As winter approaches and we have less light in the day, adding in warm beverages can help ease the transitions for our bodies during these times. Is there a better feeling than enjoying a warming beverage on a cool crisp fall day and a warm feeling throughout your body?
You may be drawn to all the seasonal drinks and lattes you see at your local coffee shop, knowing the ingredients won’t leave you not feeling your best. But this is one you can make at home.
Fall is the season of warm drinks like apple cider, hot chocolate, and of course lattes! Not a mucus-forming dairy latte or an overly sweetened artificial spiced latte, but one very specific latte comes to mind for me. It’s one of my favorite lattes, and it’s not pumpkin spice…
My golden milk latte combines the warm comfort of a seasonal latte with the amazing health benefits of golden milk. This golden milk turmeric latte is fast, easy to make, and oh-so-satisfying. Don’t worry, it’s vegan and gluten-free too.
Need a warm pick-me-up now? Let’s make some lattes! Or a latte lattes— sorry Beauty, I had to. :) I am drinking warm beverages up to 6 times a day from the recommendation of my ayurvedic teacher Doctor Jay to help my body’s constitution during this time!
Want to skip right to the recipe? Jump down here!
What is Golden Milk?
Golden milk is an ancient Ayurvedic drink that’s been consumed for many hundreds, if not thousands of years. Also called turmeric milk or haldi doodh, golden milk was traditionally made with cow’s milk mixed with warming spices like turmeric and cinnamon.
Because of the warming spice blend, golden milk is packed with amazing health and beauty benefits. Some of these include:
- Spices like turmeric, which are loaded with antioxidants, help protect the body against free radicals that can cause illness
- The spices have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can help keep your joints nice and limber
- Curcumin, a powerful active compound in turmeric, can help your mind feel centered and focused and improve your mood by promoting the growth of new brain cells
Thankfully, golden milk is just as comforting and nourishing when it’s made with plant-based milk as it is from cow’s milk!
Terrific Turmeric
Whether you enjoy fresh turmeric or ground turmeric, this beautiful golden root is rich in beneficial compounds that can help you feel beautiful inside and out. No wonder it’s been used in food and medicine for thousands of years!
Its active ingredient, curcumin, is a powerful antioxidant. Other studies have found that curcumin can also be helpful in managing arthritis, muscle soreness, and even anxiety! [1]
Turmeric can also help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and help protect you against heart disease and stroke. It can also help treat tummy trouble like indigestion and heartburn.
Other Amazing Warming Spices
Turmeric is only one of many warming spices that can help keep you feeling warm and fuzzy as the days get colder. Warming spices can also help boost your circulation, making it easier for oxygen and nutrients to nourish you from head to toe!
Other beneficial warming spices include:
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Black pepper
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Chilis
You can try any blend of these warming spices in your golden milk latte to see what you like best! Just don’t forget the turmeric. :)
Oh Honey! The Health Benefits of This Liquid Gold
There’s so much more to honey than sweetness. There are more than three hundred different kinds of honey, each of them unique in flavor and color.
Honey is rich in amino acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Honey also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects. For millennia, honey has been used to help treat coughs, illness, as well as topically to treat burns and help promote healing.
Honey may also be helpful in treating gastrointestinal problems, like diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis, an inflammation of your intestinal lining.
Is Honey Vegan?
This is a point of controversy among many vegans. Many vegans do not consume honey because they avoid all products that come from animals, including insects like bees. However, other vegans will eat honey because bees are good for the environment and are essential for pollinating plants. Without the bees, plants can’t grow seeds, flowers, or fruit.
So without bees, we don’t have food!
So if you’re opposed to consuming honey (or if you just don’t like it!) there are alternatives you can try instead. Some of these include:
- Coconut nectar
- Maple syrup
- Date syrup
- Molasses
- Golden syrup
Stay Golden!
The golden glow of the autumn leaves is one of the most beautiful parts of the season, and my golden milk latte recipe is the perfect pairing to feel the glow inside and out.
If you’re looking for a healthy beverage to keep you warm in the fall, look no further! Savor the taste of fall with a golden milk latte without having to worry about the sugars and additives of your usual coffee shop drinks. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatories are just an added benefit to a soothing cup of warmth on a chilly day!
If you try this recipe, make sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see! If you love this recipe or know someone who would, please share it on Pinterest and spread the love. :)
All my love,
Fall Golden Milk Latte
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond milk, hemp milk, oat milk or coconut milk (canned coconut milk is fine)
- ¼ tsp. ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp. ground ginger
- ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
- Grind fresh black pepper
- Raw honey To taste
Instructions
- Add the milk into a small saucepan, along with the other ingredients except for the raw honey. Heat to just under a boil and mix well, or use a frother to mix thoroughly if you have one.
- Add to a mug, stir in the honey, and enjoy!
More Fantastic Fall Drinks and Smoothies
The flavors of fall are so amazing for keeping us feeling warmed and centered. Here are five more of my favorite drink and smoothie recipes that feature the comforting tastes of autumn!
- Fall Harvest Hot Apple Cider
- Festive Spice Holiday Smoothie
- Nighttime Lavender Elixir
- Ayurvedic Golden Milk Latte
- Hot Chocolate Protein Smoothie Booster
Citations
1. Hewlings, Susan J, and Douglas S Kalman. “Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health.” Foods (Basel, Switzerland), MDPI, 22 Oct. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664031/.
I LOVE these! One of my favorite restaurants in Venice Beach makes one and adds cayenne! So tasty.
Yay, thanks for sharing Bri! Lots of love! Xo
I Love your products and this recipe is perfect. I just made a cup for the first time and it is a so delicious. It is way better than I expected. Definitely a new favorite evening drink. I have looking for a healthy drink when the weather gets cooler. 💕🙏😊
I’m so glad you’re loving this recipe and is your new favorite evening drink!