Colorful Turmeric Latte Recipe

In a perfect world, we would only eat the healthiest foods no matter what the situation. But as we all know, life can get in the way. We've all been late for work and scarfed down something quick and portable and sugary for breakfast. We've all been stressed and treated ourselves to fattening snacks or maybe even a little alcohol. Yes, we've all been there, so no judgment. However, recipe developer Susan Olayinka has a simple drink that can help give your body a reset after a little unhealthy indulging.

With just five ingredients and four minutes of cook time, you can have a latte packed with healthy, tasty foods to naturally undo some of the damage from the less nutritious choices that find their way into our eating habits.

"There are loads of things in all our diets that cause inflammation in the body — for instance, sugar, some vegetable oils, processed red meat, and excess alcohol too," Olayinka explains. "So, having anti-inflammatory products, as well as exercise and cleaning up the diet, would be a great help to our bodies."

With that in mind, we're not only going to give you a step-by-step guide to making your own turmeric latte but also explain specifically how these carefully chosen ingredients can support your wellness.

To make your turmeric latte, you'll need oat milk, black pepper, coconut oil, raw honey, and, of course, turmeric.

While we often associate lattes with coffee and waking up in the morning, Olayinka says this particular variation is not an everyday breakfast drink. Rather, she suggests having it "on occasion" for breakfast but that "a great time to drink it" is when you're not feeling well. In fact, the ingredients in this latte work well together, so you'll get the maximum benefit of everything you sip down.

The first step to making your turmeric latte is to turn your stove on to medium heat. Next, get a saucepan, place it onto the stove, and pour oat milk into it. As Olayinka notes, using oat milk will give your drink a nice texture. "I find that oat milk makes the creamiest turmeric lattes. I find the texture very akin to dairy milk!"

Plus, oat milk is loaded with vitamin D, which is always a good thing to add to your diet. And if you like making things from scratch, there's a way you can make your own oat milk at home.

It's already time for the star of your latte. Immediately add the turmeric to the oat milk, and whisk them together for one minute.

Before we go any further, let's discuss why turmeric is so beneficial for your body.

"The health benefits are mainly surrounding its anti-inflammatory properties," Olayinka explains. "This is mainly because of the curcumin inside it." Yes, this compound is not only what gives turmeric its golden yellow/orange color but also why you should not skip the black pepper in this recipe. Spoiler alert: This popular spice and curcumin work hand-in-hand.

After you've whisked the turmeric and the oat milk for one minute, add the coconut oil and an eighth of a teaspoon of the black pepper, and stir everything for three minutes.

Although it's the turmeric that contains the curcumin, Olayinka points out that the black pepper in the latte releases the curcumin into your system."Black pepper helps to increase the rate at which turmeric is absorbed by the body," Olayinka says, adding, "Coconut oil, like black pepper, optimizes the body's absorption of curcumin."

But if you're not a fan of coconut oil, Olayinka says ghee is "an amazing substitute."

After you're finished mixing, transfer the drink to a heatproof jar with a spout. Add the raw honey and stir in, blending it with the other ingredients. In case you're wondering why the honey wasn't added until this step, Olayinka says that the heat from the stove would have killed the raw honey's natural antioxidants.

"There are many things in the environment that cause oxidative stress like pollution," she said, adding, "antioxidants are said to protect again this."

Your turmeric latte is almost finished, but to really give it that decadent, creamy touch, you'll want to pour it immediately into cups and froth it with a milk frother for 20 seconds. While some high-end coffee machines have built-in milk frothers, you can also purchase a smaller version of the device (as pictured). When you're done, your drink should form a foamy top that you can garnish with the other eighth of a teaspoon of black pepper.

Remember, you'll want to enjoy your creation right away, and since this recipe yields two servings, it's perfect for sharing with a friend or loved one.