Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten Free/decaf Hot Chocolate?

Waitingindreams

Recommended Posts

Waitingindreams Enthusiast
Waitingindreams
Posted

Does it exist? I gave up caffeine a few years ago to try to help my rosacea clear up. Now whenever I have caffeine (except for chocolate) I get really sick. Even my pumpkin tea that I love makes me really sick :\

 

So if I ever drink tea, it has to be decaf. I'm done with coffee. Now that the winter months are coming up, I want to be able to make hot chocolate. I know SwissMiss has a lot of gluten free flavors, but are there any brands that have decaf/AND gluten free hot chocolate? I'm not sure if the amount of caffeine in hot chocolate is even enough to make me sick, but I'd rather ask to be safe.

 

Also, does anyone know if gluten free/decaf pumpkin tea exists? Bigelow's pumpkin tea is amazing, but unfortunately it is not decaf.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

The only caffeine in hot chocolate is from the chocolate so if having it from chocolate doesn't bother you, it shouldn't from hot chocolate either. They don't just add caffeine to hot chocolate. If you are worried about mixes, you can just use cocoa, sugar, vanilla and milk to make some. It doesn't take any longer if you're the kind of person that makes your hot chocolate with milk anyway.

 

And no, there are no caffeine free teas with pumpkin that I'm aware of. I know the one you mean, which is made with black tea. There are some from some of the fancier tea shops, such as Teavana but none that I've found are herbal so they aren't caffeine free. The problem is that they need a tea (or tea-ish herbs) with enough punch to it to stand up to the pumpkin and it's spices, and outside of oolong or black tea it's simply hard to find one, even among all of the herbal options.

Waitingindreams Enthusiast
Waitingindreams
Posted
  • Author

Thank you! I really wasn't sure about how much caffeine was in hot chocolate...yeah, the caffeine in chocolate candies doesn't bother me, so you're probably right that it wouldn't make me sick. I just like to ask because I'm new to the gluten-free diet and it's really nice to get feedback from people who are also dealing with this firsthand. :)

 

As for the pumpkin tea - it was worth a shot to ask! The pumpkin tea is really good. I ordered a big stock of it before caffeine was making me sick, and now I can't drink any of it.  :( Go figure, right?

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

I'll take your tea! lol

 

I've done that before. Just end up giving all my food away.

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

That pumpkin tea is really good. I accidentally bought some 2 or 3 winters ago, I didn't look at the label closely and it was in a display with a bunch of herbal teas so I just grabbed it. I had had about 2 or 3 cups when I realized it was actual tea. Oops. (I don't drink tea.) There was much sadness in our house, but we consoled ourselves with other holidays teas. It's also when we started shopping at Teavana, nothing like it for herbal teas. They have a winter berry that is incredible.

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

White chocolate doesn't have caffeine, and they do make white hot chocolate. Google it and you'll see it available in a bunch of different places. :) Somebody gave me some for Christmas a few years ago and even though I didn't drink it (I just don't LIKE hot chocolate of any kind), all of my friends who drank it said it was good.

shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

White chocolate doesn't have caffeine, and they do make white hot chocolate. Google it and you'll see it available in a bunch of different places. :) Somebody gave me some for Christmas a few years ago and even though I didn't drink it (I just don't LIKE hot chocolate of any kind), all of my friends who drank it said it was good.

white hot chocolate is good.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Waitingindreams Enthusiast
Waitingindreams
Posted
  • Author

Wintersong - If only! :P I'm not sure if it's gluten free, though...that could be partially why I got sick. For all I know the flavoring is malted. I really don't know - I just know the last few times I drank it I got really, really sick. :(

 

Adalaide - I love tea, but I mostly just like black tea. I know green tea is supposed to be good for you, as is herbal - but i haven't found a flavor that I like of either. I tried a few from Celestial Seasonings and I found it just gross. I usually stick to plain ol' decaf black tea. The pumpkin was amazing, but not worth the sickness. I might start trying out green teas just because of the antioxidants/health benefits, but I'm not thinking that I'll like it >.< Then again, maybe Teavana is better. I'll have to look into their flavors. Celestial Seasonings might be too strong for me or something. 

 

bartfull - Thanks for the tip! I didn't even know they had white hot chocolate. I'm definitely going to look into that. It is a relief to know that a popular brand like SwissMiss has gluten free hot chocolate. It probably is low enough in caffeine that it won't be an issue, but the white hot chocolate sounds interesting...hmm. :) Now too bad they don't make a gluten free pumpkin drink. I love my pumpkin stuff! OOh and I see Shadowicewolf just vouched for the white hot chocolate, definitely have to try it!

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

There is a fair amount of caffeine in green tea, I wouldn't recommend it for someone sensitive. When I say herbal teas, I mean tea that doesn't have tea in it. Black, oolong, green and white tea all come from the same plant and all have caffeine, unless decaffeinated. Herbal teas are different. They're simply herbs, spices, and commonly fruits, dried or sometimes fermented in the same way that tea is, that is steeped into a hot beverage. Heck, it's tea if you take a fresh piece of ginger, a slice of lemon, pour hot water over it and add honey. Only you can't really package that to sell. 

