Turmeric Latte

My husband is not a coffee drinker. Whereas I’m all about the coffee, but don’t want the caffeine! I’ve always had a thing for coffee flavor, but caffeine and I don’t get along, so it’s decaf for me.

When my husband came back from a working breakfast a while back he raved about the turmeric latte he ordered.

I love using turmeric in cooking, but I have to admit I had never had a turmeric latte, sometimes called a golden latte or golden milk.

I decided to give it a try and in about 5 minutes time, I had a beautiful golden cup of goodness. No caffeine, no refined sugar, dairy-free, and full of nutrients. It had a spicy, warm, and sweet taste. Pure perfection!

I think this Golden Turmeric Latte recipe just might replace my decaf Americano!

What is a turmeric latte?

A turmeric latte is a warm drink made with milk, turmeric, warm spices, and often a sweetener. Some recipes include coconut oil, black pepper, cinnamon, and ginger.

In my recipe, I eliminate the coconut oil and pepper and use cardamom instead of cinnamon and ginger. I just love the flavor of cardamom and it pairs so well with turmeric.

Why You’ll Love this Turmeric Latte

• No caffeine which makes for a perfect evening drink!
• 4 simple ingredients
• 5 minutes start to finish
• Warm and comforting
• Sweet and spicy
• Full of the health benefits of turmeric

Ingredients and Notes

Unsweetened Almond Milk: I use almond milk in this recipe, but you can use any milk you desire. Coconut milk is especially creamy and decadent, and oat milk froths nicely.

Ground Turmeric: Widely available turmeric is what gives curries their yellow color. Turmeric leaves a yellow stain on anything that it gets on so be careful!

Cardamom: You can find this spice in the spice section of most grocery stores. It has a warm and fragrant flavor with hints of pine and fruit. If you don’t have cardamom you could use ground cinnamon of ground ginger.

Maple Syrup: A tablespoon of maple syrup gives this latte a touch of sweet flavor. You could also use organic cane sugar, coconut sugar, honey, or agave syrup if you prefer.

Tools and Equipment

Small Saucepan: Used to warm the milk.

Frother Wand or Blender: To get a nice frothy finish use a hand frother, or transfer to a small single-serve blender, and blend on high for a few seconds to get the same frothy texture. If using a blender place a paper towel on top of the lid before blending, as even when the lid is on, some of the liquid has a tendency to escape.

Whisk: If you don’t have a frother wand or a small blender, you can always use a whisk to help create frothy milk.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Heat 1 cup of almond milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering but not boiling.

Step 2: Add turmeric, cardamom, and maple syrup. Whisk to combine.

Step 3: Use a handheld frother to create a frothy foam. Or pour into a small blender, tightly fitted with a lid, and firmly hold while you blend until frothy foam forms.

Step 4: Pour into a mug and top with a pinch of cardamom or a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Tips for Making Golden Turmeric Lattes

• Use a milk frother to get the nice frothy foam we all love with our lattes. If you don’t have one you can also transfer it to a blender and blend for 5-10 seconds to create a nice foam.
• When heating your milk do not bring it to a boil, bring it to a low simmer on medium-high heat, then add turmeric and spices. You don’t want to burn or scorch your milk.
• Adjust the spice to your liking. A little turmeric goes a long way. I find ½ a teaspoon per serving is the perfect amount, but feel free to decrease or increase the amount slightly.
• Cardamom gives an earthy sweet and spicy flavor. Decrease the amount of cardamom if it’s too spicy or sub for ground cinnamon or ginger if you don’t have it.
• For the full health benefits of turmeric add a little black pepper to your latte. Black pepper helps with the absorption of curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) which is associated with its many health benefits.

Turmeric Latte Benefits

• Anti-Inflammatory– Curcumin is the ingredient in turmeric that gives it many of its health benefits. Inflammation is associated with many chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and metabolic syndrome. Curcumin in turmeric fights chronic inflammation.
• Increases Antioxidant Enzymes– One of the known causes of aging and many diseases is oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Curcumin neutralizes free radicals, and also helps your body create its own antioxidant enzymes.
• Improves Brain Function-Boosts the brain hormone BDNF which increases brain neurons.
• Lowers Risk of Heart Disease– Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease. Studies have associated endothelial dysfunction with heart disease, and curcumin improves endothelial function.