The Power of Turmeric + The World's Easiest Instant Golden Milk Latte (Recipe)

If you follow food related blogs or Instagram pages, you may have noticed a trend: turmeric milk is everywhere. It seems like everyone in the know is sipping on some version of this golden elixir, and for good reason. Not only is it super tasty, but the main star ingredient - TURMERIC - is loaded with some incredible health benefits. 

Turmeric: The Queen Spice

Turmeric, while often referred to has a "spice", is actually a rhizome, in fact a member of the ginger family. If you are lucky enough to come across it fresh in the produce market, you'd be able to spot it easily due to its unique knobby shape and tell-tale bright orange hue. While turmeric's colorful pigment is easy to spot in recipes (and on anything and everything else  - watch out, it stains!), it's health benefits, while not as noticeable with the eye, are equally potent. And it's all thanks to a little something called curcumin. 

What is curcumin? 

Curcumin is the bioactive compound found in turmeric root responsible for both its coloration and its strong anti-inflammatory benefits. Curcumin has been found to fight inflammation on a molecular level. Why is this such great news? Because health experts have agreed that most diseases of the human body can be traced back to one common denominator: inflammation. Curcumin also boosts the body's ability to fight free radicals, meaning it's a potent antioxidant as well. Aside from that, it has also been shown to be beneficial for the brain, the cardiovascular system, the digestive system, and in the treatment of arthritis.

While many of us have only experienced this delicious and health-promoting spice in savory dishes like curries, sauces, or soups, its versatility certainly doesn't end there. There are many ways to enjoy the wonders of turmeric, one of our favorites being in the form of a warm and creamy, boldly flavored, earthy, and slightly spicy beverage that can easily take the place of a traditional latte on days when you want the comfort but not the jolt (although you could technically add real coffee into the mix as well!). While turmeric milk and lattes are trending pretty hard right now, the concept of making a milky-sweet beverage from turmeric can actually be traced back thousands of years to ancient India, where turmeric milk was used as a healing elixir of sorts to treat a variety of ailments ranging from digestive disorders to arthritic and inflammatory conditions. The traditional recipe is made with a turmeric paste, boiled milk, honey, and black pepper, but our version is 100% plant based and lightning-quick to make, thanks to our creamy Dastony Stone Ground Almond and Coconut Butters. We utilize turmeric powder because, while not as potent as the fresh root, it is simply so convenient and accessible. It's definitely worth it to source out a very high quality, organic turmeric powder (we love Simply Organic), so you can get maximum health benefits and flavor payoff. 

Superfood Insider Tip: Dont Forget The Black Pepper

The curcumin in turmeric can be challenging for the body to absorb. Black pepper boosts the bioavailability of curcumin due to another bioactive compound called piperine. Adding just a small amount of black pepper is enough to aid in the the body's absorption of curcumin drastically, research shows by up to 2,000%. 

The Recipe 

The World's Easiest Instant Golden Milk Latte 

Makes 16 oz, or 1-2 servings

Ingredients

1.5 Tbs Dastony Stone Ground Almond Butter (Or Sprouted Almond Butter)

1 Tbs Dastony Stone Ground Coconut Butter

16 oz pure water 

1 tsp turmeric 

1 tsp vanilla 

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

1/4 tsp black pepper 

1-2 Tbs raw honey or maple syrup - sweeten to taste

Instructions 

1. Heat water on a stove top until it bubbles but isn't yet boiling. 

2. Add water to blender with nut butters, and remainder of ingedients, and blend until creamy and frothy. Heating the water first will allow the coconut butter to melt and blend with the almond butter to create an instant nut milk base.

NOTE: We can only recommend our Dastony butters fort the purpose of blending into a milk as they are stone ground into an absolutely perfectly broken down, silky consistency. Our low temperature grinding process also preserves a very fresh, clean flavor. Results with other brands may vary drastically.