Turmeric lattes and chai lattes seem to be all the rage lately in the cool cafes (of which we are blessed with many here in Glasgow!). Everyone raves about the health benefits of turmeric, so I decided to make my own dairy-free and caffeine-free version, using rooibos tea (a lovely healthy caffeine-free substitute for black tea – also known as redbush).
I’m all about caffeine-free drinks because giving up caffeine can be one of the most simple and effective things we can do if we suffer from stress, anxiety, or insomnia. Sure, it can be tough because caffeine is in all the yummy drinks – and it can be a tad traumatic to give up those morning cuppas… but once you realise how easy it is to create your own soothing healthy versions, then you’ll never need to look back.
Ingredients:
1 litre water
1 tablespoon rooibos tea
1 teaspoon ground mixed spices (a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom etc that you can buy ready mixed)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon turmeric
Ground black pepper to taste
I really love black pepper, so for me ‘to taste’ means ‘keep grinding the pepper until wrist gets tired’! Be aware though, that black pepper is a stimulant, so if you’re going for maximum relaxation you may wish to skip this ingredient out.
Add all ingredients to the pot and bring to the boil. Leave to simmer on a low heat for at least 10 minutes, or longer if possible, to maximise the flavour. It will make enough for several cups.
You can also make it up the night before: bring to the boil, remove from heat and leave it overnight. Then in the morning just warm it up ready for breakfast.
Strain the liquid and blend with a tablespoon of nut butter or some coconut oil, with some sweetener if desired.
The addition of a healthy fat, along with the black pepper, helps absorption of the curcumin (the active compound in turmeric).
I blended a spoonful of Almighty Foods‘ ‘Cashew Caramello’ into mine for the ultimate touch of luxury. If you haven’t tried any of Almighty Foods’ goodies yet I highly recommend them. They’re a Dundee-based company who make amazing healthy sweet treats.
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