Golden Milk Latte

     Colds SUCK! However, there are tricks left and right on how to make them more bearable. One of the less popular ones (and my favorite by far) are golden milk lattes. I had my first when I was a kid and my mom was trying something new. My entire family hated them at the time, but as an adult, I tried it again and now I love them! 

    A golden milk latte is made of warm almond milk mixed with a variety of spices. It is packed with antioxidants and can help with both inflammation and immunity. On top of that, with the combination of the warmth and spices, it clears out the sinuses SUPER WELL. 

    The main ingredients in gold milk are almond milk, turmeric, and black pepper. Beyond that, there are a million different ways to make it. These three ingredients are important because almond milk pairs well with turmeric and animal milks have lactose that can actually increase congestion. So, if you don't want to use almond milk, then the next best option is to use coconut milk. The numeric, of course, is the star of the show here. Its what makes the milk golden. Tumeric's main benefit is its anti-inflammatory properties. It can help relieve swelling as well as improve blood sugar, cholesterol, immunity, and more! The weird ingredient, black pepper, seems weird for a cozy drink. However, it is necessary to activate the numeric. Without black pepper, you're just drinking powder. With it, the tumeric is activated and your body is actually able to absorb all of the benefits. 

    Personally, I think that almond milk, turmeric, and black pepper alone, is boring and kind of gross tasting. So, in my basic golden milk recipe, I like to add vanilla for flavor, honey for some sweetness and soothing properties, and cinnamon for its anti-inflammatory and immune benefits along with flavor. From there, there are a ton more things you can add to your golden milk lattes but they're not necessary. Some of the extras I like to add from time to time are coconut cream to add creaminess, ground ginger for pain relief, inflammation reduction, and nausea reduction, cayenne and cardamom for flavor and to help clear the sinuses a bit, and nutmeg also for flavor. You can add all of these extras or none, that is one of my favorite things about golden milk, you can totally make it your own and adjust it based on your needs and tastes. 

    To actually make golden milk, all you have to do is dump everything in a small saucepan and whisk everything together over low heat until it is combined well. You can make it as hot as you want or you can even put it in the fridge to save for later or drink over ice. Personally, I think it is WAY better hot but some prefer iced. Because there are so many spices in it, they won't all totally dissolve. This might make it so that there is some grittiness or spices settled at the bottom of your mug. It doesn't bug me but you can pour your finished and hot milk through a coffee filter or cheese cloth to remove the larger chunks and just keep the stuff that infused itself into the milk. This may prevent some benefits but it is unlikely. 

    The result is a creamy sweet but slightly spicy drink that soothes any sore throat and cough while also cleating your sinuses right up and helping your body fight further infection. It is my go to drink to help kick any sickness quickly  (and with more tastiness). 

    What did you think of this recipe? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Use the comment section below!