Good Morning, Sunshine! A Moon Juice ‘Latte’ for the Vegan Set

Moon Juice founder Amanda Chantal Bacon. Photo: Courtesy The Rose Journals

“Reishi, cordyceps, pearl, and mucuna make my world go 'round.”

If you’ve been reading Yahoo Food the past couple weeks, then you can probably guess that this quote comes from juicing guru Amanda Chantal Bacon, owner of Los Angeles health food brand Moon Juice. We’ve talked to her about why she started eating raw, what good fermentation can do for your body, and what kinds of fats keep your energy high. Now, it’s time to discuss herbs, mushrooms, and other seemingly magical properties that go into the healing elixirs she makes each morning.

"I’m a big fan of having a warm drink in the morning," said Bacon, who feels that it’s less stressful on her body than a cold smoothie. "The warmth, a little bit of sweetness, the comforting aspect, the aroma of it, the energy that it gives me—that’s what I’m after.”

"People are disassociated from these medicinal herbs," she continued. Bacon was among those people at one point, but she decided to study such ingredients—look at them, smell them, taste them—and see how they affected her mood. Now her morning ritual involves warm, not boiling, water mixed with either ghee or energizing raw fats from nut butters or hemp seeds, and whatever herbs that will soothe what ails her.

Energy loss is something that ails most of us, especially in the winter months. Here is an energizing warm drink recipe that Bacon came up with for Yahoo Food. Make it, and feel restored.  

"Really, you’re meditating on it. You set the intention of: I’m energizing myself. Sometimes it’s even just 45 seconds, with a screaming kid, knowing I’m late for work, but still, I have that moment."

Maca is said to help with energy and particularly mental stamina.

Energizing Latte
Makes 1 serving

1 cup warm nut milk
1 tsp. reishi
2 Tbsp. raw cacao
1 Tbsp. maca
1/2 tsp. chaga

Mix all ingredients in a blender. Serve.

More advice on how to eat healthy: 

Why one juice guru started eating raw

What good fermentation can do for your body

What kinds of fats keep your energy high

What do you drink in the morning to get you going?