T O D A Y on M Y S T I C A L M O N D A Y
By Adriana Ayales
Many folks have been asking lately on how they can upgrade their sweet tooth with appetite curving herbs. There’s not really a particular herb that completely curves your appetite, but more of a lifestyle that you can shape that’ll prevent you from desiring a sugar bomb. Of course we have amazing fruits like the miracle fruit, that when eaten it causes sour foods subsequently consumed to taste sweet. If you don't happen to have this miracle fruit growing in your back yard, you should load up your fridge with cacao rich ingredients with actually good sweet sources, that won’t spike your glucose (and provoke dis-ease!)
I love combining cacao with mushrooms as they’re perfect for each other. It has been said that cacao is a good precursor for mushrooms, supporting a deeper digestion of the mushroom chemistry. Real cacao can also help with stress, as well as balancing hormones, just like mushrooms. Adaptogens help the body adapt from stress and daily stressors by having a normalizing effect on the body, and preventing damage from potential cortisol build-up.
Azetc Secret: Cacao & Mushrooms
The psychoactive effects of cacao perfectly blend with those of medicinal mushrooms. It is a combination that has been used for thousands of years by the Aztec tribes of Central America for its synergizing effects. The cacao introduces a mild MAO-Inhibition, which intensifies the profound medicinal effects of the mushrooms, but there is more to than that. Cacao is considered a teacher plant on its own by Aztec priests, using it as a vehicle to access higher states of consciousness. And, when consumed in sufficient amounts induces a very distinct state of mind, what most people would associate to the 5th dimension or tantric consciousness. This dimension or consciousness is associated to the "one love" mind, where we access deep spiritual wisdom through the opening of our telepathic and intuitive gateway. Cacao in combination to mushrooms have been known to open the heart chakra, and meridian, allowing the heart-mind to merge to a higher level.
On a Medicinal Level, cacao is an activating component to the break-down of mushroom chemistry. For example, Reishi, known as the mushroom of immortality, has been extensively studied for its polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are believed to stimulate white cells and the immune system and possibly be involved in preventing new blood vessel growth, which has an anticancer effect because cancer cells growing rapidly need a good blood supply and encourage blood vessel growth to nourish them. Reishi, like cacao, and other medicinal mushrooms are usually cooked for long periods of time to activate, in order to fully take advantage of its chemistry. Yet, many believe that the combination of the raw cacao with the fresh mushrooms have a powerful effect on the mind and body. A high grade cacao can "unlock" the mushroom chemistry and provide a whole other medicinal and psychological effect. Try it out and let us know how you feel!
Here’s an exquisite recipe that you can play around with. Sub with what you have available, and top it off with your favorites to make it beautiful and delicious.
ADAPTOGENIC BLISS BALLS
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted cashews
1 1/2 cups coconut pulp (leftover from making coconut milk, can sub almond pulp or other nut pulp you have)
1 cup of pitted Medjool dates
1/3 cup raw cacao powder
3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted at room temp
1 tablespoon Reishi powder (optional, you can sub with other superfood of choice, maca or mesquite are quite good too for a more malty + energizing taste profile)
1 tablespoon Adaptogenic mushroom powder
a pinch of salt
potential toppings: Qi adaptogen protein powder, matcha powder, cacao powder, maca powder, rose petals, coconut dust/flakes , hibiscus powder (our mangosteen hibiscus is delicious too!), bee pollen, calendula petals, and beyond!
Process:
Throw the almonds into a food processor. A blender works too, but Im a huge lover of food processors for balls as they come out particularly fluffy and good. Pulse on medium a few times or press for about 20 seconds, to have them finely chopped (but not totally ground).
2 Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse on medium a few times, and then let it go for another 30seconds or so until you see the ingredients come perfectly together. I like keeping it slightly chunky, but that’s up to you.
3 Place “the batter” in the fridge to cool off and harden a bit. Then roll into balls after about 30 minutes of cooling off.
4 To finish, dust with delicious stuff like cacao nibs, rose petals (or any flower petals you love!), bee pollen toasted coconut, bee pollen, cacao nibs, flower petals, or flakey salt (Maldon salt is my favorite for desserts).
5. You’ll probably devour them quite fast. Or you can store them in the fridge to keep them good. You can also not refrigerate them, and store in an airtight container. Id suggest this if you’ll be eating them within a couple days, if not just store them in the fridge.
Bring to a party or pack your lunch box armed with powerful herbs!
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*OUR 25% off sale runs until midnight tonight (PST) on all of our adaptogenic rich products!
Same code! iamfree
And! Be sure to check out the amazing events coming up
at our apothecary in Brooklyn!
See below and click here for more
Thursday April 12th - CACAO CEREMONY & REIKI EXPERIENCE
Sunday April 15th - CHA DAO TEA CEREMONY
Tuesday April 17th - RECHARGE: KUNDALINI FOR KAPHA SEASON W/ ABHAIJOT
Saturday April 21st - MAKE YOUR OWN CRYSTAL-INFUSED NATURAL FRAGRANCE
Thursday April 26th - SPRING ENERGY RENEWAL SOUND
Saturday April 28th - BREATHE, DETOX AND HEAL
