If you know me, you know I love tea in the afternoon (or any time of day really). It’s cozy, it’s comforting, and in the cold months especially, it’ll warm you right up. My go-to tea is a London Fog, made with Earl Grey tea, a splash of milk, a touch of vanilla simple syrup (though I rarely add sugar to mine at home), and topped with milky foam. I also love herbal tea, especially in the evenings. Give me some camomille, echinacea, ginger, or even a spiced tea, and I’m full-time cozy.

Since we’re officially in the middle of winter, I wanted to try making a single-serve option of a tea that’s packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, while offering a lovely spice. I’ve read and listened to so much about the health benefits of ginger, turmeric, and even cinnamon, so this recipe is filled to the brim, and just for you.

Now, to be very clear, I did not invent golden tea - that kudos goes to India - the below is just my twist on the beneficial beverage. The turmeric, which is native to Southeast Asia, is what offers the golden color to this hot drink. By adding black pepper and the fat from the coconut milk you increase the bioavailability of curcumin, which is the core active ingredient in turmeric - aka black pepper and fat with turmeric allows your body to absorb the health benefits of this colorful rhizome. 

This tea with its turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and green tea, is packed with nutrients for your gut, heart, and brain while reducing inflammation and aiding your immune system. It’s perfect for the long winter months ahead which, in my opinion, are meant to be enjoyed with a hot mug of something, so why not make it nutritional?

Yields: 2 cups, 1 large or two small mugs 

Equipment

• Whisk

• Mug

• Kettle, optional

• Small pot

• Fine mesh sieve, optional

• Measuring cup

• Measuring spoons

Ingredients

• ½ tbsp of green tea leaves, 1 sachet

• ½ cup hot water

• 1 cup coconut milk 

• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric 

• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, 1 tsp fresh peeled and grated 

• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ⅛ tsp ground cardamom 

• Pinch of ground black pepper, to activate turmeric’s health benefits

• 1 teaspoon honey 

• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract 

• Pinch cinnamon, optional for topping

Instructions

• Boil some water and place your green tea in your mug of choice. Pour half a cup of your boiled water over your tea sachet and let it steep for 3 minutes before straining and squeezing any excess liquid from your leaves into the tea, and throwing the remaining leaves out

• In a small pot, heat your coconut milk over medium heat, whisking gently to prevent it from sticking to the pan

• Once your coconut milk is warm and starting to steam (but not boil!), whisk in your turmeric, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper until combined. Simmer for 5 minutes to infuse the milk with all those yummy spices

• Add in your brewed green tea, honey, and vanilla, and whisk until the honey has melted 

• Pour your golden milk tea into your mug, straining if desired, and sprinkle with cinnamon

• Enjoy!

Notes

• You can substitute for black tea if that’s what you have on hand, though green tea is likely more mild. Keep that in mind when it comes to sweetening your tea later on.

• For the sweetener, you can use maple syrup instead of honey. Simply stir in as much as your tastebuds prefer!

• Because of the amount of spices, this tea will have a little bit of a texture to it, you’re welcome to strain it out if desired. If you substitute fresh ginger, you will likely want to strain it to avoid drinking ginger bits (unless you like that!)

• In order for turmeric’s health benefits to be activated it needs fat and black pepper, to increase your body’s absorption of curcumin, the core active ingredient in turmeric. Coconut milk, with its fat content, is perfect for this drink but if you don’t have it on hand or prefer a different milk, you’re welcome to substitute for dairy or nut milk. If you swap out the coconut milk, I recommend stirring in a teaspoon of coconut oil or ghee to make up that fat.

If you try this golden milk turmeric tea, tag @accentgolden in your cozy tea posts on social!