Turmeric Latte Recipe: A Golden Coffee Alternative

In my growing collection of coffee recipes, unusual coffee specialties such as coffee with cardamom or pumpkin spice latte are almost standard. However, the strong, intense turmeric latte is an exception. Because (traditionally) there is no coffee in it.

It doesn’t matter whether you say turmeric latte or golden milk – the hot drink made from ginger, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon and a few other ingredients is said to bring maximum healthiness and cure many ailments.

Whether that’s true is questionable. The fact is that both the color and the aroma are a world of their own, which we’ll take a closer look at. And no one will say anything if you add coffee to your cup or glass. After all, it’s also a type of spice, right?

Overview: What Is a Turmeric Latte?

The turmeric latte comes from India and the Ayurvedic healing arts. In fact, it has been enjoyed there for thousands of years. The drink has a sweet, spicy, slightly hot taste, which is emphasized by ginger, cinnamon, pepper and cardamom. Turmeric provides the color, among other things. 

This exact color is probably the reason why turmeric latte has become so hyped at Starbucks and on Instagram. 

Oh, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that coconut oil is an ingredient that has just made its big appearance in bulletproof coffee.

Let’s remember: In bulletproof, coconut oil and butter combined with caffeine are supposed to make people more beautiful, smarter and healthier. While the bulletproof hype machine has since been dismantled, the turmeric latte is still alive and well.

Fat does play a role here, but it is spices and medicinal plants (such as cardamom and ginger) that are supposed to support the diet and boost the immune system. Still, before we ask whether this is possible, we ask how it is supposed to work.

Simple Turmeric Latte Recipe

Here’s a straightforward turmeric latte recipe. Feel free to tweak it to your tastes.

Turmeric Latte Ingredients

Everyone has or can get cinnamon, a plant-based drink such as oat milk, pepper and honey. But when it comes to specialty ingredients such as ginger and especially turmeric, it can be difficult in some regions. Not to mention rather expensive.

The industry knows this too and has now launched a number of golden milk powders. Depending on the product, all the spices are already included; some powders are mixed with cinnamon and a plant-based milk, while others are simply mixed with water, making them a kind of instant drink. 

I have no experience with such products, so you’ll have to find out for yourself whether a ready-made mix is ​​a good substitute for the fresh version from a pot. But one thing is certain:

If you use fresh turmeric root, the taste will be more intense and spicier – especially in combination with ginger. For a milder experience, I recommend pre-ground turmeric powder.

Method (With or Without Powder)

If you want to do it quickly, just put all the ingredients in the blender. You can then either heat up the turmeric latte or drink it cold Alternatively, put it in a milk frother or use the steam wand on a fully automatic coffee maker or espresso machine to froth it up.

Coffee Creations: Turmeric Latte Macchiato and Turmeric Cold Brew

If we look at the turmeric latte from the perspective of its health benefit fans, coffee has no place near it – see the anxious question of whether coffee is healthy. 

However, if we are not (primarily) concerned with nutrition, but rather with the exciting interplay of spiciness and honey-sweetness, I see no reason not to add turmeric flavor to coffee drinks such as latte macchiato and cold brew.

To do this, replace some of your usual milk with golden milk and add a few other ingredients depending on the recipe. But be careful:

Turmeric Latte Macchiato

Pour the golden milk into a large glass and froth the milk or non-dairy alternative. First add the milk foam, then the espresso.

Turmeric Cold Brew

Prepare cold coffee. Put ice cubes in the glass and pour in the cold brew together with the golden milk. Add a little vanilla and stir briefly before drinking.

The Best Coffee Beans: My Recommendation for Turmeric Latte Macchiato

Ginger, oats, cinnamon and turmeric. With so many assertive flavors in the cup, you need powerful coffee aromas to create a proper balance.

If you want to mix chocolate-friendly roasts like my Coffeeness beans for fully automatic machines with golden milk, you should tone down the gold content of the respective recipe a little or use fewer golden ingredients.

Coffeeness Signature Espresso Blend

High-quality beans through direct trade

Notes of Chocolate & Hazelnut

Easy on the stomach

Freshly roasted right in Brooklyn

Medium roast

Discover now

Turmeric Latte Benefits: Is Golden Milk Healthy?

In India and other parts of Asia, turmeric is traditionally said to have an awakening, healing and anti-inflammatory effect. This is due to the secondary plant substance curcumin contained in the root. 

Studies have shown that it strengthens the immune system and has an antimicrobial effect. As it happens, curcumin works with various defense cells.¹ Clinical studies have also documented its effectiveness in treating osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.² What’s more, there are also initial positive results in terms of reducing cholesterol levels and Alzheimer’s prevention.^{3 4}

That all sounds great, but the research is simply too scanty to evaluate turmeric latte in this regard. Of course, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, etc. are also considered to have healing properties in many medical traditions. There is also no definitive evidence for this.

However, you should not drink turmeric latte during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. And consult your doctor if you have to take medication regularly. According to medical experts, there are several known potential interactions with curcumin.⁵

Conclusion: Is the hype about turmeric latte justified?

It may be that consuming turmeric can offer health benefits. But too little research has been done into the root cause. So, we’re mainly left with baseless claims. 

Still, the taste and consistency are undeniably interesting, and it’s amazing what you can do with a plant-based drink in a pot on the stove. The yellow turmeric latte is, above all, an eye-catching beverage and tastes different to other coffee drinks. With or without espresso: that’s pretty much the only argument worth getting into!

Turmeric Latte FAQ

Sources

1. Allegra et al. (2022) International Journal of Molecular Sciences: The Impact of Curcumin on Immune Response: An Immunomodulatory Strategy to Treat Sepsis ↩︎
2. Boretti (2024) ACS Publications: Curcumin-Based Fixed Dose Combination Products for Cholesterol Management: A Narrative Review ↩︎
3. Bachmann (2016) Swiss Journal of Holistic Medicine: Curcuma for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: Clinical studies document the effectiveness of turmeric extracts ↩︎
4. Small et al. (2018) The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: Memory and Brain Amyloid and Tau Effects of a Bioavailable Form of Curcumin in Non-Demented Adults: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled 18-Month Trial ↩︎
5. Chrubasik-Hausmann (na) Department of Phytotherapy at the Institute of Legal Medicine at the University of Freiburg im Breisgau: Turmeric ↩︎

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