Turmeric latte: Drinking to your health (with recipes that taste AWESOME!)

If you are looking for a turmeric latte recipe that’s simple, delish and has about a gazillion health benefits, you are in the right place. After all, I have decades of experience with the best of them, including vegan turmeric latte versions!

As a kid, I spent several sick days hiding under large pieces of furniture to escape the turmeric milk (or haldi ka doodh in the culture that invented the golden latte!) self-prescribed by mom in place of chemist-bought medicines.

Today, I am voluntarily downing mugfuls of turmeric milk (called turmeric latte or golden latte by the trendiest amongst us!) to ward off a sticky summer cold that’s standing between me and a looming deadline that brooks no negotiation.

And it seems to be working. Turns out mom was right.

Even modern medicine agrees that the turmeric-based-drink is one of the most healing beverages EVER.

After all, turmeric has a host of unrivalled health and beauty benefits.

To begin with, it is antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Result: it defeats germs and calms down colds, coughs, sore throats, fevers, toothaches, rheumatoid arthritis, headaches, menstrual cramps, muscular pain and a whole big bucket list of ailments.

It also heats up the body, providing quick relief from lung congestion and sinuses.

Then there are all the ways it heals the digestive system: this spice is an excellent blood purifier, it boosts circulation, cleanses the lymphatic system and strains away impurities from the liver. Which makes it perfect for indigestion, diarrhoea, stomach ulcers and colitis.

Added bonus: A turmeric latte helps in the breakdown of dietary fats, thereby keeping weight in check.

And if even all this doesn’t make you rest easy at night, that warm golden latte produces tryptophan, an amino acid that induces peaceful and blissful sleep.

Add in the strong antimicrobial properties of honey; the healing powers of ginger; and the extraordinarily healthy fats and vitamins present in ghee and you have the ultimate dose of wholesome healing in a cup.

Little surprise then that the ubiquitously named turmeric latte (or golden milk or golden latte) is all the rage from San Fransisco to Oxford. Even Starbucks has jumped on the bandwagon!

Time to hit the kitchen?

The original turmeric latte recipe

You will need

How-to

1. Mix together the turmeric, ginger and ghee; blend briskly till you have a fine paste
2. Pour the milk into a saucepan and spoon in the paste
3. Heat the milk till just below boiling point (little bubbles will begin to appear on the sides of the saucepan)
4. Turn off the heat and cover the saucepan, allowing the turmeric and ginger to steep about 3 minutes
5. Strain the turmeric milk; stir in the honey and continue stirring until it dissolves
6. Serve warm

The vegan turmeric latte recipe

You will need

How-to

1. Combine the turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper, honey, ghee, cinnamon and cardamom; pour into a deep mug or bowl and keep aside
2. Heat the almond or coconut milk till just below boiling point (little bubbles will begin to appear on the sides of the saucepan)
3. Add a teaspoon of the hot milk to the mug and mix everything till you get a smooth paste
4. Add the rest of the milk and mix well; allow to steep for 3 minutes
5. Strain the concoction; serve immediately

* Though ghee is made from milk and is therefore technically a dairy product, it contains only trace amounts of casein (a milk protein) and lactose (milk sugar), which are the prime causes of dairy intolerance.

Ever had turmeric latte? Liked it?