Warm and cozy golden turmeric tonic
With September here and fall quickly approaching, it feels like the perfect time to share a recipe for something warm and comforting, like my Golden Turmeric Tonic.
While turmeric, aka the ‘golden spice’, may have only shown up on the radar of wellness chasers (like myself) in the last few years, practitioners of Ayuvedic and Chinese medicine have been using turmeric to treat a myriad of health issues including inflammation, skin diseases, poor digestion, and various liver conditions for eons.
Knowing this, I try to consume as much turmeric as I can.
Whether it’s a smoothie or chia pudding for breakfast or a soup or stew for dinner, turmeric’s very subtle flavor makes it fairly easy to include in just about any kind of dish. But my absolutely favorite way to add more turmeric to my diet is to make a gentle, warm ‘golden tonic’ to sip on at night. In fact, I enjoy it so much that I started making large batches, bottling it, and storing it in the fridge so I can sip on some throughout the day too!
The majority of research available on the health benefits of turmeric tends to focus on it’s anti-inflammatory properties and support of detoxification (specifically it’s effect on lessening the degree of severity associated with certain types of arthritis) but recent studies on turmeric intake also include it’s potential for balancing blood sugar and improving cognitive function.
While I don’t have any major ailments to speak of at the moment that I’m using turmeric to treat, I will say that, knowing all of the wide-ranging health conditions that it’s believed to improve, really encourages me to include it as a part of my daily diet.
If you haven’t found a way to incorporate more turmeric into your diet, there’s no better time to start than right now. Whether you’re in need of a healthy pick-me-up or simply looking for something warm, cozy and healthy to sip on this fall, look no further than the recipe below. I've even included some of my favorite optional add-in ingredients to enhance the healthy benefits.
Golden Turmeric Tonic
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Yields: approximately 64 ounces
Ingredients
1.5 liters of hot water
3/4 cup plant-based milk of choice
2 tbsp freshly grated turmeric root (or ground powder)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground vanilla bean powder
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
1.5 tbsp coconut butter
5-10 drops of liquid stevia (or 1-2 packets of granulated sweetener of choice)
Optional add-in ingredients:
beauty shroom vegan collagen powder by moon juice
ashwaghanda powder
pearl powder
maca powder
Directions
Fill a large kettle with about 1.5 liters of water and bring it to a boil
Add hot water and all remaining ingredients to a blender and blend on a low-medium speed until all of the ingredients are well mixed.
Pour tonic into air tight containers (I use 32 oz. mason jars) and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Enjoy hot or cold. To reheat, add tonic to a small sauce pan and cook on the stove top on a low heat.
