Peppermint Cacao is your holiday-in-a-cup, minus the chaos, plus an added dose of calm, joy, and did we mention it’s freakin’ delicious? Drink Peppermint Cacao when... You’re craving a peppermint hot chocolate but want to avoid the heavy dose of sugar in traditional mixes (ours has zero sugar!) The holiday cheer is tipping more towards holiday chaos, and you need a moment to unwind, connect in, and do something really really kind for yourself You had a big holiday meal and you could use a little digestion boost (thanks, peppermint!) You’re seeking to connect to what matters most this holiday season and give your mood a boost in that direction How does it taste? Like a healthy peppermint hot chocolate. One of our team members says it tastes like an Andes chocolate bar. And Now, A Word from Our Founders “Every winter, I say to my kids ~472 times, ’The Spirit of the holidays is kindness, generosity, gratitude, & cheer.’ (KGGC) (Commence mom-rant about what each of those things mean.) I told Chief Herbalist Ben I wanted “holiday spirit in a cup”—herbal support for easier KGGC access during a time when stress is most likely top of mind. While Peppermint Cacao won't change holiday mayhem, it will help you grow your heart & celebrate your immutable human spirit.” —Lopa, Founder and CEO “Aromatic plants like peppermint & tulsi have been used for millennia to release tension & help us be present in the face of chaos. I added more adaptogens + happy herbs like sceletium and cacao, so you can sip sweet reminders to connect with your heart & to what matters most.” —Ben, Co-Founder and Chief Herbalist Try this little exercise as you drink a cup of Peppermint Cacao. Pour yourself a cup, &... Sip 1: Think of one way you can be kind to yourself or others (& then do it, after savoring your Peppermint Cacao!) Sip 2: Think of one way you can show generosity to yourself or others. Sip 3: Think of one (or two or three or ten!) things you are grateful for. Sip 4: Think of one thing that makes you smile. Close your eyes and really see that thing, & name a few reasons it makes you smile. OK, now...do it: SMILE! With your face. AND your heart. Now take that feeling and go make the world a little brighter, you infinite sparkle of possibility! (And you can drink the rest of the cup now... way to make those first sips count!) Additional Herbs O’ Cheer Tulsi (Holy Basil) Extract 2.5% Ursolic Acid, 75 mg For thousands of years, tulsi has been regarded as one of India’s most powerful and sacred plants. This Queen of Herbs is considered the plant embodiment of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of abundance and generosity. This aromatic beauty is also an adaptogen! And studies have shown that tulsi has a unique ability to both help us destress and calm down while also promoting cognition and focus. During the holiday season, tulsi helps us let go of hectic energy and sweetens our ability to give and receive from the heart. Gynostemma Extract 10:1 extract, 75 mg In the mountains of Southern China gynostemma (or jiaogulan in Chinese) is a traditional tonic for enhancing endurance, pushing off fatigue, and supporting the immune system during the winter season. We now know that gynostemma has a lot of the same adaptogenic compounds as the famous adaptogen ginseng. These ginsenosides, as they’re called, go a long way in explaining the calm but bubbly energy this sweet tasting leaf imparts. Sceletium Extract (ZembrinTM), 20 mg Sceletium is a traditional and sacred plant of the San and Khoikhoi peoples of Southern Africa. Used for generations both in healing ceremonies and celebrations, and also daily for deepening social connection and a sense of well-being, this desert succulent is quickly becoming one of our favorite herbs. It's part of the sunshine in Super Happy Sunshine and we included it in this limited edition blend to bring some extra joy and light to the dark months ahead. Modern pre-clinical and clinical studies have discovered that sceletium’s mood-enhancing abilities come partly from the plant’s influence on serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is known to help regulate mood, and maintaining normal levels of this neurotransmitter can have wide-ranging benefits on stress, sleep, and cognitive function. NOTICE: Do not use this product if you are taking SSRI antidepressants. Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Consult your healthcare provider prior to use if you have a medical condition. Wait, there’s more?!? There sure is, well, only a little bit more...you can read the sourcing story Ben wrote about the exquisite peppermint we use in this blend over on the blog, or if you're more of a "snackable" content person, check out our Instagram posts about Peppermint and Tulsi.
