This is my favourite (est) drink to start my day at the moment. I practice intermittent fasting, so, I don't eat breakfast. The last meal I eat in a day is about 7 PM in the evening and then the next one is at lunchtime the following day. I drink this at about 9 AM which keeps me full till about 12 - 1 PM. Hence, I get a good 15-16 hours of fasting.
There are numerous health benefits of intermittent fasting. There's plenty of information you can Google or watch on YouTube about the benefits (if you don't already know). I shall add a link below if you'd like to read about it.What goes into my Golden Chocolate Latte?
and why I drink it?
Plant-based milk, raw cacao, turmeric, ginger, bay leaf, green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon...all the goodness of these spices, herbs and roots to kickstart my day, fortifying my body and it tastes divine.
Good enough reasons to start my day with!
...and
No sugar
No gluten
No dairy
No additives
No caffeine
Just au naturale, plant power!
The healing properties of all ingredients used in this recipe are huge. I shall add some resources at the bottom of this blog for you so that you can read more in detail about the goodness of these ingredients. I am writing about them briefly here.
1. Turmeric and Ginger have multiple health benefits. They both have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They are powerful plant medicines that have existed for centuries.
#Turmeric has compounds called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory compound. #Ginger contains gingerol which is the main bioactive compound responsible for its medicinal properties.
They have been used in the East...India and China for thousands of years as spices and medicinal herbs.
Both are my favourite spices/roots (technically rhizomes), I use plenty of them in all my cooking and drinks. I like to grow them too. I love the aroma of turmeric leaves for cooking and the fragrance of ginger flowers, especially 'Hedychium coronarium' (white garland-lily or white ginger lily) which is a perennial flowering plant native to the Himalayan region of India, Nepal and Bhutan... through to Myanmar, Thailand and China.
2. Plant-based milk. You can use any one that you like...coconut milk, almond milk, hemp milk, etc. Why plant-based milk?
Because they are rich in vitamins and minerals, they have a healthy combination of mono and polyunsaturated fats, they help reduce inflammation in the gut. They also help reduce the carbon footprint compared to dairy.
3. Cacao is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, contains minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, manganese...and who doesn't like #chocolate! yummm!
4. Bay leaf is a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium. I believe it also contains enzymes that help breakdown proteins and thus, help digestion.
5. Green cardamom is a sweet-smelling, highly fragrant spice. It is native to India, the seeds and oils are thought to have wonderful medicinal properties and have been used in ancient medicine for centuries. They contain properties that may help lowering blood pressure, digestive problems, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc...do read in detail in the link below, it has many benefits.
6. Cloves, another sweet and aromatic spice used in many baked goods and Indian cuisine. It is a versatile spice that can be used pretty much in any kind of cooking, it adds a nice soft spicy warmth to any food. It also has multiple health benefits...high in antioxidants, improves liver health, regulates blood sugar, promotes bone health, etc.
7. Cinnamon is a spice that has been used as an ingredient throughout history, dating back as far as Ancient Egypt. It has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years and now modern science has confirmed what has been known for ages.
#Cinnamon is another sweet, warm, fragrant spice that is also pretty versatile and can be used in sweet or savoury cooking. It is brimming with health benefits. It helps lower blood sugar levels and has a powerful anti-diabetic effect. It is loaded with antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, etc.
Ingredients:
Water
Any plant-based milk - coconut, almond or hemp
Ginger root - 3 fine slices
Bay leaf - 1
Green Cardamom - 3 pods (lightly crushed)
Cloves - 3 to 5 (whole)
Cinnamon powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Raw cacao - 1 teaspoon or dark chocolate (70-80% cacao) - 2 squares
Turmeric - 1/8 teaspoon
Optional - a teaspoon of good fat (some examples are olive oil, coconut oil, almond butter, peanut butter). I sometimes add a teaspoon of almond butter. Good fats are fuel for your brain and heart.
Serves: 1 Preparation Time: 1 min Cooking Time: 7 mins
Method:
Pour some plant-based milk into a pan, use your mug as a measuring cup for the amount you would like to drink. I normally add 3 portions of milk and 1 portion of water. It's entirely up to you, whether you would like to do the same or make it 100% milky.
Add all ingredients and let simmer in low heat allowing the spices to infuse gently into the milk for 7 minutes. That's it! It's ready! Pour it into your mug using a tea strainer and enjoy!
...and that's a happy me ready for the day!
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