the best charcoal latte

For those that know me... you get my passion for health & always aiming to improve it #cantstopwontstop. It might be a slight obsession, but HEY, you benefit too ;) …because once I try something I love, I post it here!

Take for instance this new concoction: the charcoal latte. I've had thoughts of activated charcoal for a while now. I've had it sitting in my Amazon cart forever, but until now could never pull the trigger on the purchase. I'm glad I finally said ‘YES’ because life will never be the same as we know it.

But first... 

WHY ACTIVATED CHARCOAL?

Activated charcoal is a miraculous toxin remover. Essentially, it binds to toxins, then excretes them out of the body. (This is because the body cannot absorb or breakdown charcoal, so it just simply passes through the body—but grabs the bad stuff on the way out!)

The foreign/toxic particles are safely trapped in the pores of the charcoal structure, and normally, digestive enzymes break down material, but here, the enzymes are prevented from reacting with the charcoal, reducing the risk of the toxins (or more like poisons…) being remetabolized and reintroduced. Phew!

Fun fact: Charcoal can absorb up to 200x its own weight in toxic material!

(Side note: I actually was first intrigued by it for its health properties ON the body (we'll save some experimenting with it this way for a future post), but ever since I went to Park City, Utah last September and had a charcoal latte, this sole (soul?) purpose of, instead, putting it in the body…and then this post was born!)

So not only are you going to be sipping the coolest looking latte, but you’re also going to experience this awesomeness:

• body cleansing

• detoxification

• toxins being pulled from the body and carried out of it via the elimination process

Plus, I think it enhances the latte taste… or maybe my brain just wants to believe that because of how good it is for the body ;)

Here's how you can make your own at home!

CHARCOAL LATTE

Makes: 1

INGREDIENTS:

• 1-2 shots of espresso (store-bought or homemade, we use this espresso machine)

• 1/4 to 1 tsp of activated charcoal (here's the one I bought because it's in a glass container)—work up to 1 tsp, starting at 1/4 if it’s your first time trying it

• 1 cup of ice + milk of choice (my faves in order from best to ok: oat, soy, cashew, almond)

• optional add-ins:

  • sweetener (I love a splash of maple syrup or cane juice crystals)

  • vanilla bean powder

  • 1 tsp of anima mundi vegan collagen booster

  • and to add another health notch: a dropper full of chaga extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Brew or buy your espresso shot(s).

2. Add your activated charcoal to the espresso shot and stir to combine. Remember: If you're just starting out, try 1/4 tsp and eventually work up to 1 tsp (this will also determine how dark your latte is!)

3. In a tall glass, fill 3/4 full with ice and add in milk of choice (+ optional other add-ins) + any sweeteners & add-ins, leaving about 1-2 inches of room at the top.

4. Add your charcoal espresso shot to your glass of milk and ice.

5. Stir to combine.

You might have a hard time "holding back" on this drink like me, but when something taste SO GOOD... you just gotta go for it!

Next up: playing in the field of ON the body with this key ingredient, so stay tuned. I promise I won't turn you into a dark monster on the outside as well as the inside ;)

xo char