Jump to the recipe for Golden Milk or Turmeric Tea For The Trail…
I am just getting back from my eight day Glacier Peak Wilderness work party with the Pacific Crest Trail Association and I’ll just say, it was about one day too long. 6 days of manual labor up and down those crazy switchbacks bookended by thirteen mile hikes is just a bit much for one spell of time outdoors. Especially when we camped at the same site the entire week, a first for me while backpacking for that amount of time. It’s a good thing it is so darn beautiful out there!
We did see a few PCT hikers braving the snow still clinging to the trail at the higher elevations to head southbound towards Mexico. I hope they make it safely.
I used this trip to try out some new recipes for the season, I figured variety would be a good thing. I was in search of something different than my paleo hot cocoa and tea to drink when I thought about what it would be like to have a warm cup of golden milk to drink before bed.
#powderedturmeric #blackpepper #ginger #powderedcoconutmilk #ghee #coconut oil
Haven’t heard of golden milk? It is also known as turmeric tea and it is a great way to relax and calm down at the end of the day. The benefits of turmeric are well known and this is one my tastiest ways to enjoy it (aside from curry).
I do list the ghee or coconut oil as optional but fat does increase the absorption of the curcumin in the turmeric that is well-studied for its health benefits and is believed to help keep environmental toxins from becoming carcinogens in the body. It also helps with alleviating inflammation which makes it a winner for me. I have noticed that a cup before bed really does help me fall asleep faster, for whatever that is worth.
This recipe for Golden Milk or Turmeric Tea For The Trail below is for the base mix which makes about 40 cups of golden milk or tea. I store it in a glass jar and add to coconut milk when I make it at home. For the turmeric, I actually scored a large 2 lb bag of Anthony’s Organic Turmeric (non-irradiated) from my local Grocery Outlet!
On a side note, if I ever get tired of turmeric, I am set for dying Easter eggs and yellow tie-dye with my grandkids. And I don’t have grandkids or want them anytime soon.
For the trail, I heat up a cup water and added it to the mix I have packaged at home in individual servings of one teaspoon golden milk mix with three tablespoons powdered coconut milk.
If you haven’t used powdered coconut milk before, it’s important to know that there are basically two kinds. One is 100% vegan without casein but it tends to clump more. Native Forest is the one I prefer. The other can be found more generically at places like your local Asian market for a lower price and doesn’t clump but will contain casein and other fillers. Be sure to read the label when you purchase yours.
When using the powdered coconut milk without casein, I will pulse it in the food processor beforehand to get out the lumps but there will naturally be a few by the time I get out on trail and go to prepare the beverage. This is only a problem if wanting to drink the tea cold, warm water quickly dissolves any lumps you may have.
I then add the butter (ghee, coconut oil) to the hot tea…
This is so rich and creamy, the perfect treat at the end of a long day on the trail!
Hanging in my hammock after the work day, Vista Creek thundering a few feet down below the campsite. I guess this trail work thing isn’t all bad…
Have you tried golden milk before? Have you thought about taking it on the trail? Since making Golden Milk or Turmeric Tea For The Trail, I have figured out how to make my own turmeric capsules and I have been using that powder right up!
Golden Milk or Turmeric Tea
For cancer fighting abilities or sleep support, golden milk or turmeric teat makes a winning creamy night time beverage.
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
3 minutes
Total Time
8 minutes
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, No Dehydrator Needed, Nut free, Paleo, Vegan
Servings: 40 cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup turmeric
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
- 1 cup milk at home
- 3 tablespoon powdered coconut milk (on trail)
- ghee or coconut oil (optional)
- sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the turmeric, black pepper and ginger to make your base mix in a glass bowl, store in an air-tight glass jar.
- For home: add one rounded teaspoon of golden milk mix to one cup warm milk of your choice (I use full-fat coconut milk).
- For the trail: mix one rounded teaspoon of golden milk mix to three tablespoons of powdered coconut milk or milk of your choice. Add one cup hot water and stir.
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