Ayurvedic Golden Milk

It's a beautiful thing to make delicious food as medicine from plants grown in your own garden. This traditional healing drink was made from our first crop of fresh Turmeric root grown in our greenhouse. Turmeric is a powerful food for supporting healthy immune response, enhancing digestion and liver function and reducing inflammation. This recipe makes a delicious, milky drink which is one of the traditional Ayurvedic ways of preparing this herb. Turmeric root can also be used in making sweet foods such as bliss balls or savoury dishes such as stews and curries. You can buy fresh Turmeric at whole food stores, vegetable stores and Indian grocery stores.

Freshly harvested Turmeric root

​Ayurvedic Golden Milk
​Ingredients

• 5cm fresh turmeric root, peeled and chopped or ½ tsp Turmeric powder
• 2cm fresh ginger root, peeled and chopped or ⅓ tsp dried ginger powder
• ¾ tsp Cinnamon powder
• ½ tsp Cardamom seeds, crushed or ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• ⅛ tsp Black pepper
• Honey to taste
• 500ml full fat milk/milk alternative (coconut, almond etc)

​To prepare
Place all ingredients apart from honey in a pot and simmer gently (do not boil) for 5 - 10mins. Place in a heat proof blender or use a blending stick to whizz mixture till creamy. Serve as it is, top with extra sprinkle of cinnamon and add honey if desired. Take care of surfaces as Turmeric can easily stain objects!
Serves 2.
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Nb: It is important to heat Turmeric gently when preparing as some of the active constituents are lost on high heating. This also prevents the milk splitting, especially if using milk alternatives.
Black pepper is needed for absorption of curcumin, the active ingredient in Turmeric. Fat is also required for absorption of curcumin, so if milk used is not high in fats, include some coconut oil or nut butter into preparation.