Hot drink suggestions?

[COTK]

I usually don't like hot drinks but last year I *loved* peppermint hot chocolate and am now more open to the idea of hot drinks. I like the idea of curling up with something warm and relaxing...

This year I'd like to find a different drink besides hot chocolate as there is lots of sugar in it. I *don't* like teas, I've given them an honest try in the past. Coffee on the other hand, I've not really tried. I don't really think I'll just jump in with straight up black coffee, but would like to try some flavored stuff. I've never had a cappuccino or latte, or anything else like it. What are the differences between them all? What would be a good thing to try? Something creamy and sweet, but obviously not too sweet....

Also a question about caffeine: is it bad for you even if your body doesn't react to it? Is it still addictive or harmful?

I really like apple cider, too, but it still has lots of sugar in it. I've never actually compared the amounts of sugar in cider vs. chocolate.

[easygoinmomma]

I think you might like a steamer. It is basically steamed milk with flavor add. There are all different kinds, my favorite is a pumpkin steamer. It kind of tastes like pumpkin pie. Another favorite of mine is a chai latte. YUM!

[mountainash]

There were some yummy hot drink recipes in the Martha Stewart magazine for October.

[LadybugSam]

i know you said that you don't like teas, but have you tried it with milk? A some hot tea with milk, a little sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top is my favorite :)

[TuneMyHeart]

apple cider

chai tea

we make lemonade with honey and drink it hot in the winter.

[musicmama]

Well I looooooooooooove tea, so that'd be my first choice ;) Lik PP's have said, have you tried it with honey/milk? I *love* Earl Grey tea with sugar/honey and milk. NOT skim milk, it basically tastes like watered down tea then! Or chai sweetened with milk, too.

A latte is espresso and steamed milk with a dollop of foam. A cappuccino is espresso and foam with a splash of milk (altho you can get a "wet" cappuccino which is more milk). There's nothing sweet about either of those unless you sweeten them. If you're talking about lattes and cappuccinos out of the machines at the gas station, just resign yourself to drinking hundreds of calories and fat. :lol

If you were my customer ordering at Starbucks, I would probably encourage you in the way of a flavored latte (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut), caramel macchiato, or get the peppermint hot chocolate with maybe just 1 or 2 pumps of mint. Our hot chocolate isn't too bad calorie wise (except the signature hot chocolate which is like diabetic coma in a cup :yum) A tall nonfat, no whip hot chocolate has 190 calories in it, I think 2 pumps of peppermint would add 70 calories. A tall nonfat, no whip vanilla (pr caramel, or toffeenut, etc) cream is 150 calories. I believe the pumpkin has more calories (like the white mocha) but it shouldn't be like 10000 more or anything

Another drink that is deeeeeeeeelicious and completely rediculously high in calories is the caramel apple spice. But it's yummy!

[Grower08]

HI:)

The coffees at a coffee shop are pretty much the same ideas.

But to start with the most basic drinks: Latte - it's just espresso and steamed milk. Cappuccino is espresso, steamed milk with an inch or two of foam (from the steamed milk)

So after that - a mocha is chocolate syrup, espresso, and steamed milk (topped with whip cream) - Vanilla latte - latte w/ vanilla syrup (same as carmel, hazelnut, etc).

Breve is steamed 1/2 & 1/2 and espresso.

Macchiato is a layered drink - vanilla syrup, steamed milk, foam, espresso on the top (and carmel drizzle if it's a carmel macchiato).

So - IMO I would say stay away from coffee (and caffeine) because 1) expensive 2) yes it is addictive (therefore more expensive) 3) imo - it's just not that great for you.

If you are worried about calories - you'd have to order the coffee drinks skim, SF (then you get aspartime), and to be caffeine free - decafe. After that - what's the point?

