From the Ayurvedic tradition, Golden Milk Latte is a warm and comforting drink that is anti-inflammatory, is beneficial to the nervous system, and gives a boosts the immune system. Skip the coffee or hot chocolate just this once and try a Golden Milk Latte!
What Kind of Milk Works Best?
This version of Golden Milk Latte uses a combination of coconut milk and almond milk. Feel free to try different kinds of milk in this recipe (about 4 cups total), according to what you prefer. I find that coconut milk gives a natural sweet taste and the creamiest texture due to its high fat content. The combination of coconut milk and almond milk makes each serving lower in fat, but still has the sweet, creamy taste.
If you want to get a foamy texture like a commercial latte, you’ll need to use a milk frother.
What Makes Golden Milk Latte a Healing Drink?
According to Ayurveda (the traditional Hindu system of medicine based on the idea of balance in bodily systems), golden milk reduces excess vata in the body. Basically, the main characteristics of the golden milk latte – warming, mildly sweet, heavy, and creamy – are perfect for balancing out excess vata (dryness, roughness, and coldness).
Golden Milk Latte gets its vibrant color from turmeric, a powdered spice that is anti-inflammatory, fights tumor growth, and helps combat depression.
And just the act of sitting down to enjoy a warm cup of anything works to reduce excess vata by calming the nervous system and making you feel more grounded.
What about Ashwagandha?
This Golden Milk Latte recipe includes Ashwagandha, a medicinal herb made from powdered roots and leaves of the Withania somnifera plant. Ashwagandha has become well known beyond Ayurvedic medicine in recent years for its healing properties, such as increasing energy levels, soothing the nervous system, balancing out cortisol and testosterone levels, and more.
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Golden Milk Latte
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Cuisine: Ayurvedic
Ingredients
- 1 13.5-ounce can coconut milk, full fat (Thai Kitchen brand recommended)
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger or 3 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey (to taste)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- pinch fresh black pepper, finely ground
- generous pinch sea salt or Himalayan salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together all ingredients.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, then turn to low and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- If using fresh ginger, transfer golden milk to a blender and blend until smooth. If you’d like your latte to be extra foamy, blend a little longer or use a milk frother.
- Serve warm with a sprinkle of ground cardamom.
Variations
- Try some different spices, such as nutmeg, allspice, or cloves.
- If you can’t find cardamom, substitute with a large pinch of ground cloves.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon Ashwaganda for extra healing properties.
Notes
- Use 4 cups almond milk instead of a mixture of coconut milk and almond milk.
Golden Milk Latte Spice Mix
Try making a large batch of the spice mixture in this recipe so that you can make single serving batches of golden milk latte with 1 rounded teaspoon spice mix, 1 cup of your favorite kind of milk, a dash of vanilla extract, and about 1 teaspoon sweetener of choice.
Here is a scaled up version of the spice mix that makes about 32 servings:
1/4 cup ground ginger
1/4 cup ground turmeric
2 tablespoons ground cardamom
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
4 teaspoons Ashwagandha powder (optional)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt or Himalayan salt
Store the spice mix in an airtight glass jar in the pantry (away from light and heat) and it should stay fresh for a month or two.
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