Medicinal tonics are one of the best parts of my mornings. There’s nothing quite like the ritual of slowing down in the morning and preparing a cozy hot drink before starting your day. Too often, people tend to mask malnutrition and prop themselves up unsustainably by guzzling coffee on the way to work. Not that coffee is evil—it’s all about your relationship to it and how you use it—but this matcha tonic provides a real energy boost through nutrient-dense and tasty ingredients without the crash or jitters. Coconut butter and collagen provide froth and additional nourishment, too!

Matcha can be great if you can’t tolerate much caffeine or are just having a break from coffee. The powder contains the whole leaf, so you really do reap the benefits of the whole plant: crazy high levels of immune-boosting antioxidants (10 times the amount of regularly steeped green tea), EGCG, polyphenols, l-theanine, catechins, vitamins A & C, potassium calcium, iron, and less caffeine than a cup of coffee (about 1/4 the amount, and the effect is less harsh!). That being said, I don’t immediately get out of bed and reach for a matcha to prop myself up, and regularly go days and weeks off of anything caffeine related since nutrients from food, high-quality sleep, electrons from barefoot grounding, and sunlight provide the base of my energy + life force.

 Ingredients

• 1 tsp organic coconut butter

• 1 tsp organic ceremonial matcha powder

• 1/2 tsp grass-fed collagen

• 1 raw pasture-raised egg yolk (optional)

• 1 tsp raw local honey, pure maple syrup, or organic cane sugar (optional)

• 1/4-1/2 tsp, or a few tincture drops of organic/wildcrafted adaptogen of your choice (optional)

• 1 1/2 cups spring water, or whole grass-fed milk, or grass-fed bone broth

Method 1 (blender method)

1. Place all ingredients into a blender and blend for 20-30 seconds until frothy, and coconut butter is broken up. 

2. Gently heat the mixture in a small saucepan on the stovetop over medium. Turn off the heat as soon as it starts to simmer. Don’t boil or this will overcook the matcha (and egg yolk if using), and destroy its nutrients. Serve warm! 

Method 2 (frother method)

1. In the serving mug, whip raw egg yolk with the sweetener (if using) until it forms a fluffy, custard-like texture. Add collagen, matcha and any other ingredients and whip them in to combine until smooth. 

2. Add a few spoons of hot spring water onto the mixture so it dissolves together.

3. Froth some raw milk or bone broth and pour it over the whole mixture. Mix well, and serve.

Tips:

• If using spring water or regular tea as the base of your tonic, you can add coconut butter and grass-fed collagen for froth and nourishment, but if you’re using grass-fed bone broth, you already get a rich and frothy beverage thanks to all the beneficial fats, and all the goodness is already naturally occurring in the broth!

• Possible adaptogens include: chaga, reishi, rhodiola, bacopa, lion’s mane (would be an excellent brain boost!), pine pollen, astragalus, turkey tail, rose, maca, and more. Rotate them depending on how your body is feeling or what it’s needing. Often I completely skip them and go through periods of multiple months without any of them as it gives me a chance to see what I no longer need.

• I rarely use sweeteners with my matcha due to preference, but a dab of raw local honey would be great if you prefer it.

• A matcha whisk or even a fork can be used instead of a blender, especially when travelling. 

• Enjoy as you let the morning’s light pour over your skin while barefoot on the earth, it’ll completely revive you.