How to Prepare MUDWTR

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The first time I made MUD\WTR, I stirred it with a spoon and took a sip. It was gritty, lukewarm, and honestly a little disappointing. I almost wrote it off. Then I actually followed the directions, used a frother, and it was a completely different drink. I've been making it every morning for over a year now, and I've dialed in exactly what works. Here's what I've learned.

The Basic Method (All Products)

1. Boil water, then let it cool for about 30-60 seconds (you're aiming for 175-200°F)
2. Add 1 tablespoon of MUD\WTR to your mug
3. Pour just 2-3 ounces of hot water over the powder
4. Froth or whisk until smooth (I'll explain why this matters in a second)
5. Add 6-8 ounces of hot water or steamed milk
6. Sweeten if you want. Honey, maple syrup, or nothing at all.

About 2 minutes start to finish. Same as making instant coffee, except for one step that most people skip and then wonder why their drink tastes bad.

Why Frothing Matters

I cannot stress this enough. Frothing is the single biggest factor in whether MUD\WTR tastes good or terrible. Without it, the powder clumps. You get a gritty texture and uneven flavor. With frothing, it goes smooth and creamy, genuinely latte-like. Night and day difference.

A handheld milk frother is the move. They cost about $10 and take 15 seconds to turn your drink from mediocre to great. MUD\WTR sells their own, but any battery-powered handheld frother works fine. I've also used a small whisk (takes longer, works okay), a blender (overkill but effective), and a French press (pump the plunger a few times, surprisingly good results).

Here's the technique that took me way too long to figure out: add the powder and just a small amount of hot water first, maybe 2-3 ounces. Froth that concentrated mixture until the clumps dissolve and a light foam forms on top. Then add the rest of your water or milk. If you try to froth a full mug of liquid, the frother can't get the concentrated powder broken down properly. Small amount first, froth, then top off.

Best Milk Pairings

MUD\WTR with just water is fine. But adding milk turns it into something you actually look forward to. I've tried pretty much every milk option with every product over the last year. Here's what I keep coming back to.

MUD\WTR Original

• Best: Oat milk. The natural sweetness and creaminess match the cacao-chai flavor perfectly. This is my daily go-to.
• Runner-up: Coconut milk. Adds a subtle tropical note that plays nicely with the spices.
• Also good: Whole milk, almond milk, or macadamia milk.

MUD\WTR Matcha

• Best: Oat milk. Classic matcha latte pairing for a reason. Creamy and slightly sweet.
• Runner-up: Coconut milk for a lighter, more tropical matcha latte.
• Also good: Whole milk if you want that traditional latte feel.

MUD\WTR Coffee+

• Best: Whatever you normally put in coffee. This is the most flexible product in the lineup.
• Runner-up: Oat milk for a coffee-shop-style latte.
• Also good: Half-and-half, any plant milk, or just drink it black.

MUD\WTR Turmeric

• Best: Oat milk with a drizzle of honey. Golden latte territory. This one's a treat.
• Runner-up: Coconut milk. The fat actually helps with turmeric absorption, so there's a functional reason too.
• Also good: Almond milk for a lighter version.

MUD\WTR Rest

• Best: Warm oat milk. It turns this into a cozy bedtime drink that genuinely helps me wind down.
• Runner-up: Warm whole milk. Classic and soothing.
• Also good: Any warm milk you have on hand.

Sweetener Guide

MUD\WTR products are unsweetened. I usually skip the sweetener entirely when I'm using oat milk because it adds enough natural sweetness on its own. But if you like a sweeter drink, here's what I've found works best.

• Honey: My pick for Original and Rest. The floral sweetness pairs really well with the chai spices. Start with half a teaspoon. You can always add more.
• Maple syrup: Great with Original and Coffee+. Gives it a rich, almost caramel sweetness. Go easy though. A little goes far.
• Coconut sugar: Works well with Turmeric. Dissolves easily in hot drinks and adds a subtle molasses note.
• Nothing: Matcha is best unsweetened in my opinion. The L-theanine and spices give it enough flavor on their own.

Iced MUD\WTR Recipes

I was skeptical about iced MUD\WTR, but it genuinely works. Especially Matcha and Coffee+. The trick is you still need hot water to dissolve the powder first. You can't just dump the powder over ice and stir (I tried, it was bad).

Iced MUD\WTR Latte (Any Product)

1. Add 1 tablespoon MUD\WTR to a glass
2. Add 2-3 ounces of hot water and froth until dissolved
3. Fill a separate glass with ice
4. Pour the concentrated MUD\WTR over the ice
5. Top with cold milk of your choice
6. Stir and you're done

MUD\WTR Smoothie

1. Add 1 tablespoon MUD\WTR Original to a blender
2. Add 1 frozen banana, 1 cup oat milk, 1 tablespoon almond butter
3. Blend until smooth
4. Optional: throw in a handful of ice if you want it thicker

The cacao in Original makes it a natural fit for smoothies. I've also thrown Matcha into green smoothies with spinach, banana, and almond milk. Tastes like a fancy juice bar drink.

Mistakes I Made So You Don't Have To

• Boiling water on Matcha: Boiling water makes matcha bitter. Learned this the hard way. Let it cool to about 175°F first. The other products are more forgiving.
• Skipping the frother: I already said this, but I'll say it again. Get a frother. It's the difference between "this is okay" and "I actually love this."
• Too much water: Anything over 12 ounces dilutes the flavor too much. 8-10 ounces is the sweet spot.
• Giving up on day one: Your taste buds need 3-5 days to adjust, especially if you're coming from coffee. I didn't love my first cup. I was hooked by the end of the first week.
• Drinking it black with no fat: A splash of milk or creamer honestly makes a big difference. It improves the flavor and helps with nutrient absorption (turmeric's curcumin is fat-soluble, so it actually gets absorbed better with some fat).

Pro Tips

• Lean into the ritual: Measuring, frothing, adding milk. I don't rush it anymore. It's become a calming 2 minutes that replaced the frantic coffee-grabbing I used to do.
• Pre-warm your mug: Pour hot water into your mug while the kettle heats, then dump it out. Keeps your drink hot way longer. Small thing that makes a real difference.
• Double the mushrooms: Add a teaspoon of Mushroom Boost to any :rise product. That gets you over 5,000mg of mushrooms per serving. I do this a few times a week.
• Travel hack: I pre-measure servings into small bags when I travel. The powder holds up fine, and all you need is hot water and a stir at your destination. Hotels always have a kettle.

Get MUDWTR and Start Your Ritual