Humble old ‘Haldi doodh’ has made its debut on the international stage, as Golden milk, and what’s more it’s been as much of a success internationally as it has been back home. But did you know that by adding a few extra ingredients you can take this drink to a whole new level of potency?
Get the right turmeric
Indian’s have always leveraged the potent power of turmeric, by adding it to cuisines, ,mixing it into milk, and even applying it to cuts and bruises to promote healing. Turmeric contains the active ingredient curcumin, which is known to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The first tip to making your Turmeric milk more potent is to use crushed turmeric root, fresh, as this contains far more antioxidants than regular powdered turmeric. Many turmeric powders lose their volatile oils during heating, plus they may also contain hidden contaminants. In case you cannot find a fresh stick of turmeric, then make sure the Turmeric Powder you use is cryogenically ground, so that it retains maximum potency.
Add a pinch of Black pepper
Adding a dash of black pepper powder to your golden milk helps you better absorb the goodness the turmeric has to offer. The pipirines in black pepper help reduce nausea, and are anti-inflammatory agents themselves, but one of their hidden benefits is that they help the body absorb upto 2000% times more curcumin (1),(2),(3), making them a potent combination for your golden drink.
Make the most of it with some Ginger!
A flavor that comes from the same family as turmeric, but complements it perfectly is ginger. Ginger and turmeric have been in ayurvedic concoctions for centuries, chiefly because they both belong to the Zingiberaceae family. Both contain different active ingredients. While turmeric contains curcumin, the active ingredient in ginger is gingerol. Both fight inflammation, pain and nausea, and together their effectiveness is increased. Flavor wise, ginger masks the bitterness of turmeric, making it more palatable. Ginger also helps relieve any flatulence that milk may cause, making it a great addition to your turmeric milk recipe.
Spice it up with Cinnamon!
Cinnamon, a delicious and super popular spice that comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum tree. It is a spice with one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants. It even outranks garlic in this department, making it a great addition to your turmeric milk.
Cinnamon adds a natural sweetness and oodles of flavor, which help mask the earthy tones of turmeric well. Studies have shown that cinnamon is greatly beneficial in protecting the heart, by helping lower blood sugar, as well as reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol levels. Just a pinch is enough to make your turmeric milk more delicious as well as healthier.
Bring it all together with Chia seeds
Adding half a spoonful of ground chia seeds will bring this drink together, as the chia seeds are fiber rich, and contain healthy omega 3’s adding consistency and more nutrition to your turmeric milk, making it a super potent drink that instantly boosts immunity.
If you think what started out as a simple drink is now getting a little out of hand, then worry no more, as there are several premixed turmeric drinks available, that you can buy straight off the shelves of a supermarket, and yet be rest assured that you are getting the best.
At Ella, our Turmeric Latte mix is made using cryogenic spices, to ensure that all the potency of these wonderful spices stays intact in every sip. We even went a step further and added some Ashwagandha to our Turmeric Latte mix, so that you can de-stress with every delicious mug of this great beverage. All you need to do is mix in a teaspoon of turmeric latte into hot or cold milk and voila, you’re good to go. You’re ready for a potent mix that’s microbial free, caffeine free and sugar free. All in all, a super delicious way to give your immunity that boost it needs.