Summer favorites with cold cacao drinks

Summer is right around the corner, and so are all the fun, flavorful iced drink recipes you can create with cacao. Whether you've been on a health kick or simply looking for new ingredients to add to your favorite drinks, here are two you should have on your radar this summer: cacao nibs and cacao powder. Both provide several benefits and can be worth adding to your diet.

How to use cacao powder

If you don’t know already: cacao powder comes from cacao beans. It’s ground down into a powder you can enjoy with iced drinks or pastries.

There are many ways to use this ingredient in your favorite summer drinks. Since it's ground down to a powder, you can easily throw it into the blender or an iced shake or frozen drink.

How to use cacao nibs

Cacao nibs are the chopped version and are considered to be the least processed cocoa product you can get your hands on. They’re peeled and crushed cacao beans. Cacao nibs are considered a healthier alternative to your favorite chocolate chips. Just a lot less sweet! Some studies suggest that cacao nibs in the raw form will help you maximize the health benefits.

If you’re on the hunt for easy-to-make recipes that expertly blend cacaos into healthy drinks that you can enjoy all summer long, you've come to the right place.

Here are a few of the go-to summer drinks we have on our list:

Cacao Tea

Cacao tea is a great, healthy tea that pairs perfectly with a summer afternoon breeze. The best thing about this recipe is you have an opportunity to truly make it your own. If you like it on the sweeter side, add more sweetener! If you enjoy the bitter taste of cacao nibs, add some more in! The choice is yours.

What you’ll need:

• 1-2 tbsp cacao nibs
• 2 cups water
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Sweetener of your choice
• Unsweetened milk

You’ll want to bring your 2 cups of water to a boil. Add in the cacao nibs for about 5 - 10 minutes. After, strain the nibs, and add in your desired amount of the other ingredients.

Before you throw out the nibs, you may want to save them! You can save them for another recipe.

Iced Chocolate

If you love chocolate, this is a must-try. This recipe is a refreshing iced beverage that turns a few ingredients into a decadent yet refreshing chocolate beverage.

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup plant-based milk of your choice
• 2 tsp Cacao powder
• 2 tsp maple syrup
• Ice
• ⅓ Hot water

The maple syrup is a great add-on that helps balance the bitter taste of the cacao powder you choose. You can choose to have some fun and add in cinnamon or vanilla essence to upgrade the taste. Once you have all of the ingredients, all you need to do is mix everything together. You may need to grab a wisk to remove any unwanted clumps and to ensure a smooth texture.

Mocha Latte

Need an early morning pick me up to start your day? You’ve come to the right place. This iced mocha latte is the perfect complement to any morning. It has a smooth, bold, and delicious taste and is easy to make at home.

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup coffee
• ½ milk of your choice
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp cacao powder
• Ice cubes

You’ll want to start by brewing your favorite cup of coffee. Once it’s cooled down, you can boil the water, mix in cacao powder, and whisk everything together.

Once the lumps are dissolved, you can add the maple syrup and pour it into your milk of choice, and there you have it! The perfect mocha latte. With just one sip, you’ll be hooked all summer long!

Cacao Nib Green Smoothie

Need a morning pick-me-up that’s jam-packed with nutrients? Try this Cacoa Nib Green Goddess smoothie. It contains the perfect amount of protein, fiber, and antioxidants to help you start your day on the right track.

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup of frozen kale
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp cacao nibs
• 8 oz. milk of your choice
• Ice

The best part about this iced summer drink is how easy it is! All you need to do is add everything into a blender and mix it to perfection. Start your day with this smoothie or blend it together for a midday pick-me-up or a refreshing drink after the gym. No matter what you choose, you’ll get to experience the nutritious sensations of cacao nibs.

Mint Cacao Nib Smoothie

If you’re obsessed with mint chocolate chips but are looking for a healthier way to enjoy them, you’ve come to the right place. This mint cacao nib smoothie is a mint lover’s paradise. It's a great dessert drink that can be shared with the whole family.

What you’ll need

• 4 dates
• ¼ cup of raw almonds
• 2 tbsp hemp seeds
• 1 cup of riced cauliflower
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Ice
• 1 cup of non-dairy milk
• 1 tbsp cacao nibs

Add all ingredients into a blender except for the cacao nibs and ice. Blend it until it creates a smooth and creamy texture. Then, add in the rest of the ingredients until everything is smooth.

