmeric.
Ingredients:
1 cup of water
¼ piece of lemon
Pinch of cayenne pepper (leave out if you don’t like spicy)
Pinch of cinnamon
30 drops of AnnaKare Fresh Turmeric Liquid Extract
30 drops AnnaKare Olive Leaf Liquid Extract
Honey or maple syrup to taste
Directions:
- Boil water in a pot on the stove or in a kettle.
- Take the water off the boil, pour into a cup, and add lemon, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon. Let steep for 3-5 minutes.
- Once the water has cooled a bit, stir in turmeric liquid extract, olive leaf extract, and honey (if desired). Enjoy!
4. Adaptogenic Hot Chocolate
How comforting is hot chocolate? How much better is it when it’s healthy and still tastes amazing? Adding a dash of adaptogenic ashwagandha liquid extract to this hot chocolate recipe is a cinch and a great way to stay warm, strong, and more calm and composed all winter long.
What are adaptogens? An adaptogen is a plant that helps your body be better equipped to handle stress. While this can benefit your body in the case of work or life stress, it also helps your body become better at fighting off illnesses.
AnnaKare's Mushroom Master Blend Liquid Extract with Ashwagandha combines healing mushrooms with ashwagandha and licorice root for the ultimate adaptogen combination. Used as part of your long-term wellness routine, this hot wellness drink is especially recommended if you tend to feel stressed and/or need to recover from fatigue caused by stress.
Ingredients:
1 cup of your choice of milk
1 tbsp of unsweetened cacao powder
¼ tsp of cinnamon
30 drops of AnnaKare Mushroom Master Blend Liquid Extract with Ashwagndha
Honey or maple syrup to taste
Chocolate shavings or a small amount of mini marshmallows (optional)
Directions:
- Carefully heat milk in a saucepan.
- Let liquid cool a minute or two (to avoid scalding) before pouring into a blender with cacao powder and cinnamon. Blend for approximately 1 minute until drink is frothy.
- Pour into a mug and add Mushroom Master Blend Liquid Extract with Ashwagandha and sweetener (if desired). Stir well.
- Optionally top with shaved chocolate or mini marshmallows. Enjoy!
5. Acai Berry Bramble Mocktail
Acai berries are high in phytonutrients making them one of the most recognized antioxidant-rich sources around. As such, daily intake of this powerhouse fruit can help increase your immune system strength, promote anti-aging, help keep your brain cognition sharp, and rejuvenate your skin.
While the following drink may not warm you up, it’s a fun option for celebrating the holidays or a special occasion. If you do want to add some warmth to it, you may choose to add one ounce of a spirit of your choice.
Ingredients:
¼ cup of honey, agave, or maple syrup
1 cup of blueberries (plus extra for garnish)
A splash of water (if needed)
30 drops of AnnaKare Acai Super Berry Liquid Extract
2-3 ice cubes
1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice
1 to 2 cups of club soda
Mint for garnish
*Depending on your glass size, this may make 1-2 servings.
Directions:
- Combine honey (or other sweetener) and blueberries into a saucepan over medium heat – let simmer for 8-10 minutes. Stir frequently. Add splash of water if mixture gets too thick.
- Once the blueberries have popped, remove mixture from heat and let cool.
- Strain fruit mixture into a bowl.
- Add lemon juice and ½ cup of club soda and stir in 30 drops of AnnaKare Acai Super Berry Liquid Extract.
- Add ice cubes to a cup.
- Pour fruit/lemon/soda/extract mixture over ice cubes and top with more club soda to taste.
- Fill 1-2 mocktail glasses and garnish with extra blueberries and a sprig of mint.
Not only is the acai giving you an antioxidant boost, but so are the blueberries. This drink is a fun and delicious way to fight off those nasty free radicals in your body.
This winter, stay warm with some delicious, immune-boosting, antioxidant-rich warming drinks that will not only keep your tummy warm and your body strong, but will also soothe your soul.
Please note: Do not take certain herbal supplements when pregnant or nursing. Review the label instructions before use and consult with your health practitioner if you have a medical condition, take medications, or have any questions.
The statements in this article are grounded in natural wellness practices. They have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