 

I'm thinking that it may be possible to come up with a homemade pumpkin herbal tea. Rooibos is herbal, it's an African plant. I love the stuff to death, and it just may work with a light pumpkin flavoring. I'll have to think on it. It isn't like you can just add canned pumpkin to tea.  :lol: I'm debating in my head right now how well just using a cut up pumpkin, roasted for flavor then steeped would work and a spice packet in cheesecloth or a teaball.

Waitingindreams Enthusiast
Waitingindreams
Posted
  • Author

Hmm...that is disappointing. I think they have decaf green tea, but still...agh. It's so much work just to try to be healthy. I pretty much only drink tea when I'm sick or when it's cold out, just to have something warm. 

 

I wish I liked herbal tea. I tried two different brands - Celestial Seasonings and then another brand that my sister bought for me for Christmas, I can't recall the name. The Apple Cinnamon from Celestial Seasonings for example was wayyy too strong for me. It tasted like someone melted down those 'fireball' candies. I just didn't like it. The peppermint teas were too strong for me as well. 

 

Oh wow! That sounds interesting. I do love my pumpkin flavored...everything. I was really happy when I saw that the pumpkin pie flavored frozen yogurt at Peachwave/Kiwi Spoon etc was gluten free. I'm sure there are gluten free pumpkin pie recipes as well, I'll find something for Thanksgiving. 

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

There are SOOO many pumpkin recipes out there right now, and I love it! I make pumpkin bread twice a year - and only twice because I get selfish and eat the entire batch within a few days  :P I've seen some great looking crepe and smoothie recipes, too. You're bound to find a bunch of good stuff.

 

As for hot chocolate - I make my own with almond milk, coco powder, vanilla, and stevia. Does the trick, is low in calories and sugar, and is much healthier than mixes.  :)

Waitingindreams Enthusiast
Waitingindreams
Posted
  • Author

I've been wanting to make pumpkin bread! Right before I was diagnosed, our element in the stove went out and we JUST got a new one. Once my mom gets over letting other people use it, I definitely want to make pumpkin bread. I don't care if it's out of season! :P

 

Ooh, that does sound pretty good. I think a lot of it with me, and maybe others newly diagnosed - is the convenience. It used to be so easy to just grab something quick and make it. Now we have to read everything and possibly do further research. I like the idea of homemade foods, but I am probably not going to want to do it all the time. Maybe once i move out and I can have a completely gluten free household..or at least primarily gluten free. My parents don't want to be bothered, and they aren't very supportive - so it's easier for me to just grab minute rice and steamfresh vegetables...or pre-mixed packets of hot chocolate. My boyfriend is far more understanding and wants to try the recipes with me, but until I move out...it's hard to get kitchen time.

 

Do you literally just mix the ingredients together and then heat it up? 

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

I've been wanting to make pumpkin bread! Right before I was diagnosed, our element in the stove went out and we JUST got a new one. Once my mom gets over letting other people use it, I definitely want to make pumpkin bread. I don't care if it's out of season! :P

 

Ooh, that does sound pretty good. I think a lot of it with me, and maybe others newly diagnosed - is the convenience. It used to be so easy to just grab something quick and make it. Now we have to read everything and possibly do further research. I like the idea of homemade foods, but I am probably not going to want to do it all the time. Maybe once i move out and I can have a completely gluten free household..or at least primarily gluten free. My parents don't want to be bothered, and they aren't very supportive - so it's easier for me to just grab minute rice and steamfresh vegetables...or pre-mixed packets of hot chocolate. My boyfriend is far more understanding and wants to try the recipes with me, but until I move out...it's hard to get kitchen time.

 

Do you literally just mix the ingredients together and then heat it up? 

Yup - I use a small saucepan and heat it up on the stove. Super easy :)

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

And let me know when you're ready to make pumpkin bread - I'll give you my recipe :)

Waitingindreams Enthusiast
Waitingindreams
Posted
  • Author

Thanks! I appreciate that. I will definitely ask you. About the hot chocolate - how much do you use of each item? How much almond milk, how much stevia, etc? I definitely need an exact recipe to follow, otherwise I'll somehow mess it up :P

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

Haha :)

 

1 cup almond milk

1 tbs coco powder

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

 

The amount of stevia depends on how many grams of sugar is in your almond milk. If there's a lot of sugar, you may not need to sweeten it at all. I get the unsweetened kind and use one or two individual packets of stevia. But that is all done to taste, so taste it while you're heating it up. Super easy!

 

Of course make sure that all of your ingredients are gluten free, especially the vanilla extract. Contact manufacturers on the coco powder and stevia, too. I've heard questionable things about Truvia's gluten-free statement, though I'm not sure of the validity of that rumor. In any case, I picked a different brand and contacted the manufacturer. 

