Just when I thought I’d never find a substitute for my terrible morning coffee ritual (ie, addiction), I discovered the maca latte miracle in a mug.
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This pumpkin version is spiced up like a pumpkin pie, frothy, and soothing. I honestly prefer this to coffee! What’s more, maca is incredibly health supportive.
What are the benefits of maca powder?
- Maca is considered an adaptogen, meaning it has the ability to tone down over-active systems and boost under-active systems in the body.
- Maca can normalize the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which helps people cope with both physical and emotional stress.
- Other potential benefits of maca: reducing blood pressure, increasing fertility, boosting mood, reducing erectile dysfunction, and increasing libido.
- It can even help regulate body temperature, say goodbye to cold hands and toes!
There’s really nothing complicated about this drink. You need to blend it because the maca root powder clumps together if you try to stir it in.
How to make a pumpkin maca latte
Start by adding the pumpkin puree first so it doesn’t splatter, follow with the coconut milk and boiling water (has to be hot – hot). You can add pumpkin pie spice or a combination of whatever you have (1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp ginger, a small pinch of clove).
Blend until you see a uniform orange hue (see photo below).
Pour and enjoy hot with a garnish of freshly grated nutmeg. Enjoy it while it’s nice and frothy in a heavy duty mug (I think it adds a little something extra).
How to Create the Highest Quality Maca Drink for Health
- Since the spirit of drinking maca lattes is supporting our bodies, I recommend sourcing organic pumpkin puree with no added ingredients to reduce exposure to toxins.
- Look for maca powder or gelatinized maca powder in the health section of your grocery store. It’s also available online via the affiliate links. It’s about $10 per bag, but it lasts forever because a little goes a long way.
- Use canned coconut milk, preferably without the guar gum if you are avoiding starch or additives. Stir the coconut milk first, then measure.
- By adding boiling water to the blender, you don’t have to heat the drink, preserving more of the nutrients.
- Use freshly grated nutmeg and pre-ground pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger) that are less than 1 year old. Spices lose their potency when exposed to air, particularly nutmeg. Hence, the suggestion to grind your own. By the way, whole nutmeg lasts for years.
- I love using a microplane to grind nutmeg. If you don’t have one, then just top with a pinch of cinnamon instead. Note that you can buy pre-ground nutmeg, just know that it loses all flavor in less than 6 months.
While you can make this maca latte with fresh squeezed nut milks, I really love the hypoallergenic nature of full fat coconut milk in this drink for its rich, frothy texture.
More Healthy Recipes You Might Like
- Cuban Ropa Vieja (Slow Cooker Shredded Beef) – paleo, gluten free
- Essential Green Smoothie – gluten free, vegan, paleo
- Miracle Chicken and Zucchini – gluten free, paleo
Pumpkin Maca Latte
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree (this is a level cup)
- 1 cup canned coconut milk stir then measure
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tbsp maca root powder
- 2 tsp maple syrup or raw honey
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon *may substitute 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice for all spices
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger or to taste
- 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg or to taste
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients directly into the blender and blend on high for 20 seconds until uniform in color and frothy. Pour into mugs and enjoy warm with freshly grated nutmeg on top.
Nutrition
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