The other day, we thought about warm lemon water. Another drink that this Ayurvedic massage therapist introduced me to was Warm Spiced Milk. Which I admit doesn’t sound the best, but it’s just like a Pumpkin Spiced Latte (without the shot of coffee which to be honest, you hardly notice isn’t there!). It’s a great substitute for sugary hot chocolate and is just as comforting.
Some people think they’re lactose intolerant when they’re not. Ayurvedic studies teach that it’s not milk that’s the problem but the way we’re consuming it. Cold milk and cheese and ice cream are difficult to digest. For anyone. Whether we like it or not, they’ll always be taxing on our digestive systems.
Boiled milk is different. Much lighter and easier to digest. And any spices you add become much more potent in warm milk. It’s like a carrier for all these fabulous spices.
It’s such a comforting drink that nourishes and replenishes the body. This means that you crave less heavy and sweet food. It helps you sleep like a baby too (only add nutmeg if you’re drinking it before bed as nutmeg is a known mild sedative).
So at the moment, with the weather and light as they are, I often make myself a cup of warm spiced milk at about 3:30 in the afternoon. That’s when my dip in mood and energy slump are. This nourishment stops me reaching for the biscuits and keeps me going until my evening meal.
You have to devote a good ten minutes to making it well, but that in itself feels like a positive. Taking time out to nurture my body and treat it well. Because I’m worth it.
So pour a cup of Whole Organic milk into a pan and heat. Use any other kind of milk if you prefer. Add a small amount (1/8 teaspoon) of each spice that you fancy including – I usually add turmeric, cinnamon and ginger. Recipes suggest cardamon pods, cloves and saffron, even black pepper.
Simmer for a good ten minutes – without boiling over!
Then take off the heat and you can stir in a little maple syrup or honey if you feel the need, or one square of dark – really dark – chocolate if you’re feeling particularly decadent.
Sieve into your favourite mug and let it cool a little before enjoying.
And there it is, a hug in a mug.
Sounds nice!! Just thinking three spices into 1/8 teaspoon seems a bit challenging. Clearly you don’t need much to spice it up enough.
I clearly didn’t word that well. Will go in and change it. I meant 1/8 teaspoon of each spice!