"Instant" Golden Milk

Golden Milk is adapted from a traditional drink in Ayurveda that has been used for centuries to settle the body and the mind. It typically consists of turmeric and other spices, simmered in milk (dairy or plant-based), sweetened with honey, and enhanced with a bit of fat like ghee or coconut oil. The turmeric turns the beverage a rich golden color, hence the name “golden milk.”

My “Instant” Golden Milk contains raw honey from a local Connecticut apiary, turmeric (for inflammation), cinnamon and ginger (for digestion), and the adaptogens ashwagandha and maca to help your body better respond to stress. This concoction is technically called an electuary. An electuary is a combination of honey and powdered herbs. The herbs infuse the honey, but since they are powdered they don’t need to be strained out. This thickens the honey into a paste that you can scoop out and add to smoothies or oatmeal… but my favorite use is to create a form of Golden Milk to sip on before bed.

How to use it: You can really use this however you like, feel free to play around with it. Use regular milk or plant-based milk. Add fat, or don’t. See what your body responds to. Here is a starting point… Scoop 1/2 Tablespoon of the electuary into a mug, add about 2 ounces of very hot water (avoid boiling water as you don’t want to cook the honey). Stir the honey-herb mixture with the water to loosen it. Then add 4 ounces of warm milk of your choice. Alternatively bring the milk to a simmer in a pan and whisk in the herbal honey. 

You can also make this stronger by using more of the honey-herb mixture. One of my herbalism teachers, Maria Noël Groves always said she liked a small strong cup, using only about 4 ounces of milk.

This drink is not only nourishing to the nervous system but it is a beautiful color! So be sure to take the time to enjoy it with all of your senses.

Raw local honey from Stonewall Apiaries, Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), Maca (Lepidium meyenii), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Black pepper (Piper nigram)

*These products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is for educational purposes only and does not serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before taking any herbs if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.