CBD Chamomile Golden Milk Latte

How to make this recipe

1. The first step to making Chamomile Golden Milk Latte is to warm the coconut milk or your favorite nut milk and water in a saucepan over low heat. Next, add the dried chamomile flowers, freshly ground turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla extract, honey or maple syrup, black pepper, and ginger to the coconut milk and water mixture and allow to steep for 5-10 minutes. A lot of golden milk recipes use coconut oil but I find the coconut milk to be creamy enough to where I don't need the addition of oil.
2. Place a small handheld strainer over a mug and pour the chamomile and turmeric tea into the strainer. Once all the liquid is in the mug, discard the tea. If you're feeling fancy, you can use a handheld milk frother to add some bubbles and froth to the milk for a coffee house turmeric latte vibe. Optional: add in a few drops of your favorite CBD or CBN. My favorite is brand is Nuvita CBD. Enjoy!

Equipment you will need

• Small handheld strainer
• Milk frother (optional)
• Chamomile flowers or chamomile tea
• Fresh turmeric, dried turmeric powder, or turmeric tea
• Unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk. Thai Kitchen is my favorite and I use it as a coffee creamer.

How to make golden milk

Golden milk or a turmeric latte is made by steeping fresh turmeric in nut milk such as almond milk or coconut milk with black pepper, a sweetener such as honey or maple syrup, vanilla, and spices such as dried ginger or fresh ginger, ground cinnamon, or cinnamon sticks, and cardamom. Dried turmeric can also be used if fresh turmeric is not available. Golden milk is very similar to moon milk which is made with cow's milk, cinnamon, and honey, but instead of cow's milk, we are using plant-based milk such as coconut milk for a dairy-free beverage and adding more anti-inflammation ingredients.

Which type of milk is used for golden milk?

Typically coconut milk is used to make golden milk or golden latte, but any milk will work. Coconut milk is thick and creamy and pairs well with turmeric. Golden milk usually has coconut oil added, so using coconut milk won't change the flavors too much. If you prefer, using neutral-tasting milk such as almond milk, rice milk, oat milk, or cashew milk are also great options.

The health benefits of golden milk

Not only is golden milk or turmeric lattes calming and relaxing, but they also have quite a few health benefits!

• Turmeric contains a compound known as curcumin. Curcumin is usually one of the first supplements prescribed by a rheumatologist for patients with rheumatoid arthritis for its anti-inflammatory effects.

• Curling up with a warm and comforting drink can help reduce stress and get you ready for a restful and restorative night's sleep.

• Curcumin's ability to reduce inflammation and fight free radicals is essential for patients with rheumatoid arthritis due to the higher risk of heart disease. Cardiovascular disease risk is 50% to 70% higher for RA patients than in the general population. Making sure a diet full of antioxidants and taking medication to modify the progression of RA can help reduce these chances.

Recipe variations and modifications

Milk substitutes

As mentioned above, any plant-based milk such as oat milk, rice milk, almond milk, or cashew milk will taste great. If you prefer cow's milk, I recommend using whole milk rather than reduced or skim milk.

Turmeric tea

I always try to opt for fresh turmeric if possible. The second best option would be to use dried turmeric powder. If those are not available, using bagged turmeric tea will work. Please note that the turmeric flavor will not be as strong as fresh turmeric, so I recommend using 2-3 tea bags to steep in the coconut milk and water mixture.

Chamomile tea

CBD Golden Milk Chamomile Latte uses whole dried chamomile flowers. Using bagged chamomile tea will also work. I recommend using two chamomile tea bags and steeping them in the warmed coconut milk and water mixture. Using more than one tea bag will help deepen the flavor. Alternatively, you can also use a loose chamomile tea leaf. Use about one tablespoon of the tea leaf and place in a metal tea ball and steep.

There are no chamomile tea substitutes for this recipe. I do not recommend using caffeinated teas such as black tea or chai tea in this recipe. Save those experiments for your morning cup of golden turmeric milk!

How to store leftovers

CBN or CBD chamomile golden milk latte can be made ahead and then stored in the refrigerator. Instead of heating the milk and water mixture, I recommend combining all the ingredients and then heating right before enjoying. If you are adding CBD or CBN, wait until the end. When CBD or CBN are heated to high temperatures, they may lose their medicinal properties.

If you have made and heated up a golden milk latte, place leftovers in a glass container such as a mason jar with an airtight lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to five days.

The health benefits of CBN for arthritis

You may have heard of CBD or cannabidiol, but have you heard of CBN? CBN or cannabinol is one of many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. CBN comes from THC or the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant. When THC is heated and exposed to CO2, it converts to CBN. CBN is known for its highly relaxing effects and is known for helping with these conditions:

• Insomnia and as an overall sleep aid
• Depression and anxiety
• Chronic pain
• Addiction

I have been using CBD and CBN for almost two and a half years. It is the one supplement that I take daily and have noticed a decrease in not only pain but also inflammation from my rheumatoid arthritis. If this is something you have not tried, I recommend asking your physician if this is a supplement you may be able to take.

Cannabis is not federally regulated so finding a reputable source is important. My favorite brand is Nuvita CBD. Nuvita is a Michigan and women-owned company that uses only organic cannabis to make their CBD, CBN, and CBG formulas. All batches of CBD, CBN, and CBG must get third-party tested for heavy metals and pesticides. The certificates of analysis (COA's) are available on their website. If a company does not offer these to its customers, that is a major red flag.

Make sure to check out Chamomile Tea Latte, Warm Apple Pie Smoothie, and Maple Tahini Latte for other delicious and nutritious beverages!

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