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    Home » Recipes » Beverages and Cocktails

    Modified: Jul 3, 2024 · Published: Mar 10, 2018 by Willow Moon · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

    Cacao Tea

    Jump to Recipe Pin Video

    Curl up with this healthy subtly chocolate Cacao Tea on a cold winter day. Add a pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a splash of almond milk, and you have a delightful chocolaty flavored tea to keep you warm.

    Cacao Tea in a mug with spoonful of cacao nibs in foreground.

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    If you are like me and have cacao nibs sitting in your pantry, then you can have Cacao Tea in minutes. I use them in smoothies, overnight oats, and in trail mix.

    Since cacao nibs have a bitter taste, I like to sprinkle them on a frozen banana and top it with pecans, coconut flakes, and frozen raspberries. Sometimes I also add a chocolate peanut butter sauce. The result is a balance of sweet, tart, bitter, and rich flavors.

    Cacao Tea has a subtle chocolate flavor, unlike rich Hot Chocolate or sweet Hot Cocoa. You can make it stronger by adding more cacao nibs or boiling the water for a longer period of time.

    Add a pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a splash of almond milk, and you have a delightful chocolaty flavored tea.

    It's laughable how many different kinds of tea that I have. I have actually been clearing out my tea stash, but at one time I probably had 30 different flavors.

    Jamaica (Hibiscus) tea is popular where I live. I happen to have a large bag of hibiscus flowers. If you have never had Hibiscus, it tastes a lot like cranberry juice.

    Since it is so tart, I like to combine it with something rich and sweet.

    Matcha green tea is another tea that I usually have stocked. Besides making it into a Matcha Latte, I add it to smoothies. I also have added it to some Matcha Banana Pancakes. It adds a very subtle green tea flavor.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You'll Love It
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • Other Ways To Use Cacao Nibs
    • Other Warm Recipes
    • Other Hot Drinks
    • 🎥  Video
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why You'll Love It

    • It has a wonderful chocolate flavor.
    • It's made in minutes and you can customize it to your liking.
    • You can reuse the cacao nibs by adding them to a smoothie afterward.

    🧾 Ingredients

    Cacao tea ingredients on a cutting board with labels.
    • Cacao nibs: Add a chocolate flavor.
    • Cinnamon and nutmeg: Add a warm spice flavor.
    • Stevia (optional): Adds a little sugar-free sweetness. You could also use maple syrup, agave syrup, or your favorite sweetener.
    • Almond milk (optional): I used a splash of unsweetened almond milk because I like to control the amount of sweetener. You could use your favorite dairy-free milk or vegan creamer.
    • Water

    To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

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    🔪 Instructions

    Cacao nibs boiling in water.

    Step 1: Add water and cacao nibs to a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Boil for 5-10 minutes.

    Cacao nibs being strained into a fine mesh strainer.

    Step 2: Strain the cacao nibs. Pour the tea into a mug and add, cinnamon, nutmeg, stevia, and almond milk if desired.

    Cacao Tea with cacao nibs in the foreground.

    Other Ways To Use Cacao Nibs

    • In smoothies for a crunchy texture
    • On vegan ice cream for a contrasting flavor
    • On pancakes with nuts
    • Topped on oatmeal
    • In a trail mix
    • As a topping for vegan yogurt
    • In cookies or other baked goods
    • In a fruit salad
    • In many of the same places chocolate chips and nuts would be used

    Other Warm Recipes

    • 3 Ingredient Vegan Chili
    • Vegan Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa
    • Thai Curry Butternut Squash Soup
    • Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
    Cacao Tea close up.

    Other Hot Drinks

    • Vegan Hot Chocolate in a mug with dark chocolate chunks in the background.
      Oat Milk Hot Chocolate
    • Maca Latte
      Maca Latte
    • Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate
      Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate
    • Turmeric Latte
      Vegan Turmeric Latte

    🎥  Video

    If you tried this Cacao Tea Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    If you like chocolate tea, I think that you will love this Cacao Tea!

    📋 Recipe

    Cacao Tea
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    5 from 5 votes

    Cacao Tea

    Curl up with this healthy subtly chocolate Cacao Tea on a cold winter day. Add a pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a splash of almond milk, and you have a delightful chocolaty flavored tea to keep you warm.
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Cook Time 12 minutes minutes
    Total Time 12 minutes minutes
    Servings 1
    Calories 40kcal
    Author Willow Moon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1-2 tablespoons cacao nibs depending on how strong you like your tea
    • 2 cups water
    • Pinch of cinnamon
    • Pinch of nutmeg
    • Splash of unsweetened almond milk optional
    • A few drops stevia optional
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Boil the water. Add cacao nibs and boil for 5-10 minutes (I boiled mine the full 10 minutes and used 2 tablespoons cacao nibs). Strain the nibs*.
    • Add cinnamon, nutmeg, almond milk, and stevia, if desired.

    Notes

    Don't throw out the cacao nibs - they can be added to a smoothie.

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 40kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 25mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Calcium: 15mg
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    *Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.

    More Beverages and Cocktails

    • Cherry Mojito in a tall glass with straw.
      Cherry Mojito
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      Lavender Mojito
    • White Christmas Mojito in two glasses.
      White Christmas Mojito
    • Chocolate Mojito in a glass with a straw.
      Chocolate Mojito

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Peter Doyle says

      June 18, 2022 at 8:05 pm

      Followed your recipe with just the nibs and water. I love it. You can keep your coffee this is sooooooo much better and I found the slightly sour tang quite refreshing. The chocolatey flavour more than compensates.5 stars

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        June 21, 2022 at 1:37 pm

        Thanks Peter, I'm glad you like it! I still have to have my coffee, but I love tea as well.

        Reply
    2. Rosalee Adams says

      August 30, 2021 at 10:46 am

      I have been using them daily on granola but this sounds delightful
      I also use cacao powder in coffee daily.
      A local store began carrying both (Navitas) and now I am hooked!!!!
      Thank you so much for this delightful take on chai like drink5 stars

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        August 31, 2021 at 9:40 am

        Thanks Rosalee! Candied cacao nibs and chocolate covered cacao nibs are also delicious! I posted both on here awhile back.

        Reply
    3. Tina says

      April 15, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      This is brilliant! I always have cacao nibs so I have been making this all week. So much cheaper than chocolate tea!5 stars

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        April 18, 2018 at 8:28 am

        Thanks Tina!

        Reply
    4. Brianne says

      March 13, 2018 at 3:14 pm

      This sounds soo good. It seems like the perfect tea to relax with and read a book.

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        March 14, 2018 at 2:26 pm

        Thanks Brianne!

        Reply
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