Find Chaga, Make: David Wolfe'sSuper Cacao/Chaga/Reishi Elixir

I haven't done this, yet.... but got caught up, one night, watching David Wolfe talk about cacao... and imagined drinking the juice of a fresh cacao bean off a tree. I like the bitterness of dark chocolate... they say that cacao has the bitter taste and the dark chocolate taste along with a taste of the fresh bean. David Wolfe talks about it as though it's an aphrodisiac... and it may be.... I would not be eating it for that... it probably means it increases blood circulation to the outer extremities. It doesn't have to be about anything being an aphrodisiac. :D

An article in 'About Com' says: "The much touted nutritional benefits or raw cacao range from reducing cataracts to improving heart function to alleviating stress. The theobromine naturally found in raw cacao is a mild, non-addictive stimulant that some believe can treat depression. It may cause the brain to produce more of a neurotransmitter called anandamide which would account for the euphoric sensation some feel when indulging in chocolate. Not much is known about how the ancient civilizations of the Americas used chocolate, but it was certainly treasured by them for medicinal purposes. Nowadays we know that raw cacao is certainly very high in antioxidant flavanoids, sulfur and magnesium. The essential fatty acids found in chocolate may help the body to raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol. Amongst the loftiest claims in raw food culture is that raw cacao (without added sugar or dairy products) will reduce your risk of cancer as the high levels of antioxidants reduce the amount of free radicals in the body."

Anyway, I've lately found myself more fascinated by the benefits of cacao.... and, also medicinal mushrooms, especially those that can be found in my region. Chaga grows in abundance, here....  Both Cacao and medicinal mushrooms are in this recipe...and I like the idea of combining the sweet, bitter taste of fresh cacao (or if I can't find it fresh, I'll have to settle for a cacao powder) with the nutty taste of mushrooms.

This is a video of a recipe I'd like to try, or a variation of it: