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Cocoa tea is a rich and flavorful breakfast drink, and years ago, tiny flour dumplings were actually boiled in the cocoa tea so that it was considered a complete meal by itself. Although this idea is less popular today, the same cocoa tea recipe is still used by many tea connoisseurs.

Ingredients

For this cocoa tea recipe, you are going to need the following: ½ cup grated local cocoa stick, 2 cups water, 1 cup milk, sugar to sweeten, vanilla, bay leaf, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1 tbsp. cornstarch.

Steps

The first thing you need to do to make cocoa tea is boil the water, making sure to include the cinnamon and bay leaf in the pot with the water. Boil for about 15 minutes, and then grate the cocoa stick and add it to the boiling water. Boil for another 10 minutes or so, and then add cream, and sweeten to taste.

Next, you want to mix the cornstarch with water, and slowly add this to the boiling water, making sure to stir frequently. Add the vanilla, then strain and serve.

Benefits

This tea is actually considered a type of health drink, because if you look beyond the froth, cocoa itself is filled with antioxidants that are able to prevent cancer, and studies have shown that, comparing the chemical anti-cancer activity in beverages known to contain antioxidants, cocoa has nearly twice the amount of antioxidants as red wine and up to three times the amount found in green tea.

Another study found that a substance in cocoa helps the body process nitric oxide, which is a compound that is critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure. Another study showed that the flavonols in cocoa are able to prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries, and making the blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots. It seems there are plenty of good reasons to enjoy a cup of cocoa tea.

Of course there are those who argue against these sorts of studies, saying that although cocoa and chocolate have been shown to offer health benefits that it is still best to avoid these ingredients altogether. Either way, with delicious recipes like cocoa tea, it is hard to stay away. Basically, as long as you keep your chocolate intake to a minimum and do not overdo it, you should not have any adverse health effects and you will still be able to benefit from what the nutritional value that cocoa and chocolate offer.