Cocoa tea is a warm drink made from whole cacao beans. Unlike many teas that come from plant leaves, cocoa tea uses cocoa beans (shell and nibs) to give it a rich chocolate flavor.
You can easily make cocoa tea at home and adjust the taste to your liking with a few quick tweaks. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the easy steps to make this comforting beverage in your own kitchen.
Whether you’re a chocolate lover or just looking for a cozy, hot beverage, cocoa tea might become your new favorite.
What is cocoa tea?
Cocoa tea is a hot beverage crafted by extracting flavors from cocoa beans, which are composed of a shell surrounding the cocoa nibs. Unlike traditional teas, which are typically derived from the leaves of various plants, cocoa tea utilizes the entirety of the cacao bean to create its rich and aromatic brew. This is very similar to the process of making coffee where flavors are extracted from ground coffee beans. In fact, there are several versions of cocoa tea that can be made. One made from whole cocoa beans, one made from just cocoa nibs (shell has been removed) and one made from just using the cocoa shell. You’ll have to try all three variations to see which you like best.
How to make cocoa tea
To make your basic cocoa tea from whole beans, start by roasting the cocoa beans. This can be done in a coffee roaster, toaster oven or conventional oven. Next, grind the cocoa beans, shell and all. This can be done with a spice grinder, blender or mortar and pestle. Grind the beans until they turn into crumbly bits, but be careful not to overprocess them since they will quickly turn into a paste if overworked. Overworking will release the fat from the beans and cause an oily layer to form on the surface of your tea.
Then, steep these prepared cocoa bits in hot water. How much and for how long depends on the desired intensity, so you’ll have to experiment a little to see what you like. This steeping process allows all the flavors in the cacao bean to dissolve into the liquid. Use a tea ball/infuser, french press or strainer to remove the cocoa bean bits before drinking.
The end result? A cozy, comforting drink that’s all about the rich taste of chocolate, minus the sugary sweetness you’d find in hot chocolate.
The role of cocoa in cocoa tea
Cocoa solids are the main ingredient that gives cocoa tea its unique chocolatey taste. Cocoa beans are typically ~50% fat (cocoa butter) and ~50% cocoa solids (cocoa powder). The fat is what gives chocolate its delicious melt-in-your-mouth texture, while the solids are what give chocolate its distinct flavor. When you use ground cocoa beans to make cocoa tea, the water soluble compounds will dissolve into the water and impart a chocolatey taste. They add a rich and aromatic chocolate flavor to the hot water, without any of the fat..
Even though cocoa tea isn’t as sweet as regular hot chocolate, it provides a natural cocoa taste that’s both comforting and refreshing. This sets cocoa tea apart from your typical chocolate beverages. Of course, you can always add sugar and milk to adjust the flavor to your desire.
Spicing up your cocoa tea
The ingredients for making a basic cocoa tea are typically simple and straightforward, ground cocoa beans and hot water. However there are a number of additional ingredients that can be added to adjust the flavor to your liking:
- Milk or a milk substitute (e.g. almond milk or coconut milk)
- Sweetener (e.g. sugar, honey, or stevia)
- Spices for added flavor (e.g. cinnamon or nutmeg)
Benefits of cocoa tea
Cocoa tea offers more than just a delicious taste — it packs a punch of health benefits too. Loaded with antioxidants, especially flavonoids, it fights off harmful free radicals and reduces oxidative stress. These antioxidants are great for your heart, improving blood flow and keeping blood pressure in check.
What’s more, cocoa tea contains theobromine and phenylethylamine, which can lift your mood and boost cognitive function.
Cocoa tea recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of ground cocoa beans
- 2 cups of water
Optional:
- 1/2 cup of milk or a milk substitute
- 1-2 tablespoons of sugar, honey, or another sweetener (adjust to taste)
- A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg (extra flavor)
Instructions:
- Roast cacao beans until they are dry and fragrant. This can be done in an oven or a dry skillet over medium heat.
- Grind the roasted cacao beans to a fine or coarse consistency, depending on your preference.
- Bring two cups of water to a boil in a small pot.
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and add the ground cocoa beans.
- Allow the cocoa mixture to simmer for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the cocoa is well mixed with the water.
- After simmering, add the milk or milk substitute to the saucepan and stir well.
- Add your preferred sweetener. Stir until the sweetener is completely dissolved.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for an extra layer of flavor.
- Once everything is well mixed and heated through, strain the cocoa tea to remove all the cocoa bits. Pour the cocoa tea into mugs and serve hot.
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