How to make turmeric paste to stir in your Golden Milk or Golden Tea. This an easy recipe for a golden paste that keeps well in the fridge.
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Golden Milk Paste
Golden milk or golden tea is a super healthy drink that can help improve your health. This recipe for turmeric paste for golden milk makes it easier for us to enjoy this wonderful drink on a daily basis without having to start fresh every time.
Health benefits of turmeric
Known as the “spice of life” in India, turmeric seems to be considered at the moment as one of the most powerful herbs in the world.
Its health benefits have been analyzed in thousands of studies apparently, and most everyone seems to agree that including turmeric in your diet can prevent or improve the symptoms of various diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and so on.
For example, laboratory studies have shown that curcumin, which is the most studied component of turmeric, “is able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing. It has the best effects on breast cancer, bowel cancer, stomach cancer, and skin cancer cells”.
Another study regarding one of the diseases most affecting our modern society shows that “curcumin is 400 times more potent than Metformin, a diabetic drug, in improving insulin sensitivity which can help reverse Type 2 Diabetes”.
So including turmeric in your diet can only be of advantage for your health. The most common way of using turmeric is, of course, in curries; even when using an already-made curry paste or curry powder, I like adding an extra teaspoon of turmeric.
How to make turmeric paste?
Recently I came to discover Golden Milk. I made it fresh a few times and enjoyed it, together with my husband, from time to time, in the evening or on a weekend morning.
Then I found an article stating that it is possible to make a turmeric paste, which will allow you to enjoy the Golden Milk regularly without having to start fresh every time.
I tried 3 or 4 versions of it and found the following to be the tastiest. It combines lots of turmeric with black pepper (which is said to increase the health benefits of turmeric), cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh ginger, and coconut oil. The amount will make two small jars, which are enough for a few weeks of regularly drinking golden milk or golden tea.
- Pour the water into a small pan and bring it to a boil.
- While the water is coming to a boil, prepare the rest of the ingredients. Finely grate the ginger. Place it in a bowl and add the turmeric powder, cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and coconut oil.
- When the water is boiling, add the dry ingredients and stir continuously on medium-low heat for about 3-4 minutes. If the paste is too thick, add a small splash of water and continue stirring.
- Transfer the paste to the clean jars, seal, and let cool. It will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
Helping notes
- The moment I add the dry ingredients to the water, I whisk everything. Once the paste thickens slightly (it will happen pretty fast), I continue stirring with a wooden spoon. But keep in mind that turmeric stains, so the wooden spoon will become orange (all my wooden spoons are orange by now...).
- I prefer to make the golden paste in a small non-stick saucepan. The risk of turmeric paste sticking to the bottom of the pot disappears, the mixture is easier to mix, and the saucepan is super easy to clean as nothing will stick to it.
How to make golden milk?
- To make the golden milk, gently heat one cup of milk of your choice. The milk should be lukewarm and not hot. Whisk in 1 heaped teaspoon of the turmeric paste and the honey or another sweetener of your choice. Serve immediately.
What milk to use for golden milk?
- You can use any milk you like as a base for the golden milk.
- Coconut milk is considered to be the best choice due to its content of lauric acid; studies show that lauric acid might promote weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance as well.
- But I have also used normal milk, almond milk, and soya milk. The choice is yours.
How to sweeten golden milk?
- I don't normally not sweeten any of my drinks, but in this case, I like adding ½ to 1 teaspoon of honey to the milk; I find it takes the edge off the turmeric taste a little bit; I do like it, but in such a concentrated amount, I feel it tastes a bit “raw” and the honey really balances the taste perfectly, it is like drinking a nicely spiced chai.
How to make golden tea?
I posted this recipe for golden milk paste a long time ago, in September 2015. Ever since I must have made hundreds of little jars already. I even make it regularly for a couple of friends.
My husband and I use turmeric paste on a regular basis as well, but I have to admit that our golden milk transformed into golden tea a long time ago.
- Boil 3-4 cups of water in a kettle. Pour the water into a pouring jug.
- Whisk in 2 heaped teaspoons of turmeric paste, and make sure you stir well.
- Add honey and lemon juice to taste. I usually add 1 ½ teaspoons of honey and the freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon.
- Keep a teaspoon in your drinking cup and stir the tea before you take a sip.
- This is my favorite way of enjoying turmeric paste. Do give it a try!
Other ways of using the turmeric paste
- Another way of enjoying this paste is by stirring one cup of warm milk with the paste and then using this liquid to pour over some homemade muesli, letting it cool, and adding some chopped fresh fruit.
- And sometimes, when making a curry or a soup, I like adding some golden paste as well. I feel it tastes best when added to carrot soup, lentil soup, dhal, or chickpeas.
- Here are some more recipes using golden paste:
Do you like this recipe?
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Turmeric Paste for Golden Milk
Ingredients
- Turmeric paste:
- 1 ½ cup water 12.5 fl.oz/ 375 ml
- ½ cup turmeric powder 2.1 oz/ 60 g
- 1 piece of fresh ginger about the size of ½ of your thumb
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 teaspoons coconut oil
- Golden milk:
- 1 cup milk of your choice 8.5 fl. oz/ 250 ml coconut, almond, dairy, etc
- 1 teaspoon turmeric paste
- ½-1 teaspoon honey or another sweetener of your choice
- Golden tea:
- 1 cup hot water 8.5 fl. oz/ 250 ml
- 1 teaspoon turmeric paste
- honey to taste
- fresh lemon juice to taste
Instructions
Turmeric paste:
- Pour the water into a small pan and bring to a boil, preferably using a non-stick pan (Note 1).
