Top 5 Stress-Relieving Ingredients to Include in Cocktails

There are many ingredients that are natural stress relievers.

Here are our top five stress busting ingredients and how to use them in cocktails.

Blueberries

One of our favorites is the blueberry because eating the tiny blue fruit will lock stress away from your cells. Plus they are full of vitamin C, have lots of nutrients, and are low calorie.

Blueberry Martini

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Tito’s vodka
• 2 oz. fresh blueberry juice
• 1 oz. cranberry juice
• Fresh blueberries (for garnish)

Preparation: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well; strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh blueberries skewered on a cocktail pick or float them on top of the drink.

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Oranges

Also high in vitamin C, what’s interesting about the fruit is the citrus scent is an aromatic asset to your health. Citrus smells are thought to curb stress and anxiety.

Brandy Orange

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. brandy
• 1/2 oz. curacao
• 1 oz. fresh orange juice
• 1 dash of bitters

Preparation: Add ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice; shake well. Strain into a rocks glass.

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Green Tea

Part of our top five, because there is an acid actually found in the tea that is known to reduce stress. It also is a treatment for mental health issues, like fighting anxiety and depression.

Green Tea Cocktail

(Makes 6 cocktails)

Ingredients:

• 4 green tea bags
• 2 cups water (boiling)
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 bottle champagne
• Sliced apples
• Mint leaves (for garnish)

Preparation: Place tea bags in glass container; pour boiling water over the bags, allowing tea to steep for 3-4 minutes. Remove the tea bags and discard. Stir in the pomegranate juice. Chill the mixture until cold. Place sliced fruit and 2-3 cubes of ice each glass. Dived the green tea between glasses. Top each off with champagne and garnish with mint leaves.

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Avocado

The fruit not only has stress relieving acids, it has properties to improve mood.

Los Cabos Avocado Margarita

Created at Hyatt Ziva

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. tequila reposado
• 1 oz. Licor 43
• 1 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• 3 tbsp. avocado
• Chili powder (for rim)

Preparation: Add ingredients to a blender with two scoops of ice. Rim Margarita glass with chile powder. Strain drink into glass and serve.

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Dark Chocolate

Our final ingredient is dark chocolate known to take a bite out of stress. Studies show levels of stress can be significantly lowered after eating just one average sized bar for two weeks.

Oaxaca Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. reposado tequila
• 1 oz. mezcal
• 1 barspoon agave nectar
• 3 dashes Bittermends Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Preparation: Add all ingredients to a shaker tin and shake thoroughly. Serve on the rocks. Garnish with piece of dark chocolate.