Wood avens hot cocoa

If you check out this post in Foraging you will find out about one of my favorite little herbs, Geum urbanum aka Wood avens aka Herb bennet.

It is my favorite because it grows everywhere and most people walk past it not knowing the fragnant treasure it has in its roots. Wood avens roots contain eugenol which is the same ingredients as in cloves which gives them their characteristic aroma.

Wood avens roots smell strongly of cloves and they are a fantastic way to incorporate that smell into foods and beverages.

Although my experiments with wood avens just started, I wanted to share a favorite recipe- Wood avens hot cocoa

For this recipe you will need

• 250 ml warm milk
• 3 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 wood avens root, washed and cleaned
• sugar or honey to taste

Method:

Melt the butter in a small saucepan and mix the cocoa powder, taking care not to burn it. Add the warm milk slowly and mix until you have a smooth mixture. In a food processor or pestle and mortar, process the wood avens root until it is a paste. Add the warm milk and cocoa mix slowly, mixing until it is all in. Add sweetener to taste. Enjoy!