Reishi Hot Chocolate

Anyone up for a cozy cup of hot chocolate?

There has been a lot of buzz in 2023-24 about commercial Reishi mushroom hot chocolate and coffee drinks. And for good reason! Ling Zhi/Reishi mushrooms are a powerful Chinese medicinal herb used for hundreds of years[1] to increase energy levels, strengthen the immune system, to fight acute and chronic viral infections and even cancer[2]. The Chinese have recently found it to have a good effect against Covid infections, and a particularly good treatment for long Covid, as it addresses both getting rid of the remnants of the virus and boosts energy levels[3].

When my friend Katie Stoyka and I first came up with this recipe at Mayway Chinese Herbs back in 2016, there were no commercially available Reishi hot chocolates. Intrigued by the idea of a medicinal spiced cocoa, we invented our own version, using the traditional cayenne and cinnamon from traditional Mexican hot chocolate, plus a few herbs from Chinese medicine. Katie favored almond milk, which keeps it plant-based and gives it a rich flavor without the milk fat. Although the recipe lends itself easily to substituting with other "milks" - coconut milk, soy milk, cow's milk, etc. We have used raw turbinado sugar to cut the bitterness of Ling Zhi, but raw honey or coconut sugar may also be used and bring their own health benefits. For those concerned with blood-sugar levels, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than turbinado, and Rou Gui/Cinnamon bark has been shown to reduce serum glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol.

Ling Zhi/Reishi mushroom translates to “spiritual mushroom” and was traditionally linked to immortality. In Chinese medicine terms, it calms the Shen, tonifies Qi and Blood, and nourishes the Heart. Rou Gui/Cinnamon bark is a strong warming herb that works to unblock cold obstruction, warm the Heart and Kidney Yang, warm the Mingmen, and encourage the generation of Qi and Blood. Tangerine peel/Chen Pi regulates the Qi and Middle Jiao and dries dampness. Cayenne powder ("La Jiao" in Chinese medicine), like Chuan Jiao/Sichwan pepper, strongly warms the interior, it also stimulates the appetite and promotes digestion. A perfect combination for cold winter days!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (may substitute cow's milk, coconut or soy milk)

  • 1 Tbs unsweetened cocoa

  • 1½ Tbs turbinado sugar (may substitute slightly more coconut sugar or raw honey, and increase to taste)

  • ½ tsp reishi extract powder/Ling zhi/Ganoderma lucidum fungus (can easily be found online)

  • ½ tsp cinnamon powder/Rou gui/Cinnamomum cassia bark

  • ¼ tsp tangerine peel extract powder/Chen pi/Citrus reticulate peel

  • 1-2 dashes cayenne powder/La jiao/Capsicum annuum fruit

*Note that several herbs are extract powders. The herbs have been decocted and concentrated into powder. This is different from powdered herbs, and although they can be used interchangeably for taste, an extract powder will have all of the medicinal qualities.  I highly recommend Mayway’s Plum Flower brand Reishi extract powder.

Directions:

  1. Place almond milk in a saucepan and heat on medium-high flame until steaming.

  2. Turn off heat and add all other ingredients (cocoa, sugar, herbs and spice).

  3. Whisk until frothy and pour into your favorite mug.

  4. For fun, serve with a cinnamon stick for stirring.

Enjoy!

 

[1] Ling Zhi/Reishi or Ganoderma mushroom is actually a very recent addition to the Chinese medicine herbal materia medica, which goes back thousands of years.

[2] Ganoderma lucidum suppresses growth of breast cancer cells through the inhibition of Akt/NF-kappaB signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15489214/

[3] The Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) Can Combat Cytokine Storm and Other COVID-19 Related Pathologies: A Review  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37183915/

Reishi Hot Chocolate image