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A Friendly Invitation From North‑to‑South
Our friends down south are throwing a shindig today, and we’ve crafted a Canadian‑themed drinks menu to share the spirit of the Great White North. I’ll be updating the list throughout the day, so stay tuned!
Why? Because every gathering is an opportunity to sprinkle a little kindness, to raise a cup to the ties that bind us, and to remind one another that a smile is the most inclusive ingredient of all.
Northern‑Lights Iced Maple‑Mane Latte – “Aurora in a Glass” 🇨🇦
Serves: 1 (tall, 350 ml)
Time: 7 min
Product links – for the curious mind:
• SAQ – Coureur des Bois Maple‑Cream
• Maple‑Flavour – Coureur des Bois details
- Lion’s Mane coffee
- Vanilla‑Bean Almond Milk
- Pure Maple Syrup
- Edible Silver Glitter (food‑grade)
- Maple Sugar
1) Prepare a double‑strength cold brew of Lion’s Mane coffee (≈2 oz/60 ml) and let it chill.
2) Fill a clear, tall glass with a handful of large ice cubes (the bigger, the better – they melt slower, keeping the drink crisp).
3) In a shaker, combine 2 oz (60 ml) of Coureur des Bois Maple‑Cream, 1 oz (30 ml) of vanilla‑bean almond milk, and a splash of pure maple syrup (optional, for extra sweetness). Shake until lightly frothy.
4) Pour the cold‑brew coffee over the ice, then slowly stream the maple‑cream mixture over the back of a spoon so it settles in a golden‑amber layer beneath the coffee – mimicking the shimmering curtains of the northern lights.
5) Add a pinch of edible silver glitter (food‑grade) on top for that extra sparkle.
6) Garnish with a twist of orange peel and a small sprig of fresh mint (the mint’s coolness mirrors the crisp night air). Serve with a straw that’s been dipped in maple‑sugar for that first‑sip “wow.”
The Maple‑Mane Hot Latte – “Cabin‑Cozy” 🇨🇦
Serves: 1 (large mug)
Time: 5 min
Product links – for the curious mind:
• SAQ – Coureur des Bois Maple‑Cream
• Maple‑Flavour – Coureur des Bois details
1) Brew 1 oz (≈30 ml) of Lion’s Mane coffee using your favourite method (French press, AeroPress, or classic drip). Aim for a strong, espresso‑like concentration.
2) In a small saucepan, combine 2 oz (≈60 ml) of Coureur des Bois Maple‑Cream with 4 oz (≈120 ml) of oat milk. Warm gently over low heat, stirring until the mixture is glossy and just below a simmer.
3) Add a pinch of sea‑salt – it magnifies the maple’s caramel notes and balances the mushroom earthiness.
4) Froth the warm maple‑milk blend with a hand‑held frother or steam wand until you have a thick, velvety foam.
5) Pour the Lion’s Mane coffee into a pre‑warmed mug, then gently pour the maple‑milk foam over it, creating a marble swirl.
6) Finish with a light dusting of cinnamon (or nutmeg, for a holiday twist). Serve with a tiny maple‑sugar stick for stirring.
Taste note: The latte is as comforting as a wool‑blanket on a winter night, with a gentle buzz that feels like a friendly “hey, you’ve got this!” from the woods.
Bonus (if you’re feeling extra adventurous): True‑North Maple‑Mane Smoothie – a thick, nutrient‑dense blend of maple‑cream, frozen berries, Lion’s Mane coffee, and a scoop of plant‑based protein. Great for a post‑hike recovery.
🍁 “Eh‑mazing!” 🍁
True‑North Maple‑Mane Smoothie 🇨🇦
Fuel your day with the forest, the farm, and the frontier—all in one glass.
Serves: 2
Time: 12 min (tall glass)
Product links – for the curious mind:
• SAQ – Coureur des Bois Maple‑Cream
• Maple‑Flavour – Coureur des Bois details
- Frozen berries
- Plant‑based protein
- Sea Salt
- Oat Milk
- Maple‑cream “Coureur des Bois” (750 ml, Québec) brings the pure, buttery sweetness of sap‑rich sugar‑maple forests.
- Lion’s Mane Coffee (30‑cup Canadian blend, 500 mg mushroom per cup) adds a smooth, earthy lift plus brain‑boosting beta‑glucans.
- Frozen berries (blueberries, Saskatoon strawberries, and a handful of wild Cranberries) deliver antioxidants and that iconic Canadian colour‑pop.
- Plant‑based protein (pea or hemp) makes the drink a post‑work‑out power‑potion without any dairy guilt.
Ingredients (makes 2 generous servings)
Coureur des Bois maple‑cream (liquid)
120 ml
Lion’s Mane cold‑brew coffee (cooled)
150 ml
Frozen mixed berries (wild‑blue, Saskatoon, cranberry)
200 g
Plant‑based vanilla protein powder
30 g (≈ 1 scoop)
Unsweetened oat milk
100 ml
A pinch of sea‑salt
–
Optional: crushed ice for extra chill
–
Method
- Gather the cast – lay out the maple‑cream, coffee, berries, protein, and oat milk on your kitchen counter. Let the coffee sit cool; you don’t want a hot‑head smoothie.
- Blend the forest – toss the frozen berries and a pinch of sea‑salt into a high‑speed blender. Pulse until they’re a deep‑red snow‑drift.
- Add the stars – pour in the maple‑cream, Lion’s Mane coffee, oat milk, and protein powder. Blend on high for 30‑45 seconds, until the mixture is thick, glossy, and looks like a sunrise over a maple‑sugar lake.
- Taste the North – sip a spoonful; you should feel the buttery maple, the dark‑roasted coffee, and a whisper of pine‑fresh berries. Adjust with a splash more oat milk if it’s too dense.
- Serve – pour into two tall, frosted glasses, garnish with a single fresh blueberry and a thin maple‑leaf‑shaped drizzle of extra maple‑cream.
Maple‑Leaf Martini 🇨🇦
Glass: Classic chilled martini coupe, rim dusted with finely grated maple sugar.
Serves: 1 (Classic chilled martini coupe)
Time: 5 min
Product links – for the curious mind:
- dry vermouth
- Angostura bitters
- Fresh apple for garnish
- Maple Sugar
Method
Stir whisky, syrup, vermouth and bitters over ice until cold. Strain into the coupe, rest the apple slice on the rim, and watch the amber swirl like a sunrise over the St. Lawrence.
🍁 “Eh‑mazing!” 🍁
Rocky Mountain Old‑Fashioned 🇨🇦
Serves: 1
Time: 5 min
Product links – for the curious mind:
- Smoked sea‑salt
- Orange bitters
- Orange peel, twisted, and a sprig of rosemary
Method
Muddle orange peel with smoked syrup in the glass. Add bourbon, bitters, and a large ice cube. Stir gently, then float rosemary sprig.
Serves: 1 (Large, curved wine glass)
Time: 5 min
Product links – for the curious mind:
•Pacific gin (distilled on the West Coast)
- Dry vermouth
- Sparkling rosé
- A small strip of kelp and a twist of grapefruit
- Sea Salt
Method
Combine gin, vermouth, and syrup in a mixing glass, stir with ice, then strain into the wine glass. Top with rosé, garnish with kelp and grapefruit twist.
🍁 “Eh‑mazing!” 🍁
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