Hello friend! I hope you’re having a wonderful fall season. It’s been getting really chilly here in Saskatoon so I wanted to warm up with some super cozy, delicious, an immune boosting drinks. Now is the time of year when colds and flus are starting to circulate around the office and those dreaded sniffles sink in their hooks and leave you tired and stuffy for weeks on end.

You can check out my Seasonal Support Series to learn more about how what you eat and drink and how you move our bodies can keep you from getting sick this season. Read Part One, Part One A, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and the Bonus here. Today, however, I’m going to share a super potent latte you can incorporate into your daily diet super easily and deliciously.

Most lattes are made with coffee, which can have highly stimulating and dehydrating effects on your body, and cow’s milk, which can cause inflammation or digestive issues in many people. Since I have personally never enjoyed coffee and milk does… unpleasant… things to me I decided to put a healthy spin on a classic.

I actually created this drink during the throes of a horrible flu (which may or may not have been caused by a week of fun in Mexico as I was just starting to learn about nutrition and heal my body…) during which I lost my voice. I basically just mixed together a bunch of things in my cupboard that I thought had health benefits. The recipe has since been refined, my knowledge of why the ingredients are immune supportive has been filled out, and the end result will have even your coffee loving friends saying “mmmmmm.”

The ingredients for this recipe are incredibly simple: cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, ginger, coconut milk, and raw honey. What’s important about this recipe is how you actually combine them together because if you add the spices and coconut milk to the hot water you can end up with a clumpy mess.

I chose these specific ingredients due to their amazing health benefits, especially in terms of supporting the immune system so you can prevent or fight off that nasty cold going around your workplace. I like to drink it at least a few times a week and if I feel like I’m about to get sick, at least twice a day.

Cinnamon

Does anything make your house smell quite as good as warmed cinnamon? I don’t think so! It turns out the volatile oils responsible for that delightfully homey and delicious scent also have amazing antimicrobial effects to help ward off any nasty bacteria that may be weakening your immune system.

Turmeric

This beautiful spice is going to turn your drink an amazingly vibrant yellow colour. That bright colour is an indicator of huge amounts of antioxidants and everyone should consume as many of these as possible. Additional health benefits of this earthy spice include anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibacterial actions in the body. All of these great actions will help support your body in either preventing or fighting off illness.

Ginger

This spice packs another powerful punch in terms of immune protection. If you’re already sick with a fever, its volatile oils will help promote perspiration and cool the body. Ginger is also super useful in treating sore throats and upset tummies so I like it include it as a little bit of an insurance policy. Combined with all the antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal effects of all the other ingredients, ginger definitely rounds out this bevvie so all your bases are covered. Plus it just plain tastes good and isn’t that the number one priority?

Cloves

Cloves have a very distinctive and powerful smell and if there’s one thing I learned during all my nutrition schooling it’s that the stronger the smell, the stronger the action! Like ginger, cloves are good for treating tummy aches and they have localized antiseptic properties, which is especially helpful if you’re suffering from a sore throat. Clove oil is also recommended for individuals undertaking parasite cleanses thanks to its antihelmintic action(that means it kills parasites and worms).

Coconut Milk

I like to use coconut milk as a replacement for regular dairy in most of my recipes, and not just because I’m a self-confessed coconut junkie. This milk is thick and luscious with a delicious taste that perfectly balances the spices you’ll be using. Aside from its overwhelming deliciosity, coconut milk contains a specific medium chain saturated fat called capric acid. This fat has antiviral and antimicrobial effects because it is converted to a substance called monocaprin in the body. Monocaprin is somewhat of a superhero in the body since it fights off evil bacteria, viruses, and even Candida albicans, taking some of the heat off of your immune systems.

Raw Honey

Now I’m not talking your run-of-the-mill honey that is likely packaged in a plastic bear bottle. I’m talking the good stuff. The stuff you get from farmer’s markets, health food stores, independent co-ops, or straight from the source. Some of the bigger name grocery stores are also starting to carry raw honey (also referred to as unpasteurized), so it is becoming much easier to find. This delicious sweetener actually has some pretty fantastic health benefits thanks to the various enzymes and minerals it contains. Honey has antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal effects in the body and it has antioxidant properties that help strengthen your immune system.

Alright, now that you’ve made it through all my super useful nutritional info 😉 here’s what you’ve been waiting for: The Recipe!

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Immune Supporting Turmeric Latte

Prep Time

2 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

7 mins

 

This latte is packed with anti-inflammatory spices that help boost immune function and taste oh so delicious!

Course: Drinks

Keyword: Easy Dairy Free Turmeric Latte Recipe, Easy Turmeric Tea Recipe

Servings: 1 serving

Author: Caitlin Iles

Ingredients

• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground turmeric
• ¼ tsp. dried ginger
• pinch of ground cloves & black pepper
• ¼ cup coconut milk
• 1 tbsp. raw honey I like mine slightly sweeter, so you can adjust to your taste preferences
• 1.5 cups boiled water pump it up by using steeped ginger tea!

Instructions

1. Put a kettle on to boil.

2. Combine spices in a mug. If you have a high-speed venting blender feel free to chuck all the ingredients in there and blend for 1 minute.

3. Add coconut milk. My favourite brand is the Real Thai that comes in a tetra pack or Aroy-D in a green can.

4. Whisk together until smooth and there are no visible balls of dried spice left.
5. Add boiling water and stir in honey.
6. Cover for 3-5 minutes to prevent the volatile oils, and all their goodness, from escaping.
7. Enjoy!

As with most of my recipes, this one is just a starting point. Feel free to adjust amounts to your particular taste and to get creative!

Thanks for visiting me today friend and I hope you enjoy my latte. Happy sipping!

And remember, if you need any extra support to help you feel strong and healthy, make sure you download my FREE Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan & Shopping List right here! 

Cheers,

Cait xo

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