The newest coffee craze is legal and very possibly has many health benefits

We all need to remember that CBD does not contain THC, meaning one won’t get “high”. The calming, mindfulness, and preventative health benefits of CBD continue to unfold in research

Consider:

• Drinking CBD coffee in the morning in order to blend the, sometimes, jolting effect of coffee with the calmness of CBD;
• The side effects of coffee – withdrawal, anxiety – headache  – can be avoided with CBD infused coffee;
• There are now many brands of CBD, but some may include THC and Sativa;
• Many local coffee shops are adding a CBD blend to their own label and yes, it is legal in all 50 states. (Personally, I add drops directly to my morning coffee.);
• The range of proven health challenges successfully treated with CBD are impressive – from epilepsy   to depression to neurodegenerative diseases to diabetes to chronic pain.

Brew your coffee – add some CBD – drink to good health!

Of course, my favorite of the winter drinks are hot chocolates and various coffee beverages, and lately I’m seeing punched-up versions of each all over the place—like spiced hot chocolate with star anise, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg and red pepper flakes, or mocha hot chocolate with espresso powder and vanilla. If you feel like an adult version of hot cocoa, try adding a splash of Bailey’s to your recipe of choice—or there’s always Nigella Lawson’s “Alcoholic Hot Chocolate” recipe (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/alcoholic-hot-chocolate-recipe/index.html), which incorporates vanilla, brown sugar, honey and dark rum into the already almost-perfect combination of milk and dark chocolate.

The most famous of the hot chocolate drinks, though, is New York City institution Serendipity’s frozen hot chocolate (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Frrrozen-Hot-Chocolate-Serendipitys-Best-Kept-Secret-109560). People come from all over the world to taste it (and break their diet resolutions); really, it’s what put hot chocolate on the map and elevated it to a gourmet beverage from a home cook’s favorite. Click on the link above for a version of the restaurant’s recipe and enjoy.

I love coffee drinks, too, and Brasserie Belge here in Sarasota has the art of decadent caffeinated beverages down to a science. The restaurant’s Belgian iced coffee with vanilla ice cream is just as easy to make at home as it is to order off the menu; serve with a spoon and enjoy. Similarly, the classic Italian affogato—hot espresso over ice cream or, even better, gelato—makes for a delicious after-dinner drink. If you’re in the mood for something cold, how about a Kahlua-spiked frozen mocha latte, courtesy of Bon Appetit? (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Kahlua-Spiked-Frozen-Mocha-Lattes-360236)  Kahlua, espresso, cocoa powder and vanilla combine to form an ultra-decadent drink that, when topped with whipped cream, is guaranteed to send you straight to coffee heaven.

Do you love coffee drinks and hot chocolate drinks as much as I do? What’s your favorite twist to put on these classic beverages?