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

A note about making your own hot chocolate. Mix the cocoa powder with just enough of the milk to get it wet first and mix until it is smooth. It'll be about an equal amount of milk and cocoa powder to do that. Or you can use water. It complete prevents any of the clumpiness that you can get by just throwing it all together without doing that first. I use the Hershey recipe, but have cut it down to make a single mug of cocoa at a time which is 1/3 of the recipe or so. I also use dark chocolate cocoa because that's just how I am and less sugar. You can use any kind of milk you want, and of course if it's sweetened you'd want less sugar and if you use a sugar substitute you would want to adjust it to taste anyway. If your milk substitute has vanilla you would probably want to skip adding it.

 

Open Original Shared Link

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      129,153
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Mary P.
    Newest Member
    Mary P.
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.2k
    • Total Posts
      71.5k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Bebygirl01
      Not Just Wheat, Barley and Rye Glutens that make us sick

      By Bebygirl01 · Posted

      You are on the money, but I should also add that Italian, French and other countries research shows exactly what I have said. Our FDA is behind the ball when it comes to this research and I am hopeful that Kennedy can straighten this out soon, albeit he is giving the food companies too long to just remove food dyes from our foods when in fact they have to remove all that in order to sell for example, in the UK as they aren't allowed such things. The food companies and the cola companies have also changed their formulas to have just sugar in them instead of corn gluten aka high fructose corn syrup and corn starch in them. Misinformation here in America is a very dangerous thing. I also have been grain free for a long time now and at no time can I even have the smallest amount of corn gluten -I recently got glutened from a supplement that claimed to be grain free yet upon further research I found that it had erythritol (corn sugar) in it and that is what got me sick for 7 days straight. I am not hopeful to ever be able to add back into my diet any of the grain glutens, but perhaps those who were only gluten intolerant might be able to, but for me being celiac, I have no hope in that. Thank you for the article, I will add it to my collection of research as I am collecting everything I can find on this subject and posting it on X as well as other places.  I also don't use psuedo grains i.e. quinoa as that also reacts negatively with my gut, so I am 100% a cassava/tapioca/arrow root girl and that is my go to bread replacement. There are some new items made with chicpea/green peas that are sold as rice alternatives, i bought one to try but haven't yet. So food companies are getting creative, but like you said, I am fresh whole foods and don't buy many processed foods, I make my own cheese, ketchup, pickles, jams, etc.
    • Dora77
      Energy drink can has stains - potential gluten?

      By Dora77 · Posted

      There were small spots (stains) on the drinking area at the top of the energy drinks can from the store that looked as the same color as milk — maybe oat milk (Hafermilch) or a wheat-based drink (Weizendrink), but I’m not sure what it was. There were also some particles that looked like either flour or dust, but not many. Could it have been a gluten-containing drink spilled onto the can or just regular small stains which I shouldn‘t worry about? Do you watch out for stuff like that or am I overthinking? Would it cause damage to a celiac?
    • Scott Adams
      Not Just Wheat, Barley and Rye Glutens that make us sick

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is such an important discussion! While corn gluten (zein) is structurally different from wheat gluten, emerging research suggests some celiac and gluten-sensitive individuals may still react to it, whether due to cross-reactivity, inflammation, or other factors. For those with non-responsive celiac disease or ongoing symptoms, eliminating corn—especially processed derivatives like corn syrup—might be worth exploring under medical guidance. That said, corn’s broader health impact (GMOs, digestibility, nutritional profile) is a separate but valid concern. Like you mentioned, ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘healthy,’ and whole, unprocessed foods are often the safest bet. For those sensitive to corn, alternatives like quinoa, rice, or nutrient-dense starches (e.g., sweet potatoes) can help fill the gap. Always fascinating (and frustrating) how individualized this journey is—thanks for highlighting these nuances! Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful:    
    • Scott Adams
      Mama trying to help 3 year old!!!

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I’m so sorry your little one is going through this. Celiac recovery can take time (sometimes months for gut healing), but the ongoing leg pain is concerning. Since his anemia was severe, have his doctors checked his other nutrient levels? Deficiencies in magnesium, vitamin D, or B12 could contribute to muscle/joint pain. A pediatric GI or rheumatologist might also explore if there’s concurrent inflammation or autoimmune involvement (like juvenile arthritis, which sometimes overlaps with celiac). Gentle massage, Epsom salt baths (for magnesium absorption), or low-impact activities like swimming could help ease discomfort while he heals. Keep advocating for him—you’re doing an amazing job!
    • Stuartpope
      Mama trying to help 3 year old!!!

      By Stuartpope · Posted

      Thank you for the input. We go back to the GI doctor in June- she wants to do more labs to check vitamin levels( not sure why the didn't check all at once with the iron being so low) and recheck inflammatory levels. Just trying to find him some relief in the meantime.
×
×
  • Create New...