FOOD FRIDAY: Brewed Roasted Cocoa Beans – Could this be love?

I cannot drink coffee, or even tea, regularly and that has put me at a disadvantage. I used to wonder why I seemed to have so much less energy than the rest of the world until I realized that most of the world is fueled by caffeine, and I am fueled by, well, sleep. I wasn’t even competing in the same league.

I also noticed that while I clamor for FOOD in the morning, my husband could drink a latte and not be hungry until lunch. But I think the biggest thing I missed out on by not drinking coffee was the routine. Coffee drinkers I know have all sorts of rituals: the coffee maker is set up at night to start brewing in the morning, luring sleepyheads to wake up with the delicious smell, or the coffee shop is a scheduled stop after the gym or on the way to work. It’s like they all had the promise of a secret pleasure to get them out of bed and I had, well, nothing.

All that has changed, my friends. I have a new fuel to energize my day, a new routine to get me up in the morning. Let me tell you about Crio Brü: roasted cocoa beans, ground and brewed like coffee. The taste is slightly bitter, like coffee, slightly chocolate-y, and when you pour it into your mug it smells like what I imagine Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory smelled like. Real coffee drinkers, like my husband, may turn their noses up at it but that is fine. More for me.

You can drink it anyway you would drink coffee: milk, sugar, half & half, black, but I use my immersion blender to whip in a bit of butter, cinnamon and turmeric to keep me feeling full and clear-headed all morning. And now I have a lovely routine to ease into the rigors of the day. I shuffle downstairs, sleepily boil the water and scoop the ground cocoa beans. By the time my drink is ready the chocolate smell has already made me happy and I am mostly awake. And that first sip…ahhh! The promise of a secret pleasure, fulfilled.

Crio Brü’s website lists all the health benefits of this roasted cocoa drink. It is full of anti-oxidants and zinc to boost your immune system, lots of magnesium and other minerals, and some natural chemicals to keep your mood elevated, your brain sharp and your energy level high. It can also help curb your appetite and support weight loss. Read more about it here: www.criobru.com

I order it online but you can look at the website to find stores that sell it near you.

The thought of a warm mug of Crio Brü gets me up in the morning and makes me smile. On this Valentines’ day Friday, I daresay, this could be love.