This post may contain affiliate links, which means Iāll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
This is the time of year when it is cold and cozy.
All you want to do is cuddle up with a warm drink while reading a good book or watching Netflix.
Instead of reaching for high sugary drinks that can diminish the health goals that you have been striving for all year, I have put together 7 cozy and healthy drinks for the winter that will not only warm you up but have amazing health benefits such as boosting your immune system and helping with your digestion.
Best Hot Drinks for Winter
1. Hot Chocolate
You are never too old to drink a good ole cup of hot chocolate. Hot chocolate is perceived as an indulgence but it actually has a lot of great health benefits if you use the right ingredients.
Starting with the milk you can use a healthier alternative such as almond milk which is low-calorie and dairy-free. But, if you are not an almond milk drinker, other options are low-fat milk, oat milk (my favorite), and soy milk.
Next up is cacao powder. The amazing health benefits of cacao powder include lowering blood pressure, decreasing inflammation, improving brain health, and so much more.
You do want to make sure you use a high-quality and unsweetened cocoa powder to reap the health benefits without the guilt.
Cacao Powder Recommendations
Hot Chocolate Recipes
- Love and Lemons Healthy Hot Chocolate
- Minimalist Baker Feel Good Hot Chocolate
- Ambitious Kitchen Healthy Hot Chocolate
2. Chai Tea Latte
One of my favorite drinks for the winter is a chai tea latte.
Chai tea is such a warming drink made of black tea and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, star anise, and black pepper.
The health benefits of chai tea include reducing blood sugar, aiding digestion, and helping heart health.
Normally when you buy a chai tea latte at a coffee shop it is filled with sugar from processed syrup and normally they use full-fat milk.
So, here is an amazingly healthy and homemade chai latte recipe.
If you prefer not to make a chai tea latte and want to have just a chai tea this is a great brand to try → Organic Masala Chai Tea Bags
3. Matcha Latte
Wellness gurus and high-performance entrepreneurs swear by their matcha and for good reasons the health benefits are extraordinary.
If you haven’t heard of matcha before, it is a high-grade green tea leaf that has been ground into a fine powder.
The health benefits of matcha include being great for your immune system, having a ton of antioxidants and vitamins, being great for cholesterol, and so much more.
If you are struggling with an afternoon slump instead of reaching for a coffee grab a matcha latte for calming and focused energy without the crash.
Check out my recipe on How to Make a Matcha Latte at Home
When you make matcha, you want to be sure to go for ceremonial grade matcha and I recommend this one.
→ Jade Leaf Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha Green Tea Powder
4. Hot Tea
I drink tea every single day no matter the weather but in the wintertime, it feels so much better. (see how I rhymed there)
But for real, there are so many great health benefits of tea no matter which one you choose to go with. From weight loss, fighting diabetes and cancer, to heart health you really can’t go wrong with drinking a nice hot cup of tea.
My personal favorites are ginger tea and peppermint tea.
5. Turmeric Latte aka Golden Milk
During the cold weather, you may experience more joint pain and inflammation. So, having a warm turmeric drink can definitely help.
Turmeric is a spice that has been used for thousands of years in Indian cooking. With a bright yellow color, turmeric’s greatest power is its anti-inflammatory properties.
I highly recommend incorporating turmeric into your everyday routine not only in the wintertime.
So, golden milk is basically milk and turmeric but of course, you can add other ingredients such as cinnamon, ginger, and even honey.
While winding down on a cozy chill night my favorite go-to mix for making a turmeric latte (golden milk) is Your Super Golden Mellow. I drink it in the evening/nighttime because it also contains ashwagandha which reduces stress, anxiety and helps with a good night’s sleep.
It is super simple to make you just heat up plant-based milk (I use oat milk) on the stove and whisk in their golden mellow mix until frothy.
Discount Code: Use code BALANCED15 to get 15% off Your Super Golden Mellow or any of their products!
6. Warm/Hot Lemon Water
Lemon and water combination is known to flush out toxins from the body, promote hydration, and be a great source of Vitamin C.
Growing up if we had a sore throat or felt like we were getting sick, my mom would make us a simple mix of warm water with lemon and honey. It is so soothing and nourishing and I consider it a flu-fighting tonic. You can even add ginger, turmeric, or mint to your lemon water. Of course, it is your preference.
On a cold and cozy morning, starting your day with a cup of warm/hot lemon water will definitely give you a great boost to start your day.
7. Mushroom Cafe Latte
When it comes to drinks for the winter I’m sure the first thing you don’t think about is adding mushrooms. But, medicinal and adaptogenic mushrooms are so good for you! Of course, you don’t want to add just any mushroom to your latte.
Common mushrooms added to coffee/lattes are:
– Chaga: full of antioxidants and helps with immunity
–Reishi: great for calmness, relaxation, and good sleep
– Lion’s Mane: Helps with brain function and focus
– Cordyceps: used for adaptogenic effects and increased oxygen flow
Adding these mushrooms to your cafe latte not only provides you with a ton of health benefits but it helps to offset the jitteriness of coffee.
If you are not a coffee drinker you can still add mushrooms to other drinks. A common one is the use of Chaga in drinks like hot chocolate.
Four Sigmatic has changed the mushroom powder game with latte mixes, matcha mixes, protein, and cacao mixes.
Recommended: Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Latte Mix
Nothing like having a hot drink filled with amazing health benefits on a cold day.
Over to You
During the cold-weather season, you want nothing more but to reach for a warm blanket and a hot drink.
These winter beverages are quick to make and are perfect for you to warm up and take care of your health and well-being at the same time.
I hope you enjoyed this list of drinks for the winter.
What is your favorite cozy drink during the wintertime?
Michelle Gagliani
Owner & Founder
Michelle is the Founder of The Balanced CEO, a Certified Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher, and a Holistic Nutritionist. She was born and raised in St.Thomas, U.S.V.I., and is currently living in Austin, TX. When she’s not running this blog or her online shop Balanced Vibes Co., she is cozied up at home watching TV, taking long walks in nature, or trying out new healthy recipes.
I’m saving these recipes to give them a try. I’m always up for something different.
Happy to hear that Linda!
You have saved my life. You had me with the first beverage. Hot chocolate. I am pre-diabetic and have been craving hot chocolate. I also drink hot tea every day but with all these other beverages I feel I can now mix it up. Bookmarking to try them all. Thanks so much for sharing.
Aww yay can’t wait for you to try them all Sabrina! Let me know how it goes!
All is can say is yum! I canāt wait to try some if not all of the drinks you mentioned. With all the health benefits and the yummy flavors I canāt go wrong making these for my family.
š yay hope your family likes it!
A turmeric latte sounds wonderful! I love mushrooms but have never tried them in a beverage. Thanks for giving me some new healthy drinks to try!
It is delicious! Can’t wait for you to try these out!
My favorite drink would be turmeric tea with lemon.š great article with lots of new things to drink.
Sounds yummy and beneficial!