Turmeric Lattes Are Saving Me From Starbucks

By Jennifer Drummond, ND

It’s autumn, and pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks have been beckoning me to drink them for some time. I have pretty good willpower for the most part, but something about pumpkin pie spice overrides my brain. I don’t
even realize I’ve opened the door to the café and have paid for my latte until it’s too late.

Last autumn, however, was different. I “discovered” turmeric lattes. Yes, I’m a bit slow on the bandwagon for these things as turmeric lattes are not a new concept. But, for me, it saved my cravings and my wallet from the pumpkin-spiced latte last year.

What’s so good about these lattes? Well, it’s loaded with spices that are beneficial for your health. You can stick to the recipe or add different spices for different effects and taste. Feeling more chilled? Add a bit more ginger and a pinch of cayenne. Having some digestive upset? Sprinkle on
a bit of cardamom with cinnamon.

And why turmeric?

A powerful herb, turmeric is used for decreasing inflammation in the digestive system, brain, muscles and joints. It is anti-cancer and has research behind it as a valuable aid for anxiety, depression and Alzheimer’s disease. It also has antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties.

One word of caution with turmeric. Some people find it can cause gas if they take too much. If this happens, reduce the turmeric amount by half. If you don’t care for pepper or spice, you can omit the black pepper and cayenne. Black pepper allows the turmeric to go beyond the intestinal lining to effect the rest of the body. Cayenne is a circulatory stimulant and warms the body. For more information about the different spices in the latte recipe, click here.

Here’s the recipe:

Turmeric Latte

1 – 2 cups of milk (coconut, almond, oat, cashew, or macadamia nut milk)
1 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger powder (or 1/2 tsp grated ginger)
Pinch of black pepper (optional)
Pinch of cayenne (optional)
1 tsp of maple syrup

**Other options for spices include 1 tsp of garam masala, 1 – 2 tsp of cacao powder.

Whisk all ingredients together in a pot and heat up over the stove. When simmering, you can take off and whisk again to bring to more of a frothy consistency.

Serve and enjoy!

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