Turmeric latte: a drink for fans of a healthy lifestyle
Turmeric in food, dietary supplements and drinks has become a trend that grows stronger every year. Seeing a turmeric latte on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok tends to inspire one of two things: looking for it on a café menu or making golden milk at home. It is time to find out more about turmeric latte!
A few words about turmeric
Most of us probably think of turmeric simply as a spice that gives food an intense yellow colour and a distinctive flavour. It also has a very important place in Ayurvedic medicine in India. One of the main properties associated with turmeric is its anti-inflammatory action, particularly in relation to muscle and joint pain.
Its most prized compound, curcumin, deserves particular attention. It is associated with beneficial effects on the brain, including improved memory, a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and effects on depressive symptoms.
Turmeric also attracts interest in relation to cardiovascular conditions such as stroke, heart attack and atherosclerosis. This is linked to its reported ability to lower so-called bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol. There are also suggestions that turmeric may lower blood sugar.
When discussing turmeric and its beneficial properties, we should not overlook its use in beauty routines. Its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and soothing properties are associated with applications for various skin problems, especially blemishes, discolouration, eczema and psoriasis. It is also recommended for normal and mature skin because of its antioxidant, anti-ageing, smoothing and nourishing properties, of particular interest as wrinkles appear with age.
Turmeric latte: the recipe
First, a turmeric latte contains no caffeine. Often called golden milk, this drink is made without coffee and is therefore a caffeine-free beverage.
- Decide which milk to use. It need not be cow's milk: soy, oat or almond drinks work too. Choose whichever you prefer. We choose coconut! Read more about the options in Which milk should you choose for coffee?
- Pour approximately 300–400 ml of your chosen milk into a saucepan and warm it. Do not let it boil.
- Once it reaches the desired temperature, remove the pan from the heat. Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of ground ginger. Sweeten to taste with coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup or flavoured coffee syrup.
- Use a milk frother or blender for a better texture.
- Pour the frothed drink into a tall glass.
- Enjoy this delicate, creamy drink!
More about golden milk
There are many more ways to prepare golden milk. Some recipes use whole ingredients rather than powders. Instead of ground ginger, for example, sliced fresh ginger root is added to the saucepan, with the remaining steps following the particular recipe.
Returning to the version based on powdered spices: if you decide turmeric latte is something you will drink several times a week, it is worth making a ready-to-use spice blend. What goes into it is largely up to you. Stick to the ingredients in the recipe above or create your own combination. Other spices that work in golden milk include nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper and even cloves — ground, of course.
Good news if you prefer ready-made options: you should have little trouble finding products that are ready to prepare straight from the pack. Online choices include turmeric latte with vanilla, turmeric latte with ginger, organic golden milk spice blends, organic turmeric latte with black pepper, and versions with probiotics and saffron, among many others.
Cinnamon, turmeric and ginger can also be added to coffee, giving it more flavour and the health-related properties associated with these spices. Read more in Three healthy additions to coffee: what to add to your black brew.