Golden milk, called leche de oro or leche dorada in Spanish, is warm milk infused with cinnamon, green cardamom, and vanilla, then spiced with turmeric, ground cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, cayenne, and clove, lightly sweetened and strained. It takes 10 minutes of preparation and about 15 minutes of cooking, and serves 4.
Also known as a turmeric latte, it is a drink of Indian origin that has become popular around the world as a comforting, aromatic warm drink.
How to Make Golden Milk?
Golden milk is usually made with coconut or almond milk, although cow’s milk works too, and its key spices are turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon. The milk is warmed with the whole spices, the ground spices and sweetener are stirred in, and it is kept on low heat for 5 minutes before straining.
Nutritional Information
Each serving of golden milk contains approximately 120 kcal, 2 g of protein, 4 g of total fat (2 g of saturated fat), 10 mg of cholesterol, 15 g of carbohydrates, 8 g of sugars, 1 g of fiber, and 50 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.
Homemade Golden Milk Recipe
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 500 ml (2 cups) of whole milk
- 2 g of green cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 piece of vanilla bean
- 1 tablespoon of ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon of sweetener or honey
- ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon of cayenne
- ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium high heat. Add the cinnamon stick, the cracked cardamom pods, and, if you like, the vanilla. Stir and heat until just before boiling, then lower the heat to the minimum.
- Add the turmeric, ground cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, cayenne, cloves, and sweetener. Stir slowly with a wooden spoon until dissolved and keep on low heat for about 5 minutes to infuse.
- Turn off the heat, let cool for a couple of minutes, and strain through a fine sieve into a pitcher or glass jar. Serve right away, dusted with a little cinnamon if you like.
Additional Tips
Add a little fat
A small amount of coconut oil added while cooking helps the body absorb curcumin, the main compound in turmeric, as does the black pepper.
Froth it
Use a hand frother or whisk just before serving for a foamy, smooth texture, like a café latte.
Do not boil the turmeric
Boiling turmeric over high heat or using too much clove or cayenne makes the drink bitter. Turmeric should be the base note, with the other spices as accents.
| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole milk | Coconut or almond drink | 1:1 | Dairy free, traditional |
| Ground turmeric | Fresh grated turmeric | 2 cm piece per serving | Earthier, more floral |
| Sweetener | Honey | 1 teaspoon | Rounder flavor |
| Cayenne | Omit | None | Milder, kid friendly |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use fresh turmeric instead of powder?
Yes. Freshly grated root adds an earthier, more floral flavor. Use about a 2 cm piece per serving, and wear gloves, since it stains much more than the powder.
2. Why does my golden milk taste bitter?
Usually because the turmeric was boiled over high heat or there was too much clove or cayenne. Keep the heat low and let turmeric be the base flavor.
3. When is the best time to drink it?
Many people enjoy it in the evening as a relaxing warm drink before bed, while others prefer it in the morning, when the ginger makes it a warming start to the day.
4. Do I need to strain it?
If you used whole spices such as vanilla bean, cardamom pods, or cinnamon sticks, yes. If you used only fine powders and frothed it well, you can skip it.
What Is Golden Milk?
Golden milk is a spiced warm milk drink rooted in Indian home cooking, where turmeric milk, or haldi doodh, has been made for generations. It gets its golden color from turmeric and has become a café favorite worldwide as the turmeric latte.
Nutritional Value
Golden milk made with cow’s milk provides calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins A, D, and B12, while the spices add aromatic compounds. Its flavor is warm and slightly spicy, and it can be made lighter with plant drinks.
Did You Know?
Turmeric belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, the same as ginger and cardamom, and is native to South and Southeast Asia, where it has been used as a spice and dye for thousands of years.
How to adapt this recipe to a vegan or vegetarian version?
How to adapt this recipe to a gluten-free version?
How to adapt this recipe to a keto (ketogenic) version?
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