- HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
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- Updated: May 24, 2016 13:59 IST
The drink that was thrust down your throat when you were young and unwell is the latest hipster fixation in the West. Golden milk or turmeric latte may not mean much to you but it is being ordered with an uncanny regularity in cafes in America, South Africa, Australia and UK.
You know the drink as the humble haldi ka doodh. Yes, the same pungent-smelling milk, probably with a spoon of ghee in it, which was considered a remedy for a host of ills – sore throat, fever, aches and pains and don’t forget its anti-inflammatory properties.
Guardian has named it the “ 2016’s drink of choice”. In a new report on food trends in the US, Google singled out turmeric’s ascent after searches for the spice increased by 56% from November 2015 to January 2016.
“And fuelling that rise is its use in lattes: ‘golden milk’ is among the top online searches associated with the spice. Turmeric lattes are now being sold at cafes from Sydney to San Francisco, and the drink is gaining fans in the UK,” Guardian reported.
Cold-pressed turmeric juice is mixed with juice from almonds and cashews and is being marketed as a healthy alternative to caffeinated drinks. Chefs are also experimenting with turmeric in cookies and health drinks.
But how did turmeric come out of nowhere and climbed on the “food to watch out for” pedestal? Guardian says, “The market research firm Mintel named turmeric as one of its foods to watch in 2016. It has done the rounds of the wellness circuit – the blogs, websites and Instagram accounts of “clean eating” advocates – for several months, and recipes for the drink abound on Pinterest.”
In case you are interested, here’s a recipe for golden milk on Gwyneth Paltrow’s website, Goop.
Even as the West goes gaga over the benefits of turmeric, it is time we also take a refresher course about the spice which can apparently treat everything from cancer to cough. It is said to be rich in antioxidants, its compound curcumin can fight cancer and can lower chances of heart attack. Weight watchers, turmeric also suppresses body fat growth and helps reduce weight.
Now, would you want to try haldi ka doodh at home or wait for an American coffee chain to launch turmeric latte at a store near you ?
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