While a single beverage can’t erase stress entirely, incorporating intentional ingredients can create a powerful tool for relaxation. This cortisol mocktail—a cortisol detox drink—uses the natural stress-reducing properties of matcha, cucumber, and lemon balm to create a delicious, sophisticated, and functional drink.
Enjoy it alongside meaningful conversation with supportive friends to amplify its stress-lowering effects. There is no alcohol in this drink, you are free to run that 5k tomorrow morning, or create a special moment with your teen.
What is Cortisol?
Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone” but it does much more than just regulate the body’s response to stress. It is produced by your adrenal glands and helps regulate your body’s response to stress. The body has systems in place to maintain optimal levels of cortisol.
But when stress is chronic and long-term, the body may not “turn off” the cortisol faucet, and too much exposure to stress hormones can put a the body at a higher risk for a wide range of health problems, including mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
It is important to make lifestyle choices to reduce chronic stress. Think about sleep hygiene, healthy diet, meaningful relationships and social connections, and exercise. All the things so very hard to do in times of stress.
What is a Cortisol Mocktail?
The cortisol mocktail, or also called a cortisol cocktail, or even adrenal cocktail is an internet phenomenon promising to lower cortisol levels with hydrating liquids, like coconut water, and salt to replenish electrolytes to support adrenal function. Let’s be clear: If you think your adrenal glands need a hand, start with a healthy diet and a nutritionist, a drink is not a cure. That said, the internet makes a good point.
If you want a cocktail or to have an intentional drink to relax, why not include intentional ingredients for stress relief? Making a conscious decision to reduce stress, is going to help you reduce stress.
In our western society, specialty drinks are associated with enjoyment. We grab a drink with friends at bars and coffee shops. Grabbing a drink is code phrase for relaxing. Make this recipe, experience enjoyment in cutting, stirring and shaking. Make this special drink to share with loved ones. All of these activities can and will lower stress, and cortisol.
The Cortisol Mocktail Ingredients
These are the ingredients you’ll need:
- Fizzy Water: Water with those little dissolved bubbles is already fancy. Grab your favorite sparkling water.
- Matcha Green Tea Powder: the plain green tea powder not the one with added sugar to milk powder. Matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety
- Cucumber: Cucumber has vitamin C and magnesium. Magnesium is thought to play a role in managing cortisol, aids with muscle relaxation, and may help regulate neurotransmitters in the brain to promote relaxation.
- Lemon Balm: Though large-scale studies are not available, lemon balm has long been consumed (or smelled) for its calming properties. Small scale studies support lemon balm’s calming reputation. Fresh leaves are optional, but you’ll need dried lemon balm or lemon balm tea bags.
- Lime: While limes are not commonly linked to stress reduction, they do contain vitamin c, which may help the body cope with stress. And they taste delicious.
- Sweetener: this is optional. Use your sweetener of choice. Sugar, simple syrup, agave. Something with a neutral flavor profile.
- Ice: to chill the beverage.
Cortisol Mocktail Recipe Tools
This recipe makes two cortisol mocktails. These are the tools you’ll need.
- Cocktail Shaker and Strainer or a vessel that will not break when muddling.
- Muddler: I use my stick rolling pin (I love a tool that serves multiple purposes)
- Measuring Spoons
- Knife & Cutting Board: for cutting cucumber and lime
- Two fancy glasses to serve. I like heavy bottom whiskey-type glassware.
Cortisol Mocktail Tools
This recipe makes two cortisol mocktails. These are the tools you’ll need.
- Cocktail Shaker and Strainer or a vessel that will not break when muddling.
- Muddler: I use my stick rolling pin (I love a tool that serves multiple purposes)
- Measuring Spoons
- Knife & Cutting Board: for cutting cucumber and lime
- Two fancy glasses to serve. I like heavy bottom whiskey-type glassware.
Calming Cortisol Mocktail Recipe with Matcha, Cucumber & Lemon Balm
Ingredients
- 1 cup fizzy water/ sparkling water
- 1/3 teaspoon Matcha Green Tea Powder
- 1 inch round of cucumber + two cucumber slices for garnish
- 1/2 lime cut into thin rounds with two rounds reserved for garnish
- 2-3 fresh Lemon Balm leaves, optional
- 1 Tablespoon dried lemon balm, or two lemon balm tea bags
- Sweetener, optional. Use a neutral sweetener like sugar, agave or simple syrup (flavored if you want variety, see below. You can use honey, but it will change the flavor a little.)
Instructions
- Make the lemon balm tea: Boil 4 ounces of water. Steep lemon balm leaves or lemon balm tea bags for 10 minutes. Remove leaves. Only half the tea is used for this recipe, reserve 2 ounces of tea for another use. If sweetening with sugar, dissolve sugar into the warm tea. Use 1 teaspoon of sugar, optional. Stir to dissolve.
- In cocktail shaker or a heavy bottomed glass, such as a pint glass muddle Matcha, ½ inch cucumber slice, lime slices, and lemon balm leaves. Fill the shaker with ice and lemon balm tea. Shake or stir to chill.
- Fill two cocktail glasses (I like heavy bottom short glasses- like whiskey glasses) with ice cubes. Strain and divide the mocktail into two glasses. Top with sparkling water. Perch lime and cucumber rounds on the rim for garnish. If using sweetening with simple syrup, add to taste.
- Breathe, savor, smile, and relax.
