Vegan Peppermint Cocoa Agua Fresca
Chocolate and mint were made for each other, and this refreshing drink proves that the combination doesn't have to come in a candy bar or a heavy dessert. It starts with a quick stovetop blend of cocoa powder and maple syrup, which gets coaxed into a silky, smooth base before fresh peppermint leaves steep right into the warm liquid. That steeping step is the secret — it pulls bright, cooling flavor from the herbs without any artificial extract or dairy needed. Once strained and chilled with cold water, the result is a lightly sweet, deeply chocolatey drink that feels both indulgent and surprisingly light. Every ingredient here is naturally plant-based, so there's nothing to swap or substitute — just straightforward, clean flavors that happen to be completely animal-free. Poured over ice with a sprig of fresh mint, it's the kind of thing you'd happily serve at a summer gathering or sip solo on a warm afternoon.
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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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