For an extra added touch, you can throw some of the cacao nibs on top of the smoothie as a garnish! In the end, you’ll have a delish mint and chocolate smoothie you can share with your friends and family.

Watermelon Chocolate Smoothie

Before you decide to look the other way… we’re here to say that watermelon and cacao powder are the perfect combinations you never knew you needed. It’s refreshing yet rich, providing the best of both worlds in one delicious smoothie!

What you’ll need:

• ¼ watermelon cut into cubes
• 3 tbsp fresh basil
• 2tbsp cacao powder
• 2 dates
• 1 cup of milk of your choice

Add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until it’s smooth. If you like your smoothie on the thicker side, you can choose to add more milk or ice as you please.

Once it’s ready, add a basil garnish and enjoy! This mixture is one of the best ways to enjoy the best of both worlds: summer and chocolate flavors!

Cacao Cold Brew

Who doesn’t love a cold brew on a warm summer day? Cold-brew can be a refreshing way to get a caffeine kick to start your day. Some mornings can be too hot to enjoy your go-to cup of joe. Instead, you may trade-in for a cold brew.

What you’ll need:

• ¼ cup coffee
• 1 tbsp ground cacao nibs
• 1 ½ cups of water
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon

To get started, combine all of the ingredients into a bowl or a french press. Make sure everything is mixed together well before leaving it in the fridge for 12-20 hours.

When the time is up, straight the mixture with a coffee filter, fill up a glass, and enjoy!

Caribbean Cocoa Tea

Looking for a cocoa tea full of chocolate accents and spices? Try this Caribbean Cocoa Tea. It has a robust taste of chocolate, with a warm, spicy touch. Perfect for weekend mornings when you’re looking for a relaxing way to start your day.

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ½ cup of cacao nibs
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 cup of milk of your choice
• 1 tbsp condensed milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Nutmeg

You’ll want to start by bringing the 2 cups of water to a boil with the bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Reduce it to a simmer and let it cook for 15 minutes. Next, add your cacao nibs. You’ll want to either roast or ground the cacao nibs before adding them in. Let it simmer for another 10 minutes. Add milk into the tea and stir it in for another 2 minutes.

Lastly, add your vanilla extract and nutmeg. While it’s simmering, you’ll want to mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch and cold water into a bowl. Once everything is done, you can pour your cacao tea through a sieve.

Give it a taste test to make sure it’s sweet enough, and enjoy!

Avocado Cacao Smoothie

We all know that cacao nibs can be rather bitter. For this avocado cacao smoothie, that bitter taste is the perfect complement to all of the other flavors that are alive in this smoothie.

This avocado cacao smoothie is the perfect midday energy boost. It’s filled with the perfect blend of bitter and sweet and is packed with the nutrients you need to get through the summer day.

What you’ll need:

• 2 bananas
• 1 avocado
• 1 cup of chocolate almond milk
• 1 tbsp cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp cacao nibs

All you need to do is add all these ingredients into a blender and blend until it’s smooth and creamy! You can add some cacao nib garnish on the top and enjoy!

Hot Chocolate Slushie

Who said hot chocolate was just for the winter weather? It’s easy to make and mix with your favorite cacao powder mix. You can sip it by the pool, after work, or throughout the weekend whenever you need a chocolate fix.

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups of milk of your choice
• 3 tbsp. Cacao powder
• 3 tbsp. Sweetener of your choice
• ⅓ hot water

Add all of the ingredients into a medium saucepan and stir over medium heat until it becomes smooth and silky. Then, pour your milk of choice into the mix and continue to stir until the milk gets frothy or bubbles form.

Take the mixture and transfer it into an ice cube tray to go in the freezer overnight. In the morning, pour a cup of hot chocolate into a mason jar, add a lid, and put it in the fridge. The next day, you can mix everything together, and add it into the blender until it has a slushy consistency.

Get started with CocoaSupply

Didn't see a summer drink recipe on this list that stood out to you? Don't worry! When it comes to cacao powder and nibs you can easily switch them with each other. Keep in mind, it cacao is usually bitter, so you may need to play with a sweetener to get it to your liking.

At Cocoa Supply, we have a range of cacao nibs and cocoa powders that are ready to complete all of your iced drinks this summer. All of our cacao products are ethically sourced from sustainable small farms and are quality ingredients you can use with confidence. Shop our wide collection today so you can get a head start on your summer favorites.