ココアルスト

I stir a spoonful into hot milk around 9pm and it's become my little wind-down ritual. The cocoa is rich without being too sweet, and that damiana undertone sneaks up on you about twenty minutes in.

The damiana gives this a mellow, almost floral undertone that pairs surprisingly well with the rich cocoa. I've been making a mug of it around 4pm instead of coffee and it's become my favorite part of the afternoon.

I was skeptical about a hot chocolate that claims to uplift, but the damiana gives it a gentle, calming buzz that cocoa alone never has. Made it with oat milk before bed and it was smooth, not overly sweet, and the perfect way to unwind.