Give your favorite winter drink a major flavor upgrade with additions like matcha, cardamom, turmeric, and goji berries.

Golden Matcha-Cacao

Serves 2

1 teaspooon matcha

3 tablespoons cacao powder

1¾ cups almond milk

½ teaspoon turmeric

4 ounces chopped cacao liquor or 80% dark chocolate chunks

Black pepper

Bring 1 cup of water to a simmer and add to a small bowl. Whisk in matcha and cacao powder until completely smooth.

Heat 1¾ cups almond milk over medium heat until simmering. Reduce heat and add ½ teaspoon ground turmeric and 4 ounces chopped cacao liquor (or 80% dark chocolate); stir until melted.

Add to matcha-cacao mixture and whisk together.

Divide between mugs and sprinkle with black pepper.

There is a difference between cacao and cocoa. Which one is best?

If you're a matcha fan, you'll love these unique, delicious matcha recipes.

Spicy Coconut-Cacao

Serves 2

2 tablespoons cacao powder

1 tablespoon organic coconut sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground green cardamom

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

a pinch of cayenne

2 cups coconut milk

Stir together ingredients in a small pot and bring to a boil while whisking.

Add 1 tablespoon cacao nibs to each of two mugs, then pour boiling mixture into them. Stir well until melted and combined.

Goji Berry-Cacao

Serves 1

10 ounces almond milk

1½ tablespoons cacao powder

1 tablespoon sweetener (like maple syrup, yacon syrup, coconut sugar, monk fruit)

1 tablespoon goji berries or goji berry powder

½ teaspoon vanilla extract (or vanilla powder)

1/8 teaspoon raspberry extract

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 teaspoon reishi mushroom powder

Add to a blender. Blend on high for 5 minutes, until foamy and hot. Heat in a saucepan over medium heat if needed.

Here are our registered dietitian's favorite natural sweeteners with added nutritional value. 

Recipes courtesy of shape.com