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5 unique hot beverages and where to find them in Cape Town

August 27, 2023

With the transient return of chilly weather in Cape Town this week, there’s nothing better than snuggling up with a piping hot beverage to warm up the body and soul.

If you’re the only person in your inner circle that has yet to be indoctrinated into Cape Town’s cult-like coffee culture, but the thought of drinking another cup of tea has you running to the bathroom, the Mother City has you covered with a number of unique toasty alternatives.

Here are five hot beverages that tick all the boxes: unique, not coffee, and delicious:

Pinotage Rooibos

So, technically this is tea, but with a twist. The Electric in the heart of the city offers a range of delicious hot beverages, but there’s something enticing about adding pinotage skins to your rooibos blend.

Described as a ‘unique gluhwein-like’ tea, the Pinotage Rooibos may not get you drunk, but it will have you feeling extra cosy from the inside out.

Location: The Electric, 48 Canterbury Street, District Six
Times: Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm | Saturday 9am to 2:30pm

Hot Chocolate with a twist

A list of hot beverages to try in Cape Town without at least one hot chocolate is a list that can never be deemed complete. So, of course, we head to one of the Mother City’s best-kept chocolate gems – Honest Chocolate.

Boasting an array of organic and vegan options, Honest Chocolate is a natural route for melt-in-your-mouth chocolate served hot and (if you choose) with a side of exoticism.

Choose between short and dark or tall and milky. Then, opt for a classic or an exotic twist like Mexican Spices or Christmas Orange. For a little added extra, add some fresh cream and get ready for a delectable trip down Chocolate Lane.

Honest Chocolate’s Hot Chocolates are served with house-made vanilla bean marshmallows.

Location: 64A Wale Street, City Centre
Times: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm | Sunday 9am to 5pm

Golden Latte

Made with a base of hand-pressed coconut and almond milk with black pepper, Himalayan salt and coconut blossom nectar for sweetness, turmeric lattes have become somewhat of a golden child (excuse the pun) among health-conscious foodies thanks to its creamy golden goodness supercharged with superfoods and infused with turmeric – and for good reason.

Along with being an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, turmeric is well-known to boost your body’s immune system.

There are several places in the Mother City serving this delicious beverage like Bootleggers and Scheckster’s Raw, but one of our favourite places to secure a cup is The Conscious Kitchen.

Location: 34 Kloof Street, Gardens
Times: Sunday to Thursday 8am to 6pm | Friday to Saturday 8am to 10:30pm

Choc Chaga

For hot chocolate lovers seeking a more healthier adventure, Wildsprout is the place to be.

Along with coconut oil, cacao powder, maca powder, hemp seeds, coconut blossom sugar and coconut flakes, the special ingredient comes in the form of Chaga mushrooms filled with a plethora of health benefits, including lowering blood sugar and boosting your immune system.

Location: 278 Main Road, Kenilworth
Times: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm | Saturday to Sunday 8:30am to 3pm

Lunar Lullaby

No, you won’t end up asleep at the table after drinking this delicious brew, but you will definitely walk out of Nourish’d Café without a care in the world.

Nourishd’s adds a bit of tartness to the chamomile and ashwagandha blend that makes up the Lunar Lullaby with a touch of lemon balm and lemon peel. Enhanced by the calming effect of ashwagandha that has garnered popularity within Western culture, the soothing properties of the chamomile blend will help ease stress and anxiety, and leave you feeling well rested and ready for a bed.