Elixir Definition: A magical or medicinal potion.

Sounds good right? And definitely worth a try creating yourself. The arrival of Autumn means fall leaves, colder temperatures and getting back to our routines. It's also the season of hot drinks or, as the wellness world likes to call them, elixirs. Because, with their nutritional benefits and mood-enhancing qualities, they are so much more than hot beverages, and quite fairly could be described as magical. To support your autumn elixir game we've put together 6 delicious, collagen-containing recipes all in this one post. From Hot Chocolate to Golden Mylk to Pumpkin Spice Lattes, we've got all the instructions you need right here.

A few tips before you get started with making your own elixir:

• These recipes are simple, foundational hot drink recipes, but additions and substitutions are more than welcome. Get creative and doctor them up as suits your tastes and health needs.
• You can totally substitute 1 cup of heated non-dairy free milk in place of the cashews and hot water we use in several of our recipes. This means you can also forgo the use of a blender -simply whisk the ingredients together or shake in a jar.
• Soaking cashews (for at least an hour) before you blend them will make them easier to blend. Worth doing if you don't have a very powerful blender.
• These recipes are the perfect vehicles for adding adaptogens like ashwaganda, and warm spices like cardamom, ginger and cinnamon. Add them to taste to any of these recipes.
• By "nub" we mean a piece of ginger or turmeric approximately the size of the tip of your index finger to the first knuckle.
• MCT powder will be a welcome addition to any of these recipes. Or, you could substitute our MCT Collagen creamer in place of pure collagen. You can use 1-2 scoops of creamer per recipe depending on how much collagen you'd like. 1 scoop of our MCT Collagen Creamer contains 5 grams of wild-caught marine collagen and 5 grams of MCT powder.
• Feel free to substitute a sweetener of your choice. Dates, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, lacuma, and stevia are all good choices.
• These recipes all serve one. Simply double the recipe if you want to super-size your drink or are making an elixir for two.
• You can substitute powdered ginger or turmeric for whole food ginger root and/or turmeric root. 1 teaspoon will equal about one "nub".

So here we go!

1. Raw Whole Food Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 1 handful (about 15) raw cashews
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 scoop Sproos grass-fed or marine collagen (or 1-2 scoops Sproos MCT Collagen Creamer)
• 1 large medjool date
• 1 teaspoon raw cacao powder

Method: Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth and frothy. Pour into your favourite mug and enjoy.

2. Golden Mylk

Ingredients:

• 1 handful (about 15) raw cashews
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 scoop Sproos wild-caught marine or grass fed bovine collagen
• 1 scoop MCT powder (or 1-2 scoops Sproos MCT Collagen Creamer as a substitution for both the two ingredients above)
• 1 large medjool date
• 1 nub turmeric root
• 1 nub ginger root
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Method: Blend all the ingredients in a blender until frothy. Pour into your favourite mug and enjoy. Careful not to spill as turmeric can stain!

3. Pretty Pink Beet Latte

Ingredients:

• 1 handful (abut 15) raw cashews
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 scoop Sproos wild-caught marine or bovine collagen
• 1 scoop MCT powder (or 1-2 scoops Sproos MCT Collagen Creamer as a substitution for both the two ingredients above)
• ½ small peeled beet
• 1 nub of ginger
• 1 heaping teaspoon honey

Method: Blend up all the ingredients in a powerful blender. Pour into a mug and enjoy. Careful not to spill this one. Beets may stain, but they're worth it!

4. Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ingredients:

• ½ cup non-dairy milk
• ½ cup brewed coffee
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree
• 1 scoop Sproos wild-caught marine or grass-fed bovine collagen
• 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup depending on level of sweetness you prefer
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of ginger
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Pinch of allspice
• 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup depending on level of sweetness you prefer

Method: Heat all the ingredients in a pan over medium heat, whisking until hot, full blended and frothy. Enjoy.

5. Matcha Latte

Ingredients:

• 1 handful (about 15) raw cashews
• 1 cup hot water*
• 1 scoop Sproos Grass-Fed or Marine Collagen (or 1-2 scoops Sproos MCT Collagen Creamer)
• 1 tsp matcha**
• 1 tsp honey

Method: Simply blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender together until smooth and frothy. Pour into your favourite mug and enjoy.

*Let your water sit off boil for a couple of minutes to avoid burning the tea as it will lead to bitter-tasting matcha. If you have a temperature-controlled kettle, the optimal temperature for matcha is around 175F.

**An organic ceremonial grade matcha powder from Japan will give the best flavour and colour.