Treat Yourself From the Inside: Cosy Autumn Drinks, Powders and Tonics

Start With a Warm Cup

If the weather has you reaching for a hot drink, there are plenty of ways to make it more interesting than tea. A warm cup is also one of the easiest treats to build into the day, because you are doing something you would do anyway, just a little more slowly and with a bit more care.

Anima Mundi’s Golden Moon Milk with Blue Lotus and Vanilla is soft and creamy, and it is the one to make when you want your evening to feel cosy. The Golden Sun Milk is an energising adaptogenic chai for mornings, with a warming, spiced flavour that suits cold weather. The Mushroom Mocha Milk is a longevity milk for anyone who wants chocolate in the afternoon, and the Adaptogenic Powder combines seven medicinal mushrooms with cacao, for a richer, earthier cup.

If you prefer something cleaner, the Ceremonial Grade Matcha is the one to whisk properly. It has a smooth, vivid taste that is very different from everyday green tea, and it is nice to make as a small ritual in itself. Na’vi’s Tonic Gold M is a herbal coffee alternative with medicinal mushrooms, for anyone who wants the comfort of a morning cup without the caffeine.

Most of these can be made with the milk of your choice, whether that’s oat, almond, coconut or dairy, and you can adjust the flavour to taste. A little honey or maple syrup goes well with the spiced ones, and a pinch of cinnamon works with most of them.

Tip: Warm your milk of choice gently, rather than boiling it, and whisk the powder in with a small whisk or frother until it is smooth. Follow the directions on the pack for the right amount. If you are new to mushroom or adaptogen blends, start with a small serving and see how you like it.

Beauty From Within

Skincare is only part of the picture. Many people like to add something they can take internally too, and autumn is a good time to start.

Anima Mundi’s Collagen Booster comes in several forms, so you can choose the one you’ll enjoy most. The Dirty Rose Chai powder turns into a spiced, pink-tinged cup, and the Plant-Based version is made without animal collagen. The Collagen Booster Elixir is the quick, liquid option, designed to support skin, hair, nails and bones. The Schisandra Rose Elixir brings tonic herbs and rose together in a small bottle, and it’s a pretty thing to have on the shelf.

Tip: Pick the format that suits your day. A powder is lovely in an evening cup, while an elixir is easier on busy mornings.

Hair Vitamins

If your hair has been through a long summer of sun, salt water and swimming pools, autumn is a good time to give it some attention. A daily supplement is an easy habit to add, and it works alongside the shampoo, mask and scalp care you already use.

We carry a few to choose from. Viori’s Hair Beauty Vitamin and Hair Growth Supplement are two options from the same hair-focused brand, so you can pick the one that matches what you want. Kerotin’s Hair Growth Vitamins and Megi Wellness’ Advanced Hair Growth Supplement are other popular choices in the range.

Hair grows slowly, so consistency matters more than anything else. Most people take a supplement every day for a few months before judging it, so pick one you will actually remember to take. Check the label for ingredients and the recommended amount, and take it as directed.

Tip: Keep the jar somewhere you can see it, next to your toothbrush or your morning cup, so it becomes part of the day without having to think about it.

Everyday Tonics and Greens

Not every treat has to be indulgent. Some are the small daily habits that make you feel good about your routine, and they tend to be the ones that stick. A spoonful of something green in the morning or a small bottle by the plate at dinner takes almost no time, and it can make the whole day feel a bit more looked after.

The Moringa Super-Tonic is an easy green powder to stir into a smoothie or water, and it’s a good place to start if you have never used a greens powder before. The Liver Vitality Greens is Anima Mundi’s daily greens blend, a bit more of a full-on green drink for anyone who likes that kind of thing. The Amargo Digestive Bitters are a traditional herbal tonic, often taken around meals, and a few drops are all you need. The Belly Love Powder is a blend made for anyone who likes to pay attention to their digestion and metabolism, and it’s easy to stir into water or a warm drink.

For those who like mushrooms, Reishi and Lion’s Mane are popular choices to add to drinks. They have an earthy taste that works well in a hot cup with a little cacao or milk, and both are easy to use alongside the powders above.

If you are new to this kind of thing, start with one product and keep it simple. Give it a couple of weeks before you add a second, so you can tell what you enjoy and what suits your day.

Tip: Make it a routine you can’t forget. Keep the jar next to the kettle or the blender, and use it at the same time every day. Read the label for how much to use, and start with the smaller amount.

Treats You Can Eat

Sometimes treating yourself just means something delicious. These are the kind of things you’d be happy to put out when friends come over, or keep for yourself on a quiet evening, and they suit this time of year well.

Na’vi’s IxCacao Heavenly Cacao Drops are fermented cacao beans, rich and slightly wild, for anyone who thinks chocolate should be more interesting. They are far from a sugary bar, so they suit people who like their chocolate dark and full of character. The Sun Blessed Elixir is a new blend from the same brand, and the Elixir Supreme is a fortifying superfood blend for stirring into drinks and smoothies, so they can turn an ordinary cup into something a bit more special.

For snacking, the Wild Mountain Apricot Halves are sweet and chewy, with the concentrated flavour that only sun-dried fruit has. The Whole Roasted Baru Nuts are crunchy and satisfying, and the Organic Black Mulberries make a nice change from raisins, with a deep, jammy sweetness.

These also work well together. A small bowl with a few apricot halves, some baru nuts and a handful of mulberries makes an easy homemade trail mix, and it is a lovely thing to put on the table with a hot drink. The mulberries and apricots are also good stirred into porridge or yoghurt in the morning, and the cacao drops are an easy way to bring a little chocolate to your evening cup.

Tip: Keep a small jar of your favourite mix by the sofa or on your desk. It makes it easier to reach for something you actually like, rather than whatever is in the cupboard.