Hibiscus latte with ashwagandha recipe

In the pink

When you are in need of a moment of calm, there are few things better equipped to help than a warm drink. Sipped mindfully, with all mobiles, laptops and headphones off, it somehow seems to soothe us from the inside out. Perhaps that’s why a warm drink before bedtime is so popular in so many cultures.  Many of us relate it back to a the cups of warm milk or hot chocolate we would be given when we were children, in an effort to settle us down for a good night’s sleep.  Now we’re grown-ups, the desire for a a cup of something soothing and warm remains, but our tastes have changed. We’re open to more complex, satisfying flavours, and to learning from the influence of other cultures and ways of thinking.  This all comes together beautifully in our rosy ashwagandha drink. Warm almond milk provides the comforting backbone, while hibiscus tea provides a lovely floral flavour and pink colour.  Meanwhile, ashwagandha offers up its adaptogenic properties to help us move past the day’s stresses and strains, into a state of calm and relaxation.    

Making hibiscus tea

It’s really easy to make your own hibiscus tea at home. Strictly speaking, it’s an ‘infusion’, as there is no actual tea involved! Dried hibiscus flowers are available at a wide range of health shops and specialist grocers. You can usually find them in the spice aisle, along with the exotic herbs.  To make your own dazzling fuchsia tea, simply steep the petals in boiling water for a minimum of five minutes. Leave longer if you prefer a stronger flavour. Hibiscus tea is also lovely by itself. You can enjoy it as a hot tea or have it cold for a refreshing alternative to water or juice. It’s delicious served on ice with a thick wedge of lemon. We also use it to add colour and flavour to our sea buckthorn cocktail!    

All about ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb which has been used in traditional medicine for generations.  Scientists have linked ashwagandha to a number of impressive health benefits. However it seems to have particular strengths when it comes to helping you cope with stress and balancing your mood.  Ashwagandha is a plant and a member of the nightshade family. In Ayurveda, only the root of the plant is used. It is often ground into a powder and then mixed into a warm drink. In Ayurveda, the traditional way of taking ashwagandha is with milk. The milk acts as an anupana or vehicle for the ashwagandha. Milk is considered a good anupana for ashwagandha because it is naturally sweet and cooling.  With our latte recipe, we’ve taken that principle but made some modern-day adjustments, such as going for a plant-based milk, and adding some more flavourings.    

When to enjoy our latte with ashwagandha

While ashwagandha is commonly associated with better sleep and helping you to relax, you can enjoy it throughout the day as well. In fact, you can take our Organic Ashwagandha Powder up to twice a day.  Many people like to take it in the morning to help them prepare for the day ahead, and again in the evening to wind down.  Some people find that taking ashwagandha, especially on an empty stomach, can cause mild stomach upset. If you find that happens to you, we’d recommend taking it in the evening and making sure to pair it with a good anupana, such as milk.  Remember that, as with all adaptogens, it can take a while to see ashwagandha’s full effects. We recommend working ashwagandha into your long-term routine for best results. Ideally, you should take it every day for up to eight weeks. Thereafter, have a short break, to allow your body to ‘rest’ and return to its normal state.