You'd think I had worked at a coffee shop before....... ;)

The other suggestions - cider, steamer, chai (with soy!! YUM), are great options. Next time I see you we'll go to a coffee shop and make you try a chai. :)


:heart

[newday]

i love Dandy Blend.
it is an instant drink that is a little bitter like coffee, chocolate, tea - no joke. It is yummy, you can drink it cold or hot, mix it into cocoa to cut the sweetness AND it is nutritive. (dandylion is a very good liver tonic)
even my hard core espresso drinking dh thinks it is tasty.

[mountainash]

The other suggestions - cider, steamer, chai (with soy!! YUM), are great options. Next time I see you we'll go to a coffee shop and make you try a chai. :)


:heart

:think Can you make chai with cider?! That might rock! (On of the recipes in that Martha Steward article was for creamy vanilla infused cider with whipped cream on top. I've been secretly obsessing about it. When i read your post it occurred to me to put my chai tea into hot apple cider with some vanilla and whipped cream on top. Squeee!!)

[sprout]

i adore soy steamers...super yum.

[Lily2584]

You can get cider with no sugar added, that way there is no artificial sweetener, but it cuts down the calories and sugar. There is a farm market here where the Amish make no sugar added cider. Oh it's heavenly!

I second the steamer suggestion. My mom and I made strawberry steamers, very yummy!

[Grower08]

:think Can you make chai with cider?!

At the coffee shop that I used to work at as a college student, we called that a "chai-der" and yes it was super yummy!

[Katelynn]

Idrink hot lemon and honey maybe you can do a herbal tea my favorite is Orange Spice tea.

[RiverRock]

There are already a lot of great suggestions here, but one to consider is licorice spice tea with milk. It's naturally sweet! :yum

[AlishaRose]

If I am not in the mood for tea or something milky then I have hot vimto, hot berry squash or fresh orange juice warmed up and mixed with some boiling water.

[Lady TS]

Idrink hot lemon and honey maybe you can do a herbal tea my favorite is Orange Spice tea.

I've been drinking a lot of teas lately, and Bigelow's Orange Spice is my current favorite. Make sure you get the Bigelow brand, though. I accidently got the Lipton one the other day, and it's not herbal, it's a black tea with flavoring. :sick Totally not the same!

---------- Post added at 12:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------

i love Dandy Blend.
it is an instant drink that is a little bitter like coffee, chocolate, tea - no joke. It is yummy, you can drink it cold or hot, mix it into cocoa to cut the sweetness AND it is nutritive. (dandylion is a very good liver tonic)
even my hard core espresso drinking dh thinks it is tasty.

Is this a powder, like instant coffee, or is it more like a tea that you brew?

There is a store nearby that sells it, and I sure could use some liver support and such...so am thinking about trying it! :)

[Can'tTurnLeft]

I'm also a big fan of Dandy Blend. It is Good! I've roasted dandylion roots before and made some of my own. Delish! I like it with hot milk with a little bit of chocolate in it.


I also love to have a hot buttered rum or hot toddy at night during the winter. Or hot chocolate (not hot coco eww) with a splash of rum or frangelico.

[KLin]

A friend gave me a tisane that was dried fruit and herbs. Strawberry and rose hips were in it. It was like a tea with out tea. One was Mediterranean pomegranate. ;)

[newday]

I've been drinking a lot of teas lately, and Bigelow's Orange Spice is my current favorite. Make sure you get the Bigelow brand, though. I accidently got the Lipton one the other day, and it's not herbal, it's a black tea with flavoring. :sick Totally not the same!

---------- Post added at 12:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------



Is this a powder, like instant coffee, or is it more like a tea that you brew?

There is a store nearby that sells it, and I sure could use some liver support and such...so am thinking about trying it! :)


dandy blend is instant.

erin, how did you make this yourself??? (recipe?)

[Radosny Matka]

hot apple cider. ;)

[Can'tTurnLeft]

erin, how did you make this yourself??? (recipe?)

http://www.prodigalgardens.info/dandelion%20coffee.htm

I've also added chicory to mine because I like the flavor. I guess my homemade isn't exactly dandy blend, but it is yummy :)

[Barefoot Bookworm]

I am not a tea fan but I'll drink chai tea every single day.