Spiced Turmeric Latte
I have been making this easy Spiced Turmeric Latte every day. It is so good, so delicious, so healthful, so satisfying, and a comforting warming feeling right down to your core. It is a wonderful and welcome hot beverage on a cold winter’s morning and also in the middle of the summer on a hot summer’s day. Try this latte instead of your morning coffee – you won’t regret it! And isn’t mine pretty in this vintage cup and saucer that brings back very fond memories for me!
Turmeric is a powerful spice, originating from India. It has been used to season, colour and flavour foods and has been a medicinal root herb for centuries. More recently, modern Western medicine has realized the value of this amazing spice and the benefits it provides.
Turmeric - curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. To have it be more easily absorbed into the bloodstream, to be more bioavailable and beneficial to our health, it is best to consume turmeric with black pepper as it contains piperine, a natural alkaloid, which hugely increases the bioavailability of the curcumin.
Turmeric and Brain Health – the curcumin in turmeric boosts levels of the brain hormone BDNF. BDNF increases the growth of new neurons as we age which helps fight degenerative processes in the brain and improves memory and attention. Research has also shown that curcumin crosses the blood-brain barrier and can help remove the plaque tangles in the brain that cause Alzheimer’s. The boost in BDNF levels can also boost mood and lessen depression that is attributed to reduced levels of BDNF.
Turmeric and Heart Health – the deterioration of the lining of blood vessels (the endothelium) is one of the major causes of heart disease. Curcumin improves the function of the blood vessels, which in turn helps to regulate blood pressure and clotting. This is true in younger individuals as well as older adults - studies have been shown that consuming curcumin is as effective as exercise in post-menopausal women to support heart health (so imagine the benefits to your body if you do both – consume turmeric/curcumin and exercise!).
Turmeric and Arthritis Relief – as the curcumin in turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, it may also improve the symptoms of arthritis. Research has shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis found as much relief or more from curcumin than an anti-inflammatory drug.
As always, when you make this recipe, I would love to see your creation so please post a photo of your Turmeric Latte goodness and tag my IG account #RenataCollective or leave a comment with your thoughts!
Prep Time: 10 minutes / Cook time: time to heat up the milk / Servings: 1 large serving / 2 regular servings
Ingredients
1 1/3 Cups Oat Milk (or any non-dairy or dairy milk of your choice)
1 teaspoon Ground Turmeric
½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Ground Ginger
¼ teaspoon Ground Cloves
¼ teaspoon Ground Coriander
A Generous Grind of Fresh Black Pepper (or less than 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper)
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup (use more or less as suits your taste and sweet tooth)
How It’s Made
Heat the milk in a small pan on the stovetop over low-medium heat until it is steaming and JUST about to boil. Or in a microwavable bowl or measuring cup, heat the milk for 2 minutes until it is hot.
Add the spices and then the maple syrup to the hot milk.
Whisk to mix the spices and maple syrup into the milk.
Carefully pour the milk mixture into your mug. Whisk or froth, if you have a frother.
You may find that some of the spices collect on the bottom of your cup when you are nearing the end of this delicious latte. Don’t let them go to waste! Add a splash of oat milk or warm water, swirl your cup to mix them and drink it up!
Enjoy!
