Hot Chocolate - for your dosha type!

With Easter this weekend and chocolate treats a holiday favourite, why not try a healthier hot chocolate option suited to the lingering winter weather?

According to Ayurveda, diet & lifestyle choices need to be in line with your dosha type - Vata, Pitta, Kapha.  When you eat according to your constitution and live in tune with the seasons, it is easier to find balance, and divert breeding health issues.

Hot chocolate is an all-time favourite for adults & kids alike.  Try customizing this warm comforting drink according to your dosha type.  If you're not sure what your dosha type is, there are various online quizzes such as: www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/prakriti-quiz/

Of course it is best to have a thorough assessment with an Ayurvedic practitioner to understand the subtleties of your dosha type - your current state (vikruti), your original constitution (prakruti) and everything in between.  You may be born as a Kapha type, but be manifesting Vata dosha currently. Or you may be a Vata-Pitta type manifesting strong Pitta symptoms for example.

You can still enjoy hot chocolate without knowing your dosha type, however understanding your dosha will allow you to customize it just the way your body likes ! Try the recipes below and tell us what you think:

Hot Chocolate - Basic Recipe

• 1/3 c. water + 2/3 c. organic milk (or almond, coconut, rice, cashew, soy milk etc.)
• 1 Tbsp organic cacao powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or scrape of vanilla bean (optional)
• organic cane sugar, honey, maple syrup to taste

Bring the water and milk to a boil, and add the cacao powder and simmer until well mixed. Turn off the heat and add sweetener.  Make variations according to your ayurvedic dosha type.

Hot Chocolate - Vata variations

Vata individuals do well with warmth, a little spice and healthy oils. They generally tolerate dairy well, unless there is a dairy sensitivity in which case almond milk is a great option.  Since they generally have sensitive nervous systems and may not tolerate caffeine, carob powder can replace cacao.

• Basic hot chocolate recipe (milk or almond milk)
• 1/2 tsp ghee (optional)
• Sprinkle of nutmeg, or cinnamon or clove (warming spices)
• Dash of cardamom (supports digestion)
• Whip cream (optional)
• Sweetener: honey

Hot Chocolate - Pitta variations

Pitta individuals tend to have too much heat in their system and don't do well with excessive heating spice. They need options that are cooling (not necessarily in temperature, but in quality of foods). Mint and coconut are two variations that are cooling and blend well with hot chocolate.

• Basic hot chocolate recipe (milk, almond or coconut milk)
• 1/2 tsp dried mint leaves  (boil in the basic recipe and strain)
• 1/2 tsp of coconut oil (optional)
• Sweetener: maple syrup

Hot Chocolate - Kapha variations

Kapha types do not tolerate dairy well as it leads to increased congestion. They do well with warming food and drinks, including spices. Sweets should be limited - honey is a suitable sweetener as it has warming properties. Kaphas should avoid dairy or sweets during the Kapha time of the day (6am-10pm and 6pm-10pm).

• Basic hot chocolate recipe (alternate milk or smaller proportion of milk to water)
• A pinch of cinnamon or clove powder to warm Kapha
• A pinch of ginger powder (optional)
• Sweetener: honey

If you have any other suggestions of hot chocolate variations, please write your comments below !

To learn more about Dr. Leena Athparia, ND contact Naturopathic Foundations at 905-940-2727 (Markham) or Yuri's Village at 416-466-5773 (Danforth).  A complimentary 15 min meet n greet is available to learn more how Naturopathy and Ayurveda can help you.

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