General/ Recipes

Warm beverages

soychoco

As the temperature drops in some parts of the world…. it’s about that time to start a higher consumption of warm beverages. Sure there are so many pre-made and made-for-you options in retail outlets, but warm beverages made at home are even more heart-warming!

Here’s a list of a few warm beverages you can easily whip up for your guests, friends, relatives, and loved ones:

1. Hot chocolate! This is every choco-a-holic’s favorite. There is of course a great variety of vegan “milks” to choose from, so experiment away! Here are a few suggestions: hemp milk, almond milk, hazelnut milk, soy milk, oat milk, and rice milk. The trick to good hot chocolate is to use the highest quality chocolate you can find. I prefer unsweetened chocolate or bittersweet chocolate, that way you can adjust the sweetness. Melt some of this chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave and gradually add some hot vegan milk. Whisk until it is combined. Add more hot vegan milk to change the degree of chocolatey-goodness. If necessary, add some sweetener (agave syrup, maple syrup, evaporated cane juice, dark brown sugar, etc.). For a tropical hint, add some coconut milk! If plain chocolate is too plain for you, consider the wide assortment of flavors that can be added: vanilla, orange, and mint might be the best extracts or syrups. Add in a dash of cinnamon if you want more spice. If you’d prefer an alcoholic version, add a shot of your favorite cordial/ liqueur. No matter how you mix it up, it will be wonderful!

2. Spiced cider! Find your favorite apple cider or apple juice, or make your own! I’ve had some tasty pear cider too that would work well with this concept. Also, you can mix up a cocktail of an apple base with some tart berry additions like cranberry, cherry, etc. Find a spice ball and fill with your favorite spices: whole cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon sticks broken into pieces, orange peel, etc. Simmer the juice and/or cider on the stove with the spice ball for at least 15-20 minutes for the flavors to develop. Serve with a swizzle stick of cinnamon! Yum!

3. Chai! So often these commercial mixes include a wonderful assortment of spices that you can easily mix up at home. Find your favorite basic tea, whether it’s a black tea like English Breakfast or Ceylon or Assam, or a green tea like Dragonwell or Sencha–you decide! Fill a saucepan with water and bring the water to a gentle simmer. In the meantime, fill a spice ball with some spices like cardamom, black pepper, cloves, ginger, and allspice. Add the tea in teabags or in a tea strainer. Add the spices and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Remove the tea. Add in some vegan milk if desired and warm the whole mixture. If necessary to sweeten, mix it all up while still in the saucepan. As you experiment with different spices, feel free to reuse some of the combinations with slight tweaks. Yum!

4. Vegan nog! I bet you’re catching on to how easy this can be! Oh how easy. Find your favorite vegan milk, like soy, rice, oat, or hemp. Find that spice ball (by now, you are intimately familiar with it) and add some cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. Since nog is thicker, you may wish to add some creamer (Mimic Creme, Silk Soy Creamer) or coconut milk. Add in sweetener of choice. Simmer on the stove for, oh right, 15-20 minutes! Before serving, add in some rum extract or real rum. Serve with a dash of nutmeg. Where’s the party?!

Now that you’re inspired, go out and make more heart-warming beverages! Your friends, family, and loved ones will be so appreciative they’ll ask you to make more. Drink up!