Warm Winter Drink Trifecta

In honor of the frigid temperatures creeping in and settling upon us, I've compiled 3 of my most favorite and easiest recipes for drinks that will warm you deep down to your soul. They are super easy and really fun to make! I hope you enjoy! 

1. Golden Milk Latte

1 cup raw milk (my preference but any sort of milk or nut milk will also work) 

4 slices raw turmeric 

2 slices raw ginger

4-5 peppercorns 

1 cinnamon stick 

1 big scoop of coconut butter 

* This little cup of happiness is super easy to make! Simply put all ingredients in a saucepan and heat up gradually, stirring occasionally while it is warming. 

Why it’s good for you? 

For a more detailed description of the herbs, you can refer to this previous post where I wrote a breakdown of their actions in both eastern and western medical thought. If you just want the short of it, this delightful golden milk latte is extremely warming and nourishing. It contains herbs that are anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting. It will warm you right down to your toes during the cold winter months! 

Who is it good for? 
Those who have a lot of chronic pain in the body or who struggle with frequent colds or upset stomachs. It is also amazing for those of you with poor circulation resulting in frigid extremities, especially in the winter. This is good for anybody looking to improve their energy and nourish their soul!

Pumpkin coffee

1 cup regular or decaf organic coffee

½ tsp. cinnamon 

½ tsp. nutmeg 

½ cup raw milk (my preference but any sort of milk or raw milk will work) 

1 hefty spoonful of pumpkin puree 

1 Tbs maple syrup 

1 tsp butter (my preference is Kerrygold unsalted) 

1. Brew up your coffee any way you like - french press or traditional drip, adding the cinnamon and nutmeg to the coffee grounds 
2. While that’s percolating, combine the rest of the ingredients, the milk, pumpkin, maple syrup, and butter in a saucepan and gently warm on low heat 
3. When coffee is brewed and the pumpkin mixture is warmed, pour both into your blender and blend for a few seconds. (This creates a latte consistency. If you don’t have a blender or are short on time, this step could easily be omitted. Simply stir the pumpkin mixture into your coffee mug and you're good to go!)

Why it’s good for you? 

When you add fats to coffee, your system absorbs the coffee more slowly, so you do not have as intense highs and lows when drinking it. The butter in this recipe helps with slow absorption. Pumpkin is loaded with antioxidants and fiber, and can greatly help improve immunity. Raw milk is fabulous in that you get so any nutrients from it that are harshly stripped away when it is pasteurized. Cinnamon and nutmeg taste great and help warm the extremities, and maple syrup is a nice natural sweetener. Plus? It makes you smile, because you’re drinking a pumpkin latte that has actual, real ingredients, instead of the sugary, chemically mixes you usually get when you order out. 

Who it’s good for? 

You can refer to my previous post for more detail about if coffee is something that would harm or help your health. The biggest takeaway is that nothing is either completely good or bad, what’s really important is how it makes you feel!

Chase that cold out elixir 

1 cup water 

4 thick slices of ginger

4 thick slices of turmeric 

2 cinnamon sticks 

5 black peppercorns 

1 lemon 

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (ACV) 

1 tbsp honey 

* This is very quick and easy... exactly what you need when you’re sick!

1. Boil water in your tea kettle or on the stove
2. Slice up your ginger and turmeric, and gather the rest of the ingredients 
3. Throw everything in a cup and juice 1 whole lemon into it 
4. Add the hot water 
5. Allow to cool slightly. Then sip just like a tea and REST. (I keep all ingredients in, they sink to the bottom so it’s not a huge deal- if you prefer, you could let it steep and then strain out the ingredients but it will not be as potent this way) 

Why it’s good for you? 

You’ve got a smorgasbord of some really heavy hitters when it comes to colds: lemon, ACV, and honey are all fabulous. Then, of course, you’ve got my favorite and extremely versatile herbs in there: ginger and cinnamon that function to powerfully help your body fight the virus if you're under the weather. 

Who it’s good for? 

This can be used in the winter to warm up the body and help boost the immune system, or it can be used when you have a full on energy-sucking, head-pounding, nose-blowing cold. The ingredients are great to help you heal, they are also all quite warming which can help knock the cold out of you quicker. My “go-to” when I’m sick is to make this decoction and then cover up under a pile of blankets with a scarf and hat on my head. I even add garlic on my feet and in my ears if they are also sore (I know, seriously attractive). Then I let myself quite literally “sweat it out." If you can catch it at the first sign of the cold, this method can be extremely effective and you might avoid getting sick all together! 

I hope you enjoy these drinks as much as I do!!  XO,