Turmeric Latte
GLUTEN FREE · DAIRY FREE · VEGAN OPTION · paleo option
This latte is an anti-inflammatory powerhouse, and a great addition to any gut-healing regime. It can also comfortably be used during an IBD flare. The spices makes this a truly warming drink, which is especially comforting during the winter months.
Turmeric Latte, or ‘Golden Milk’, can be an acquired taste, so feel free to start with a smaller turmeric dose and build your way up. This recipe is on the milder side however, as I tailored it during an IBD flare and so could not tolerate very strong flavours while feeling ill. By all means do play around with the spice quantities if you want it stronger.
This drink is super easy to make, doesn’t take long at all, and makes a nice and healthful alternative to the cup of coffee many of us tend to rely upon!
The Ingredients
Non-dairy milk
Choose your favourite non-dairy milk for this, keeping in mind the variation in frothing-capability. For instance, rice milk (very mild in taste and therefore one of my favourites) doesn’t froth, so you may prefer something like almond or coconut milk instead. Coconut milk suits the turmeric flavour particularly well.
Paleo milk options: almond, cashew, coconut, hazelnut, hemp.
AIP milk options: coconut, tigernut (chufa).
Other: oat, rice, soy.
Turmeric
The key anti-inflammatory player in this latte. For a full rundown on turmeric’s hero spice status, click here.
Black pepper
The piperine in black pepper helps release, or ‘activate’, turmeric’s anti-inflammatory compounds, making them more bioavailable.
Cinnamon
A great digestive aid, with blood sugar-regulating properties.
Ginger
Another digestive aid, which is also anti-inflammatory.
Honey
A great natural sweetener, honey has anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Raw honey is even more nutritious, however, it could be argued that as the latte will be heated, any additional benefits raw honey offers will be neutralised when it is heated, so feel free to go with a good quality ‘regular’ honey.
For a vegan option, sub with maple syrup, but maybe use a bit less than the 1 teaspoon.
For a sugar-free option, you can leave the honey out altogether.
Vanilla extract
Gives the latte a more well-rounded flavour.
Nut butter (cashew/almond)
As well as improving the taste and making the latte creamier overall, nut butter is a source of fat, which increases turmeric’s absorbability (turmeric is fat-soluble).
Collagen powder (optional)
This is an optional addition to the recipe, but it gives the latte an extra boost, especially in terms of gut support and healing.
Leave this out for a vegan latte.
TURMERIC LATTE
Ingredients
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp (raw) honey (replace with maple syrup for vegan option)
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- small pinch of ginger
- small pinch of black pepper
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp cashew/almond butter (optional)
- 2 scoops collagen powder (optional)
Instructions
- Warm up the latte mixture in a small saucepan and then pour into mugs and serve.
- Sprinkle more cinnamon over the top if desired.
Notes:
· Feel free to tweak the spice quantities according to your own tastes! I don't like things too gingery so I only use a pinch here, but you can easily add more than that if you like. · Adding in the cashew/almond butter is optional but recommended as it gives the latte a lovely creaminess. Plus it is also a source of good fats, the presence of which will increase the bioavailability of turmeric's healthful properties. Bonus! · The option to add collagen powder is an opportunity to increase the gut-healing potential of the drink. · Make it Paleo by opting for almond, cashew, coconut, hazelnut or hemp milk.