Gut-Healthy Horchata Recipe - ION*

Posted by ION* Guest Post on Apr 4th 2024

Horchata (pronounced ‘or-CHAH-tah’) is a popular and tasty sweet beverage made from a combination of grains, ground nuts, and spices. The drink is believed to have originated in Northern Africa, yet most of us in America are familiar with the Mexican-style version. It is often described as a “sweet rice milk,” traditionally made of rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. A great feature of horchata is its versatility, as different ingredients and milks can be used to modify the flavor profile. While horchata recipes may vary, they are relatively simple beverages and don’t require a long list of ingredients, many of which you may already have in the pantry. Hurra!

Most classic horchata recipes call for condensed milk, which typically contains refined sugar that can have numerous not-so-desirable impacts on our health. Excessive sugar intake is well-known to be detrimental to the body and is associated with adverse health conditions, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory diseases (1). What’s more, both hyperglycemia and excessive sugar intake disrupt the intestinal barrier, increasing gut permeability and microbiota dysbiosis, creating a disturbance in mucosal immunity that enhances infection susceptibility (2). Bottom line: too much refined sugar is “no bueno” for your gut health.

Decreasing refined sugar in our diets is a smart move, yet enjoying reasonable amounts of the delicious and nourishing array of naturally occurring sugars is a joyful part of life. So, to make the traditional horchata a win for our taste buds and our temples, we teamed up with our awesome, regenerative hemp farmin’ friends at Onda Wellness to concoct a gut-friendly, hemp-centric, and refined sugar-free version of the traditional drink, bolstering its health-boosting properties with Onda Whole Hemp™ Oil and ION* Gut Support.

Adiós horchata, hello hempchata!

Here’s a quick overview of our hempchata’s gut-healthy ingredients to enhance your sipping experience:

Onda Whole Hemp™ Oil goes beyond full spectrum by retaining the most dynamic array of hemp nutrients possible. It contains just two simple and pure ingredients: whole-flower hemp and MCT oil. Onda’s artisanal lipid infusion process requires attention and care to slowly craft this oil from verified regenerative lands. Moreover, due to this proprietary infusion process, Onda Whole Hemp™ contains gallic acid. This natural plant polyphenol has received significant interest for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that support the maintenance of intestinal health (3). Gallic acid for the gut health win! Onda Whole Hemp™ Oil also adds a delicious nutty and earthy flavor to the hempchata, infusing the drink with naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, antioxidants, terpenes, cannabinoids, and polyphenols. Ancient healing for modern times. This superfood ingredient is not your average hemp oil, and we’re excited for you to feel the difference.

Watch ION* make this tasty Hempchata beverage on Instagram.

Learn more about the other hempchata ingredients and their benefits

Hemp milk: Hemp milk is a nutritious non-dairy beverage typically made by blending water and seeds from the hemp (Cannabis sativa) plant. Hemp milk is very digestible, a great source of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, and contains all essential amino acids (critical for biological functions), making it a complete protein (4). Be sure to check the labels of store-bought hemp milk for making the hempchata, and choose an unsweetened option without questionable additives. Better yet, make your own hemp milk with our super easy and tasty recipe below!

Dates: Dates, aka “nature’s candy,” are the sweet fruit of the tropical date palm tree and have been a staple in Middle Eastern cultures for thousands of years. Studies have shown that dates act as a potent antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory (5). Dates are also high in fiber and may support brain function (6) and colon health (7). The rich and plump Medjool dates are often called the “Queen of Dates,” and act as the perfect healthy hempchata sweetener.

Cinnamon: A globally celebrated spice hailing from the bark of various species of cinnamon trees, cinnamon acts as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, lipid-lowering, and cardiovascular-disease-lowering compound (8). Cinnamon has also been reported to support cognitive function (9), may improve intestinal flora balance (10), and offers a delicious, warming flavor profile to the hempchata, an ideal spice to incorporate for feeling toasty and cozy during the colder months.

Cashews: Cashews, the third most produced nut worldwide, come from the cashew tree and are native to Northeastern Brazil (11). Cashews are a great source of unsaturated fats, fiber, vitamin E, minerals like potassium, and plant-based protein and can help manage cholesterol levels (12). Cashews may also improve gut health (13), and the heart-healthy fats add delicious richness and creaminess to the hempchata to support blood sugar balance and keep your mind and body satiated.

Vanilla: One of the most popular flavors in the world, vanilla is a fruit of the orchid plant (its only edible fruit), and is native to South and Central America and the Caribbean. Its long, dried brown bean pods can be scraped out for use in dishes and desserts, and the more commonly used (and less expensive) vanilla extract comes from macerating the beans and mixing them with water and alcohol. Vanillin (the main chemical compound of vanilla extract) has shown diverse bioactivities and preliminary research shows both antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as being neuroprotective, antifungal, antibacterial (14), and may offer gastroprotective effects (15). Vanilla’s warm and sweet flavor notes add a touch of aromatic elegance to this delicious bevy.

ION* Gut Support is a science-backed, all-natural daily wellness supplement that diversifies your microbiome, supports healthy digestion, defends from toxins, and improves nutrient absorption. When you take ION* before a meal or beverage, it uniquely acts as a carrier molecule.That means that ION* has the ability to bind to precious nutrients, helping deliver them to your cells to optimize cellular function, support energy, and improve your overall health. Practically tasteless and in liquid form, it couldn’t be easier to take a sip of ION* before drinking other liquids to boost the absorption of nutrients and get more “bang for your buck” from anything you consume. ION* is the perfect preceding enhancement to the recipe to help get these powerful nutrients into your cells so you can thrive.

How to make gut-healthy Hempchata

So now that you’ve learned some of the gut + overall wellness perks of our hempchata, let’s get on to the recipe!

Hempchata ingredients: Serves 4

3 cups hemp milk (home-made or store-bought)*

6 pitted Medjool dates, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes

⅓ cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water 30 minutes

1 tsp. ground cinnamon (plus extra for garnish)

1 tsp. vanilla extract (or the scrapings inside 1 whole pod)

2-4 droppers of Onda Whole Hemp™

½ tsp. sea salt

Cinnamon sticks for garnish

Method:

Boil two cups of hot water. Place dates and cashews in a heat-safe bowl and cover with boiling water. Allow to soak for at least 30 minutes to soften. Drain.
Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender and mix until smooth*
Taste and add additional dates (or raw honey) if more sweetness is desired, or ice cubes if a thinner texture is desired.
Optional: strain liquid with cheesecloth for a smoother and lighter consistency.
Best served chilled or over ice. Will be thick and creamy!
Serve with a dusting of cinnamon and swirl of a cinnamon stick.
Take a shot of ION* Gut Support or add it into your drink ;)
Relax and enjoy with those you love! (store any extra in the fridge in a mason jar for a few days).

* To make homemade hemp milk, blend 1 cup of hulled hemp seeds (aka ‘hemp hearts’) and 3 cups of filtered or spring water with a pinch of sea salt. Optional: Add 1-2 pitted dates as a sweetener. Straining the mixture is optional if you prefer a thinner texture. You can store the hemp milk in a glass jar in the fridge and enjoy it within one week.

Pair this tasty beverage with your favorite Mexican fare and tag us on social at @intelligenceofnature and @ondawellness with your own hempchata creations.

Cheers to your gut health!

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