A turmeric latte is a healthy, aromatic hot drink made of turmeric and milk. It’s a fantastic way to add more turmeric to your diet.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has received worldwide attention due to its numerous health benefits, and Turmeric is an important part of the traditional system of medicine called Ayurveda.
Try this easy Turmeric Latte recipe and let us know what you think in the comments! Read more health benefits of this delicious drink below.
Turmeric Latte Recipe
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Serving Size: 1
Ingredients
- One cup milk (either cow’s milk* or non-dairy milk like soy, oat, almond, cashew, rice or full-fat, canned coconut milk is fine.)
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- ¼-⅛ tsp ginger powder
- ¼-⅛ tsp black pepper powder *
- Raw sugar, maple syrup or brown rice syrup (optional)
- ¼ tsp cinnamon powder for dusting
You may also add additional spices like a half teaspoon of fennel seeds or cardamom powder. But these are optional. It’s completely your choice to add one spice or more than one spice, or none at all to your turmeric latte.
The Importance Of Milk And Black Pepper
*According to Ayurveda, cow’s milk acts as a fat and water soluble media for the active ingredients in the herbs. So milk will be helpful in absorbing the active ingredients of the turmeric.
In the Ayurvedic texts, it is mentioned that herbal medicine should be given with an anupana or 'vehicle'. A 'vehicle' or medium helps in the easy administration of an herb and assists the action of that herb. Ayurvedic textbooks considered milk one of the best mediums or anupanas for herbs.
Clinical studies also showed that curcumin (the main active ingredient of turmeric) showed high bioavailability, faster rate and better absorption when given with a fat medium.
Fats in the milk will serve this purpose and provide additional health benefits as well.
**Black pepper also boosts the absorption of curcumin, the main ingredient in turmeric.
Steps For Making Turmeric Latte
- Take a saucepan and add all the ingredients to it.
- Heat over a medium flame, whisking constantly.
- Use a milk frother or electric frother if you have one to get a frothy and creamy texture.
- Add sugar, maple syrup or brown rice syrup to taste.
- When all ingredients are mixed well, remove it from the heat.
- Pour into your favorite mug and sprinkle with cinnamon powder. Sip and savor your golden turmeric latte.
More Turmeric Latte Benefits
Besides being tasty, turmeric latte has numerous health benefits.
Turmeric is known as Haridra in Sanskrit. Haridra means 'that which improves the skin complexion'.
Haridra has been a part of this traditional system of medicine since ancient Vedic times. The eminent Ayurvedic text books describe the medicinal properties and therapeutic uses of Turmeric.
Turmeric balances all three doshas, has anti-inflammatory properties, has analgesic properties, is helpful in wound healing, anorexia and diabetes.
It is useful in various skin disorders and acts as a natural detoxifying herb. It has antimicrobial properties and is helpful in urticaria, anemia, cough and cold, asthmatic conditions, chronic respiratory problems and itching problems. It is helpful in expelling increased Pitta dosha by purgation.
It has also received great interest from the scientific community because of its main active constituent, curcumin. Curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The beautiful golden color of turmeric is due to curcumin.
Curcumin, also called diferuloylmethane, is the main natural polyphenol found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric). It is responsible for the medicinal properties of turmeric.
Modern research has shown that turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is helpful in arthritis and useful in diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity.
It has anti-anxiety effects and eases muscle soreness. It also has anti-cancer properties. It’s helpful in inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, uveitis, peptic ulcer and H. Pylori infection.
Give this turmeric latte recipe a try! Include turmeric in your diet and enjoy a yummy and delightful beverage with multiple health benefits.
Let us know how you liked it in the comments!
References
1.Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no. 162, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
2.Greger, Michael. “Why Pepper Boosts Turmeric Blood Levels.” NutritionFacts.org, 5 Feb. 2015, nutritionfacts.org/2015/02/05/why-pepper-boosts-turmeric-blood-levels/.
3.Hewlings, Susan J., and Douglas S. Kalman. “Curcumin: A Review Of Its’ Effects On Human Health.” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664031/.
4.Gupta, Subash C., et al. “Therapeutic Roles Of Curcumin: Lessons Learned From Clinical Trials.” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535097/.