College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Xocolatl - Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate


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"I really enjoy this recipe. As a Kapha it gets me going in the morning. Question, Ayurvedic notes state: Chocolate is..."
- Vicki Los angeles, CA

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Reported by Natalie Immel Asheville, NC

How to Make Xocolatl - Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate

  • SERVINGS: 2
  • PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES
  • COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

2 c
2 tbsp
1/2 tsp
1/2 tsp
1 pinch

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and cook on low heat for five to ten minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

The cacao plant family "Theobroma" translates to "food of the Gods," suggesting the mysterious and divine qualities of chocolate. Chocolate was a symbol of life and fertility throughout pre-colonial Mesoamerica. Xocolatl was a luxurious and traditional Aztec drink which was used in religious ceremonies by priests and noblemen in ancient Aztec civilizations. Unlike modern hot chocolate, which is creamy and sugary, Xocolatl has a strongly medicinal bitter taste and actually means "bitter drink." Because of its stimulating and bitter qualities, this drink can be healing for heavy Kapha types but may be too invigorating for deficient Vata and too hot for fiery Pitta types. Chocolate is rajasic in nature and should therefore only be consumed in moderation by all doshas.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Xocolatl - Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Xocolatl - Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Metabolic Nature of Xocolatl - Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

GOOEY

ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Other

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Xocolatl - Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Numbs Anasthetic

NUMBS-ANASTHETIC

Inhibits sensation in a particular area.

SEE ALL 'NUMBS-ANASTHETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Warms Chest

WARMS-CHEST

Warms the chest and lungs, clearing mucus and allowing for clear breathing. Often these herbs are hot, aromatic, and pungent.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-CHEST' FOODS / HERBS

,
Soothes Throat

SOOTHES-THROAT

Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat.

SEE ALL 'SOOTHES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Aphrodisiac

APHRODISIAC

Herbs that increase sexual arousal through various actions including increased circulation, relaxation, stimulation, or tonics that strengthen glandular health.

SEE ALL 'APHRODISIAC' FOODS / HERBS

Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Coumarin

COUMARIN

Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory.

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

, Tannins,
Nitric Oxide

NITRIC-OXIDE

Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.

SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Flavonoids

FLAVONOIDS

Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect.

SEE ALL 'FLAVONOIDS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Catechins

CATECHINS

Antioxidant that reduces cancer and blood clots, dilates blood vessels, and is antimicrobial.

SEE ALL 'CATECHINS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Resveratrol

RESVERATROL

Antioxidant frequently used for anti-aging. Protects airways and blood vessels. Anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic.

SEE ALL 'RESVERATROL' FOODS / HERBS

,
Caffeine Methylxanthines

CAFFEINE-METHYLXANTHINES

Methylxanthines are purine alkaloids that have a stimulant and bronchodilating effect.

SEE ALL 'CAFFEINE-METHYLXANTHINES' FOODS / HERBS

,
Polyphenols

POLYPHENOLS

Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types.

SEE ALL 'POLYPHENOLS' FOODS / HERBS

, Fats

Foods with a Similar Nature to Xocolatl - Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate

  • Cinnamon

    Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy, Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Soothes-throat

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Muscle-relaxant, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Muscle-relaxant, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Muscle-relaxant, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy, Diuretic, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Daikon Radish

    Daikon Radish has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Diaphoretic, Warms-chest, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cloves

    Cloves has these Actions in Common

    Aphrodisiac, Numbs-anasthetic, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-chest, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Warms-chest, Numbs-anasthetic, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Diaphoretic, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Garlic (raw)

    Garlic (raw) has these Actions in Common

    Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-chest, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Celery Root

    Celery Root has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Stimulates-energy, Diaphoretic, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Alcohol

    Alcohol has these Actions in Common

    Aphrodisiac, Warms-chest, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Xocolatl - Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

    Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Pennyroyal

    Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Numbs-anasthetic

    LEARN MORE

  • Elecampane

    Elecampane has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Shower

    Hot Shower has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Bath

    Hot Bath has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • KapiKacchu

    KapiKacchu has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Aphrodisiac

    LEARN MORE

  • Shilajit Tonic

    Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common

    Aphrodisiac, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Epsom Salt Bath

    Epsom Salt Bath has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Wild Ginger

    Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Hyssop Powder

    Hyssop Powder has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

View Other Healthy Recipes for Spring

This recipe is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring recipes here.
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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

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Comments & Impressions of 'Xocolatl - Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate'

Do you like 'xocolatl - spicy aztec hot chocolate'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'xocolatl - spicy aztec hot chocolate'?

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 191 likes
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Vicki Los angeles, CA
2015-04-06
“I really enjoy this recipe. As a Kapha it gets me going in the morning. Question, Ayurvedic notes state: Chocolate is rajasic in nature and should therefore only be consumed in moderation by all doshas. I make half the recipe above and use unsweetened organic coconut milk. Is 1 cup a day considered "in moderation" for my type?"
Natalie Immel Asheville, NC
2015-04-07
“Vicki - it's hard to make a specific recommendation for you without a consultation. But, you can always listen to your body to determine if you are consuming this drink in moderation. Rajasic foods stimulate movement and sometimes anxiety, so moderate consumption of these foods for most people is advisable. You can read more about rajasic foods here: https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/herbal-action/Rajasic"
Kimberly Kubicke Asbury park, NJ
2017-11-27
“Sure!"
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