This comforting coffee alternative is the perfect accompaniment to chilly winter days and nights. The ingredients are packed full of benefits, providing your body with the ideal nurturing winter treat. Ginger enhances circulation, warming the body, in addition to being a fantastic antispasmodic and pain reliever. Cinnamon and cardamom are effective carminative herbs, easing symptoms such as bloating and aiding digestion. Nutmeg has sleep inducing qualities when used in small amounts and is a favoured sleep aid in the ancient Indian medicine system of Ayurveda, where a pinch is traditionally added into warm milk as a bedtime drink.
Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in addition to being a wonderful liver supporting plant. Turmeric is an ideal herbal support for easing pain and inflammation associated with conditions such as arthritis, which can become aggravated among the colder months and seasonal changes.
And if those benefits aren’t enough for you, it tastes delicious too! So, take a little ‘me time’, grab a blanket and cosy up with this nutritious hug in a mug :)
Ingredients:
Almond/coconut milk or any other milk of choice (turmeric is fat soluble so mixing it with healthy fats enhances absorption)
1 tsp turmeric (chopped fresh root or powder)
¼ tsp ginger (chopped fresh root or powder)
A pinch of black pepper (Piperine in black pepper increases the absorption and bioavailability of the Curcumin within turmeric)
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
A pinch of ground cardamom (or a few cardamom pods)
A pinch of ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½-1 tbsp honey or maple syrup to sweeten
Method:
Warm the milk gently in a saucepan (be careful not to boil), add in the turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and black pepper, stirring in well. Once the milk is warmed through, add in the honey (or your sweetener of choice) according to taste. Strain through a sieve (if using grated fresh roots from ginger and turmeric). Pour into a mug and enjoy!
**Top Tip: Adding in a teaspoon of Ashwagandha powder can be a wonderful support in promoting restful sleep if making this drink before bedtime in the evenings. Ashwagandha contains beneficial phytochemicals which help to relax the central nervous system. The herb has a long-standing reputation as a valued support in aiding deep sleep, calming and clarifying the mind and assisting during times of stress and overwhelm.
Enjoy!