Nutritiously rich. Heartwarmingly coloured. Packed with a well-rounded blend of spices. Golden Milk is the drink to enjoy all winter long. Great for boosting your immune system and fighting off nasty colds.
Just before Christmas I ended up with an annoying throat infection that made my voice go from normal, to high-pitched, to non-existent and back to normal all within the space of 5 minutes. It did this for about a week. Often. To everybody else, my voice and it’s apparent outlandish behaviour was quite amusing.
Now, you can call me no fun if you want, but I found those uncontrollable noises rather irritating (seriously, I am no fun when ill). And worse than that, my taste buds were blown out of the water. After a few days I went on a quest to cure my dang throat and this is what I found: Golden Milk.
Apart from Golden Milk being a spirit lifting, gloriously happy shade of yellow and a true joy to sip on as you nurse yourself back to health, this little number is loaded with goodness. And it’s all thanks to one magical, golden ingredient: turmeric – aka the spice of life.
Turmeric has acquired this nickname for good reason: it has strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. In fact there are plenty of conditions that consumption of turmeric, taken in various quantities, is regularly cited to aid or help prevent: arthritis, some cancers and depression, to name just a few.
(If this kind of information makes you happy and you want to find out more, head over to authority nutrition and soak up the whole story from their turmeric fact file.)
For now, I’m mainly concerned with the anti-inflammatory powers of turmeric, which make Golden Milk a great natural remedy for colds, sore throats and congestion. I did find it a particularly soothing drink – gently spiced with just a touch of sweetness. Hands down more pleasant than over the counter cold remedy drinks. And who could fail to be cheered up just by looking at that colour?
Confession: I like this drink and it's amazing colour ... ALOT... but I think you've worked that out already.
Have I also mentioned that turmeric and its wonder powers can help strengthen your immune system? That means that regular consumption of this drink could mean fewer bugs to fight off in the first place. Double bonus.
It’s clear that there are plenty of reasons to make yourself a mug of Golden Milk frequently for your own wellbeing. But aside from the health benefits, Golden Milk is sheer joy to drink. My version embraces a well-rounded blend of spices:
- Peppery, aromatic turmeric
- Warming ginger & cinnamon
- Herbal cardamom
- Sweet, light, vanilla
If you’re after a nourishing drink that’s big on flavour, Golden Milk is sure to please. Go make yourself a mugful and bask in its shamelessly happy yellowness… and a healthier start to 2016.
Prefer cold drinks when you have a sore throat? Give my Cold Busting Pineapple Smoothie or my Cold-Fighting Tropical Turmeric Smoothie a go.
Golden Milk
Ingredients
- 400ml/ 1 ¾cups whole milk
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 cinnamon stick (5cm/ 2 inch)
- 4 cardamom pods (bashed open)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp honey (add more to taste)
- 2 slithers fresh ginger (1-2mm thick)
Instructions
- Put all of the ingredients into a small pan and heat until scalding
- Reduce the heat to very low and allow to cook for 15 minutes, stirring occassionally
- strain through a piece of muslin and serve immediately, adding more honey to taste
This is such a staple at home for us.. Even my granny used to make it for us during winters,although without vanilla. Love the pics!
Thanks Swayam. I'm a little bit addicted to vanilla....
Hey Jane,
I hope you are feeling much better now. Would you believe it, I used to have this (minus the vanilla & vanilla) as a traditional drink growing up. We used the fresh, raw turmeric instead of powder. I still make it in cold weather. I will add the vanilla and the honey next time.
Pinning this and sharing it everywhere because this looks yummy. I love the wooden spoon have. I need more props. Such an atmospheric picture.
Thanks so much Shreyashi - hope you enjoy my pimped version. I'll bet the raw turmeric is amazing - i may have to go find some to compare the two
I've just recently become obsessed with turmeric. It's so wonderful for you! This milk looks so healing and delicious. Love that you add a little bit of honey--yum!
Hi Lucy. I know what you mean - maybe it's the lovely colour that turmeric turns things that makes it so appealing. Even just scattered into rice as it cooks to accompany a curry works wonders for me. Thanks for calling in.
Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well around the holidays! I hope you are feeling much better now. I've heard a lot about Golden Milk but still haven't tried it myself. You make it sounds delicious though and your photos are fab. I'll have to book mark it for the next time I'm feeling poorly 🙂
Thanks Emma - all fine and dandy now though. Do make yourself some golden milk - it's such a good winter drink to sip even if you're on top form (and it helps you stay that way)
I will have to keep this in my files to remember and use when we are sick! Its a beautiful drink!
Thanks Shelby - hoping you're not sick soon though. It tastes great when you're not ill too.