Cashew Free Peppermint Cocoa Agua Fresca
Cool, refreshing, and unexpectedly sophisticated, this drink lands somewhere between a chocolate mint mocktail and a spa-worthy agua fresca. Fresh peppermint leaves steep directly into a warm cocoa base made with just unsweetened cocoa powder, maple syrup, and a pinch of sea salt — no nut milks, no nut-based creamers, nothing that could sneak in a cashew concern. The result is a lightly sweet, deeply chocolatey sip that's bright with real mint flavor rather than anything artificial. It's the kind of drink that looks impressive in a glass over ice but comes together with a saucepan, a strainer, and about half an hour of your time. Serving it chilled means it's perfect for warm afternoons or as a non-alcoholic option at a gathering where you want something a little more interesting than sparkling water. A fresh peppermint sprig on top makes it feel genuinely special without any extra effort.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 cups cold water, divided
- 8 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh peppermint leaves, loosely packed
- ⅛ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- 4 fresh peppermint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine 1 cup of the cold water with the cocoa powder and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until the cocoa is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth and just beginning to steam, about 3–4 minutes — do not let it boil.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the peppermint leaves and fine sea salt, stir once to submerge the leaves, and let steep for 10 minutes.
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