Golden Milk Latte

Golden milk has been a comfort drink for generations, long before anyone called turmeric a supplement. This is a small, warm thing you can make for yourself in 5 minutes, and that ease matters. The simplest practices are the ones you actually repeat.

The medicine here is turmeric, whose active compound is studied for its role in calming inflammation, alongside ginger, another warming root often used to settle the gut. They sit in a base of coconut milk, a source of fat that helps your body absorb them. This is a low-histamine drink, a gentle choice if you are also watching that.

Let the spices steep, then strain them out, and notice the color as you pour. Golden is exactly right. Hold the warm cup, take a breath, and let this be a few minutes of stillness before the day closes. The way you drink it is part of what it does for you.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon honey, to taste
• 1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla (or 1/4 teaspoon vanilla powder)

The source lists a pinch of black pepper and notes in its own ingredient list to omit it for AIP, so leave it out. Black pepper is added in mainstream golden milk to help the body absorb curcumin, and it is off-limits on strict elimination. The drink is still warm and golden without it.

Method

• Bring the water, coconut milk, cloves, cinnamon stick, turmeric, and ginger to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring as it heats.
• Lower the heat and let it simmer gently for about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the honey and vanilla. Strain out the whole cloves and cinnamon stick. Serve hot, or chill and pour over ice. Refrigerated leftovers keep a few days for gentle reheating; chilled versions will thicken.

*Adapted from acleanplate.com*