Could you use a shot of vitality in the mornings? Me too!
This four-ingredient drink is my secret weapon to energizing my body and mind at the crack of dawn (okay I don’t wake up that early, but you might!) and it’s my favorite way to use my garden mint. And don’t worry sleepyheads – it’s so simple you’ll have no problem making this in your morning trance!
First off, let’s go over the ingredients and discuss why this drink works so well as a morning boost.
1. Mint
Mint is packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that excite and fuel our bodies. Plus, it freshens breath, helps reduce inflammation and improves digestion. The scent alone is cooling, invigorating and stimulating.
2. Raspberries
Raspberries are an even greater antioxidant, vitamin and mineral-rich powerhouse. Plus, they supply us with loads of fiber and healthy carbs that kick all our body systems into high gear.
3. Matcha
Matcha is powdered green tea grown with a special shading technique to increase chlorophyll and L-theanine levels. It is an extra powerful form of green tea because you are actually consuming the entire tea leaf.
This superfood is an abundant source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Plus – the word you have been looking for – matcha has caffeine*! The absolute best wake-me-up quality of matcha, however, is the amino acid L-theanine. This amino acid takes the jittery energy of caffeine and funnels it into pure alertness and concentration.
If you don’t have matcha you can substitute regular green tea. And if you want to go caffeine-free, feel free to omit tea all together — this drink will still give you the oomph you’re looking for!
4. Water
Water is just as important to people as it is to plants!
I have dedicated the past three years of my life to investigating wellbeing science, anatomy, physiology, physiotherapy, yoga and other alternative health practices. The more I learn, the more and more it is abundantly clear that hydration is essential to good health and feeling great. Every single cell in your body requires water to function properly – hydrated cells equal less muscle and joint pain, more energy, and better immunity.
When I started taking my hydration more seriously, I realized just how much I drank beverages that dehydrate me (like coffee, tea, soda and kombucha) and how little I drank straight-up water. I knew I needed to find a way to consistently integrate more water into every day. That’s why I came up with a drink that is so simple and delicious that I genuinely want to drink it first thing, every morning! I think you will too 🙂
So, I’ve got a challenge for you: make this drink every morning for a week and enjoy it while you give your plants their morning drink too. Reflect on how you feel before and after the drink, and how you feel at the beginning and end of the week. Do you notice any differences? Let us know what your experience is like!
*A note on Caffeine
Caffeine is a diuretic, which stimulates your body to quickly pee out all the liquid you just consumed. That’s why caffeinated beverages tend to be dehydrating. However, there is a big difference between the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee (95mg) and the amount of caffeine in a cup of green tea (25mg) — green tea has about 75% less caffeine than coffee.
That’s why this beverage can include matcha green tea and still hydrate you, granted that you don’t double-up on the matcha included! However, if hydration is your main goal, reduce the amount of matcha you use or omit it entirely.
Ingredients
- 3-6 leaves fresh garden mint, whole/torn/or chopped
- ¼ to ½ cup frozen or fresh *raspberries
- ½ tsp *matcha green tea powder
- 20 ounces water
Directions
Place ingredients into your glass in this order: raspberries, mint, matcha and water. Stir until the matcha is dissolved. Pop in a straw so you can suck up raspberries as you drink, and enjoy!
Make it Your Own
*Substitute raspberries with any fruit you like. You can go seasonal with whatever’s growing in your garden or simply use whatever is in your fridge!
*Substitute matcha green tea powder with cold-steeped green tea (leave a green tea bag in cold water for at least 10 minutes, or overnight in the fridge). Feel free to sub in other tea flavours or leave tea out entirely for a caffeine-free option. The drink will still taste amazing and give you a boost of energy!
*This recipe is a basic outline, a starting point. Go wild adding and omitting ingredients until you find your perfect, healthy morning pick-me-up bevvy. Add lemon or lime, agave, aloe…just don’t omit the water!
