Iced Golden Milk Latte

Iced Golden Milk Latte, a cold turmeric latte recipe made with ground turmeric, ginger, coconut, and black pepper. The perfect hot summer day self-care treat!

Have you hopped on the golden milk bandwagon? While we love making golden lattes, the last thing you want on a hot day is a hot drink that also includes the naturally warming properties of turmeric. That’s why we shake up something new when the summer heat hits: iced golden milk lattes!

👉 Here are three reasons you’ll love this chilled turmeric tea latte:

• It’s a chill take on a warm classic. This simple foundational Iced Golden Milk Latte takes a traditional turmeric tea recipe and makes it perfect for warm weather shaken with ice.
• It uses a homemade golden milk spice blend. Mix up spices like turmeric, ginger, coconut powder, cardamom, nutmeg, and black pepper for an antioxidant rich pick-me-up.
• It’s a (caffeine-free) self-care drink. Need a boost in the afternoon or want to sip something to enjoy the moment…without the caffeine rush? Golden milks are the perfect way to savor the moment.

Ready for the super simple iced turmeric latte recipe you’ll enjoy again and again? Let’s do it!

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❓ What is a turmeric tea, or golden milk?

Turmeric tea, sometimes referred to as golden milk, is a common ayurvedic drink containing ground turmeric. It’s combination of turmeric and other spices like black pepper, coconut, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg is said to have calming, anti-inflammatory healing properties.

This ancient drink originated in India and simple variations have been used in ayurvedic medicine for centuries. But it was only recently that the turmeric tea became trendy in Western culture and took the wellness industry by storm; now you’d be hard-pressed not to find golden milk in hip coffee and juice bars.

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🟡 Spices in golden milk

While many woo woo wellness gurus will promise you the moon and stars when it comes to golden milk, being a registered dietitian I am always skeptical of false health claims.

However, there is solid research that the spices used in golden milk do have antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory, and calming properties, including:

Turmeric

Turmeric powder is the foundation of golden milk and is what gives it its bright yellow color. Turmeric is a root in the same family as ginger and galangal, and is grown in India and parts of Southern Asia. Studies have shown that curcumin, the bioactive compound in turmeric, may have anti-inflammatory factors that may improve joint pain, skin irritation, and may even reduce the risk of heart disease. Ground turmeric, and golden milk, have long been used in ayurvedic medicine.

Ginger powder

Ginger is a cousin of turmeric, and is a flowering perennial plant with a root that is used in cooking both raw and dried and ground into ginger powder. Ginger is from the southern part of India and Asia, as has long been used to cure nausea and upset stomach, and some studies show that ginger creates a calming effect as consuming.

Ground cinnamon

Cinnamon comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum tree species, which is grown in Southern Asia, specifically China and Indonesia. The bark is dried and then ground to produce ground cinnamon, which is commonly used in baked good. Like ginger, cinnamon has a long history of use as a digestive aid and some research suggests it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Coconut powder

Coconuts are a tropical fruit that come from the palm tree, and are used for their milk, flesh, oils, and even their shells. Coconut powder is made by draining coconut milk and drying coconut flesh, then grinding into a powder. Coconut powder is great in curries, soups, and stews, and mixes well into hot liquids like golden milk. It adds a smooth tropical taste to golden milk.

Vanilla bean

Vanilla plants are actually orchids that grow on a vine and are harvest for their fruit, the vanilla “bean” pod that can be scraped to release its tiny black seeds. Vanilla originated in Mexico, but is now grown across the world in tropical regions in places like Madagascar and Tahiti. Vanillas is most often used in baked goods, but its’ extract is also delicious in drinks like lattes.

Cardamom

Cardamom is a strong spices made from the small pods of the Zingiberaceae plant species, which is grown in India and Southern Asia. It is used in both sweet and savory Asian cuisines, as well as more widely in baking. Cardamom contains antioxidants which may reduce inflammation and may have antibacterial effects.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is made from the ground seed of the Myristica tree, an evergreen tree found in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. It is used in both sweet and savory dishes worldwide and is used in alternative medicine for pain relief and digestion.

Black pepper

Black pepper is the ground spice made from the peppercorn fruit from the Piperaceae plant, which is native to Southern India but is now also grown in Vietnam. It is now a staple spice used in cuisines throughout the world.

👉 THE TAKEAWAY: Is golden milk good for you? There’s no doubt that there is strong research into the antioxidant properties in turmeric tea ingredients, but no single food alone will have a healing effect on your body. Instead, drink golden milk lattes (hot or iced!) in combination with an overall balanced diet rich in plants for the best health prevention.

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🥣 How to make an Iced Golden Milk Latte

1️⃣ Step One: Mix spices

First, mix together the turmeric, ginger powder, black pepper, and coconut powder in a small bowl until well combined.

2️⃣ Step Two: Mix golden milk spices with small amount of water

To make an iced turmeric tea, first boil a small amount of water (about 1/2 cup, but you won’t use it all).

Then add a scoop of your golden milk spice mixture in a small bowl and add 2-3 tablespoons of water and whisk until well combined.

👉 Turmeric tea tip! The reason you need to heat the spices with a small amount of water first instead of just mixing the spice blend into the milk is that the heat from the water will help to “activate” the flavor of the spices. Some even say that the heat helps to make the antioxidants more readily absorbable in your body, though the research on this is slim. Mixing with water and whisking will also help to prevent clumps.

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3️⃣ Step Three: Mix spices into milk

Next, fill a glass with ice and your choice of plant-based milk (I like oat milk, but coconut milk is a good traditional choice for golden milk lattes).

Then pour your golden milk spice liquid into the glass and give it a good stir with a mixology spoon or glass straw.

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💡 Tips + tools

This iced turmeric tea recipe is simple to make, but here are a few of my favorite kitchen tools that will make preparing iced golden milk lattes even easier:

• Eco-friendly cookware! Every green eater needs a set of environmentally-friendly cookware; I love Greenpan’s cookware because they are non-stick but toxin-free
• Prep ahead of time: Make your golden milk spice mix ahead of time to save time when your turmeric latte cravings hit.
• Get creative with spices: Add other spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to make a uniquely spiced vanilla golden milk.
• Make it sweet: Add a teaspoon of maple syrup, agave syrup, or honey to sweeten your latte.

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💛 More golden milk recipes

Try out our other golden milk recipes:

• DIY Tumeric Latte Spice Blend
• Warm Cinnamon Golden Milk Latte

Craving more iced summer drinks? Check out our Strawberry Mint Spritzer or Blackberry Thyme Spritzer recipes for fresh fruit-filled iced drinks that are perfect for the heat.

UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in July 2019 and was updated with more photos and clearer instructions in May 2021.