The best thing about cold weather is finding ways to warm up in it!
I admit it, I’m a warm weather girl and I live in Texas, so I’m a bit wimpy about the cold. To me, the best thing about winter weather is wearing boots and sweaters, sitting in front of a fire, and drinking hot tea. It’s the contrast between the cold outside and seeing how warm you can get inside… that’s what makes me happy.
There’s nothing better than wrapping your hands around a hot mug of a steamy cuppa something and letting the vapors rise just in front of your lips and nose. And on top of the delight to your senses, there are all those healthy benefits when you’re using 100% pure, therapeutic essential oils, too! Close your eyes and breathe it in… now there’s the best part of winter for you!
My favorite recipe for a warm drink using essential oils is actually pretty simple:
Thieves Tea:
A cup of hot water + two drops of Lemon Essential Oil + one drop of Thieves™ Essential Oil… that’s it!
Besides keeping me and my family healthy during the winter months, it’s comforting and tasty, too. We’ve all grown to love this simple tea recipe from some of the most basic essential oils, but recently I went in search of some more festive flavors of hot drinks using the beneficial oils we love. I found a few fun holiday ideas and recipes on aromatools.com and wanted to share them with you today… Enjoy!
Spiced Apple Cider with Essential Oil
Ingredients:
- 5 red apples
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp. ground allspice
- 2 drops cinnamon essential oil
Instructions:
- Wash apples thoroughly, remove the cores, and cut them into quarters.
- Place apples in a large stock pot, and add sugar and allspice.
- Add enough water to the pot to cover the apples by 3–4 inches.
- Boil the apples, uncovered, for one hour, stirring occasionally; then reduce heat, and simmer for two hours.
- Strain out the cider by pouring the mixture through a fine mesh sieve.
- Stir in cinnamon essential oil.
- Serve cider warm, or refrigerate and serve chilled.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar or other sweetener
- Pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup canned coconut milk (shake before opening)
- 1 1/2 cups milk (almond or rice milk work too)
- 1–2 drops peppermint essential oil
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, mix together the cocoa powder, salt, and sugar.
- Add coconut milk, and heat until combined.
- Slowly add milk while continuing to stir. Keep stirring until little bubbles start to form on the surface.
- Remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly. Stir in a drop or two of peppermint essential oil.
- Pour into mugs, and serve. Warning: it will be hot, so allow the hot chocolate to cool to a reasonable temperature before drinking.
- Top with whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate chips, or ground peppermint candy.
By the way, Peppermint is one of those hot/cold oils! Check out how we stay cool in the hot summer months in Texas!
If you’d like more recipes using the oils you get in the basic starter kit of Everyday Oils, here are some recipes for green cleaning, too!
Want to know more about Young Living Essential Oils — the purest essential oils on the planet? Click the image below.
