A relaxing nightcap can ease you into sleep—no alcohol needed. These four warm drinks, crafted with time-tested herbs and spices, harness natural ingredients known for their calming effects.
1. Golden Milk
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 800 ml milk
- 1 tsp freshly grated turmeric
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tbsp honey, or more to taste
- 1 pinch ground cardamom
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- Optional: ground chili powder for sprinkling
- Also needed: tea strainer or fine sieve
Preparation
- Heat the milk with grated turmeric and ginger in a saucepan.
- Stir in turmeric powder and simmer for 5-6 minutes over low heat.
- Sweeten with honey to taste.
- Add cardamom, cinnamon, and coconut oil; stir well.
- Strain into 4 cups and sprinkle with chili if desired.
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2. Spicy Chili Chocolate Milk
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 150 g extra-dark chocolate
- 1-2 small chili peppers
- 1 vanilla pod
- 600 ml milk
- 200 ml whipping cream
- 2-3 tbsp brown sugar
- Also needed: tea strainer or fine sieve
Preparation
- Break chocolate into pieces.
- Halve chili peppers lengthwise (remove seeds if preferred) and split vanilla pod.
- Bring milk, cream, chilies, and vanilla to a boil in a saucepan.
- Remove from heat, strain into another pan or jug.
- Add chocolate; let stand 3 minutes, then stir until melted. Sweeten with sugar.
- Divide into 4 cups.
3. Turkish Coffee Latte with Cinnamon
Preparation time: 10 minutes, plus 20 minutes resting
Ingredients
- 500 ml milk
- 1 tbsp honey, or more to taste
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 250 ml hot Turkish coffee (or espresso)
- 100 ml whipping cream, whipped to stiff peaks
- Optional: ground cinnamon for sprinkling
Preparation
- Combine milk, honey, and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan.
- Heat to just below boiling; simmer 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat; steep 10 more minutes.
- Discard cinnamon sticks.
- Reheat briefly, add coffee and extra honey if needed.
- Pour into 4 glasses; top with whipped cream and cinnamon.
4. Salty Soy Latte
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ vanilla pod
- 800 ml soy milk
- 1.5 tbsp locust bean gum
- Fleur de sel
- 2 tbsp maple syrup, or more to taste
- Also needed: hand blender
Preparation
- Split vanilla pod and scrape out seeds.
- Pour soy milk into saucepan.
- Add vanilla seeds and pod, locust bean gum, and 1-2 pinches fleur de sel.
- Simmer 5 minutes over low heat, stirring.
- Remove pod.
- Sweeten with maple syrup.
- Blend with hand blender until frothy.
- Pour into 4 glasses.
Recipes and images: BeeldigBeeld/Stockfood
