Last night, since Spindle was feeling quite ill and I was up late anyhow, I went looking for more information and decided to make some. This is the recipe I used, except that I made a lot more paste for later use. Also, I forgot to buy almond oil, so that got skipped completely.
Spindle was willing to try it and see if it would help settle her stomach. Or, if not that, prevent dry heaves. Neither of us knew what to expect when it came to the taste. We both ended up liking it quite a lot, though I put in more honey then either of us preferred. To me, it really just tasted like warm milk and honey, except good. I hate milk as a beverage, so even though I couldn't quite make out the taste of turmeric over the milk and honey, it did make a difference. Spin felt there was a very mild taste of turmeric, and she really liked it as well. Sadly, it did not settle her stomach whatsoever, but she enjoyed it enough that she made herself a second cup several hours later, having given up on the idea of sleep entirely.
This morning, I decided to make some more but, as is often the case with me, I immediately had to get funky with the ingredients. Some of the recipes I'd read included cardamon while others suggested cinnamon. So I started thinking that a bit of cinnamon would be nice, and I'm sure we have some ground cardamon left, and oh look! Cloves!
And a new drink was born.
Here's how it was made.
2 cups milk (we use only homogenized milk, but use whatever milk you prefer)
Ground cinnamon, ground cardamon, ground cloves, to taste (I added perhaps 1/4-1/2 tsp of each)
2 tsp honey (or adjust to taste)
1/4 tsp vanilla
3 tsp turmeric paste (or adjust to taste)
Heat the milk to simmer, then stir in the spices and honey. Just as the milk begins to simmer again, add the vanilla, stir and remove from heat. Add the turmeric paste and mix well. Divide into 2 cups and enjoy!
This version has an almost creamy taste to it, and the spices add a nice touch. Even Spindle, who is still feeling quite sick as I write this, couldn't resist having some and is now (finally!!) getting some sleep. So maybe it does help settle the stomach a bit after all? Especially considering that she is mildly lactose intolerant.
I'm going to have to keep a supply of turmeric paste handy often, as I can see this drink being a regular night cap!
The only down side is that the spices tend to sink to the bottom of the cup, which can be a bit of a shock when you get to the final dregs.
Health wise, turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, so it's often recommended for people with arthritis, joint pain and any other inflammatory pain. It's also supposed to be good for healthy liver function, lowering cholesterol and regulating blood sugars, as well as being good for the skin and for women's reproductive health. Cinnamon has its own list of health benefits including helping with the digestion, lowing blood sugars, cholesterol, arthritis and women's reproductive health. Cardamon is supposed to be good for digestive issues, including treating nausea and cramps, sore throats and some respiratory issues. It is even supposed to help lower blood pressure. Cloves, like most "desert" spices, are also good for the digestion. They have anti-inflammatory properties as well, and as an aromatic, the oil is good for respiratory ailments. The oil is good for pain as well - I've used it successfully on tooth aches when I couldn't get to a dentist right away.
So all in all, not only is this a really tasty drink, it's a healthy one as well!
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