- Add: Finely grate the ginger and add it to the pan together with the turmeric powder, cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and coconut oil.
- Whisk well for about half a minute until it becomes difficult to whisk.
- Stir continuously, using a wooden spoon (Note 2), on medium-low heat for about 3-4 minutes. If the paste is too thick, add a small splash of water and continue stirring.
- Refrigerate: Place the paste into the clean jars, seal, and cool. It will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
Golden milk:
- Gently heat one cup of milk of your choice. The milk should be lukewarm and not hot.
- Whisk in 1 teaspoon of the turmeric paste and the honey or another sweetener of your choice. Serve immediately.
Golden tea:
- Stir 1 teaspoon turmeric paste into a cup of hot water.
- Add honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste, it should have a strong sweet-lemony flavor.
Notes
- Use a small non-stick saucepan, the risk of the paste catching to the bottom of the pan disappears and the pan is very easy to clean.
- Turmeric stains, so if you use a wooden spoon, the spoon will become orange.
Adina says
Hi Mag. You don't need garlic to make the golden paste, that would be terrible!!! 🙂 🙂 In case you meant ginger powder, I have only made the paste with fresh ginger. You could try substituting fresh with 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, but I cannot say how that will taste. Just try!
mag says
i am having a hard time to get fresh garlic.however i do have organic garlic powder how much would i use...:)
Lisa says
What size jar did you use Adina? I want to make this for gifts this holiday season! Thanks!
Adina says
Hi Lisa. I use small jars, which used to contain other spices. I have just measured, about 150 ml/ 5 fl.oz/ a bit more than 1/2 cup capacity. You can use whatever cute little jars you have.
Chic says
Hello, I'd like to use fresh turmeric root instead of powder. How much root should I use to make the turmeric paste?
Adina says
Hi. Sorry, I have never made the paste with fresh turmeric because that's not available around here. I hope you try it with turmeric powder though.
Trina McLeod says
I have heard of golden milk, but never tried it before now! I Love it!!! Thank you so much for sharing. I will have to try it in some recipes too.
Adina says
You're welcome, Trina. 🙂 Thank you for the feedback.
Kristin says
Adina - this recipe is FANTASTIC. Thank you so much!! I often get a Tumeric Latte from a restaurant called Goodies here in Berlin. I crave it daily and never thought I'd be able to replicate it -- but you nailed it! We have just moved to Germany (from the US) and I'm so happy to have stumbled upon your site. Tschüss!
Jane says
Hi Adina, I just wanted to let you know that I love this recipe. I don't know how many times I have shared your link. I use it in my coffee most mornings and my grandson loves Golden Milk. My Ortho doc wanted me to use turmeric for inflammation, this is my medicine!!
Adina says
Hi Jane. I am so happy to hear it. Thank you very much and all the best.
Donna Mcclellan says
I can’t find fresh power at this time, what about the turmeric, you find at super market in the spice section? Will it work as well for theses recipes?
Adina says
Hi Donna, I don't make the paste with fresh turmeric, but with plain ground dried turmeric, the one in jars in the spice section.
Nichole says
I just discovered golden milk last week and this is going to be such such a time saver. Thank you so much. I just finished my first batch and discovered I had no nutmeg, so I added some ground cardamon. And some vanilla scrapings...so now it's a golden chai!
Ronda Walker says
I can't get my golden paste to get firm. Just be stays a liqid. What did I do wrong?
Adina says
Just cook it a bit longer until more water evaporates. Don't forget to stir well, so that it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Did you measure all the we quantities correctly?
KareyLyn says
Thank you for this recipe. You mentioned the taste of the turmeric being a bit raw without sweetener added to the milk. In the ayurvedic tradition the spices are gently heated in oil first to release their healing properties. If you try heating your spices with the oil first, then add the water, let me knkw what you think!
Adina says
Thank you, KareyLyn. I will try to heat the spices in coconut oil next time, I am really curious about it! I wil let you know. Merry Christmas!
Diane says
Ok, I was really dreading this...the taste of these ingredients blah...but I knew I had to do something about my health problems...omgosh, the taste is fabulous! Let pray it works...thanks!
Adina says
Welcome, I am glad you like it and I hope it will help you.
Adeline says
Hi Adina, I've tried making the turmeric paste, and prob I added too much water rather than the additional splash which you mentioned to add should the paste gets too thick. My turmeric paste doesn't dissolve easily when I add it to drinks and it tasted bland. Also, can I substitute water with coconut milk when making paste to enhance the taste?
Adina says
Hi Adeline. I always whisk the paste when making a drink with it, after a few minutes it sets again, so I keep a teaspoon in the pot and give it another stir before each sip. It will not dissolve completely as it is made with ingredients which will not dissolve in water. If you find the paste to be too watery, you could try cook for a couple of minutes more until most of the water will evaporate. I would not make the paste with coconut milk, but use coconut milk to make the turmeric drink (not the canned coconut milk, but the pack variety similar to nut milk like almond milk or such things). I also add extra lemon juice,sometimes an extra slice of fresh ginger and some sweetener (honey, agave or maple syrup or whatever sweetener you prefer) to give it more flavor. Try experimenting with the flavor until you get the desired result, I never drink it plain either.
K says
I don't see the recipe on this page. I see the photos, ads, and article, but no recipe.
Adina says
Hi K. Thank you so much for letting me know, I probably would not have noticed that for a while. I've no idea what happened, but I've just fixed it now, the recipe is there again. 🙂 Have a nice Sunday.
Zane says
How about s milkshake in the summer!
Adina says
What a great idea! I don't see why not. I shall give it a try myself. 🙂