A cup of good coffee is like heaven: the delicious smell when it’s freshly brewed, the bold flavor, and the energy boost you feel afterward. I have never drunk lots of coffee, but I was always looking forward to my cappuccino after lunch (I know, Italians would not approve!). But now and then my stomach didn’t handle the acids quite well, and I felt bloated and had terrible stomach cramps. That’s when I started looking for coffee alternatives that taste good, leave me feeling energized, and are good to my body.
And here are my three favorites: matcha latte, golden milk, and – my newest discovery – beetroot latte. This colorful trio of hot drinks is not only fun to drink, but also comes with a lot of health benefits.
Matcha latte: Matcha is a stone-ground powdered green tea used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. It is packed with antioxidants, is rich in vitamins, and provides a boost of energy while at the same time calming the mind and relaxing the body. Mix 1 teaspoon of matcha powder with hot (not boiling) water and whisk until frothy. Top off with your favorite plant-based milk and add some sweetener to taste. While I usually don’t add sweetener to hot drinks, I do like a drop of honey or maple syrup to balance out the “grassy” flavor of matcha tea.
Golden milk: Whenever I feel a little bit under the weather, the first thing I do is to prepare a big mug of golden milk. The inflammatory benefits of turmeric together with the immune-strengthening effects of ginger make this a healing hot drink. Instead of adding a lot of sugar, I like to add some coconut oil. Did you know that healthy fats are an excellent substitute for sugar? See full recipe below.
Beetroot latte: Last week I had some leftover baked beetroots from this beetroot chocolate cake, so I decided to try to make a beetroot latte at home finally. Because I don’t have a juicer, I blended the beetroots which made this an even richer and healthier drink. I was very surprised how sweet it tastes without adding any sugar. I just put almond milk, a few pieces of baked beetroots, and a small bit of ginger into my Vitamix and blended until smooth.
While I still enjoy a good cup of coffee on weekends, I am happy to have found these alternatives to add some extra nutrients to my “coffee routine”.
I also love a home-brewed chai latte (not the sugary one you get at a coffee shop) with high-quality tea leaves, spices, and steamed milk.
Love,
Marion
Golden Milk
An inflammatory-fighting and immune strengthening vegan drink that nourishes your body and mind
Ingredients
- 700ml plant-based milk (I prefer coconut rice milk)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
- Several pieces of fresh organic ginger (choose your level of spiciness)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground black pepper
- Sweetener of choice (i.e., honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar to taste)
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Maca powder (optional)
Directions
- Step 1 Add milk, turmeric, fresh ginger, cinnamon, and ground pepper in a small saucepan.
- Step 2 Bring to a light boil and whisk constantly.
- Step 3 Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Step 4 Remove from the heat, add coconut oil and let sit for another 5 minutes.
- Step 5 Add maca powder and whisk thoroughly before straining it.
- Step 6 Serve immediately.
