The truth about turmeric lattes...

Turmeric has been used in India for centuries as a medicinal herb, and the tradition of drinking turmeric has been around for just as long. More commonly known as ‘haldi doodh’ translating to 'turmeric milk' in India, this cup of golden milk has become more widely known as a turmeric latte in the west.

Turmeric is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, which can help to reduce inflammation levels in the body, improve digestion, detoxify the body, and even relieve pain. The list of benefits is almost endless, however, in the UK you are probably not getting the full effect from your average turmeric latte. I know, this hurts to know! All those days of hard work scrubbing the yellow off your tongue and trying to ease that coffee addiction for your health did not pay off. Why is that?

Well, how much turmeric is really going into that latte of yours? A small serving of turmeric, sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon in a glass of steamed milk is the standard recipe in the west. This is drastically different in India where turmeric is the main star of the drink, paired with a good pinch of black pepper to help with the absorption of curcumin.

Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric that provides all these health benefits, yet its kryptonite is the fact that it has low bioavailability. In simple terms, it is poorly absorbed when orally ingested and that is why black pepper comes to save the day. The recipe does not just stop there though, Indian households pair a range of fresh herbs and superfoods into the mix to create a healthy balanced beverage.

If you are familiar with the former explanation as the lingering taste of cinnamon and a lack of black pepper rings a bell in your mind, its time for change. This means the time has come to swap out the sugary yellow coloured beverage for a more authentic turmeric latte! At Wild Chai we only provide blends that will soothe both mind and body and that is why our turmeric blend contains 7 key ingredients.