GOLDEN Milk: If you haven’t heard of it, you’re missing out.

Not only is this drink actually a gold color, it’s gold in terms of it’s health benefits too.

Why? Mainly because of turmeric, which in my opinion, is the #1 spice you should be eating daily. There are so many health benefits of turmeric (or more accurately, curcumin: the active ingredient in turmeric), as it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Some benefits include prevention and improvement of Alzheimer’s, depression, arthritis, chronic diseases, cancer, and heart disease. I was studying nutrition, there was an entire section dedicated specifically to this spice. It’s been proven to help prevent and, in some cases, treat cancer. It would take me days to tell you all the benefits, but you can read more about turmeric and curcumin here.

Long story short, this warm almond milk drink is very healthy for you, because it’s chock full of delicious spices- perfect for a chilly fall day.  The name of this blog, Skinny Spice, comes from the benefits of spices, especially cinnamon and cayenne as they help boost your metabolism.

I drink Golden Milk for an afternoon snack or at night as a healthy little nightcap.

What you need:

1.5 cups unsweetened almond milk **Try to buy Califia Farms or Trader Joe’s almond milk, because there is no carrageenan (additive) in their milk**

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/8 tsp ginger

Optional: 1/4-1/2 tsp raw honey (if you want it to be sweetened) The best raw honey is solid and creamy, and purchased locally.

The brands of almond milk and honey I use are pictured below:

What to do:

1. Warm the almond milk up slowly on the stove on low-medium heat for a few minutes OR you can place it in the microwave for 1.5-2 minutes.
2. Add spices in and mix well. I love it as is, however if you want it to be a little sweeter, you can add a little bit of raw honey. You can also add a little more ginger or turmeric, if you can handle the extra kick 🙂
3. Pour it in a mug and enjoy!

You can drink this alone or enjoy it with a little dark chocolate to curb dessert cravings.

This time, I paired my Golden Milk with a box of Gather Chocolate that I received from Harbor Sweets.

Note: Comments are my own (and also from some of my colleagues since they helped taste-test).

Gather chocolate is actually pretty cool, they are a mission-driven chocolate inspired by the plight of honeybees. A portion of sales will be donated to the Pollinator Partnership, a 501(c)3 NGO that educates and advocates best beekeeping practices for honeybee protection.

A box of Gather chocolate contains six honey-infused chocolates, all covered in dark chocolate (which has some good health benefits). The thing I like about this chocolate is that it’s made in Salem, Massachusetts and handcrafted in an original brick building, but ships all over the world. Fun Fact: You can take a tour of the factory, so definitely add it to your list if you’re visiting Salem this October for Halloween festivities.

Spoiler Alert: I’m about to tell you all the flavors and how they taste. Yep. Get excited!

Overall: I really liked these chocolates. BECAUSE they don’t taste like sugar. They taste like real dark chocolate and real ingredients. After having these, you don’t feel like you just ate a ton of sugar that’s now sitting in your stomach. And for that reason alone, it’s a refreshingly delicious box of treats… not to mention you’re helping save bees, so I mean, how can you go wrong?!

Cashew Caramel: This one was substantial but not too rich, there’s only a light coating of chocolate though, so not one for people who are in it for the chocolate.

Caramelized Honey Truffle: Literally filled with honey, real smooth honey. This one is sweeter, so you’ve got to have a love of honey for this one.

Sour Cherry Truffle: The name is deceiving here… it doesn’t taste sour (only the after taste), and it’s not strong. It’s like eating a chocolate covered cherry. A real one. Not those fake bright red ones.

Sesame Crunch: Again, the name is deceiving. This actually tastes like a nice crunchy toffee.

Coconut Cluster: You can taste real coconut; it has the perfect ratio of dark chocolate to coconut.

Pomegranate Molasses: The best for last; this is rich, smooth, and tart. So satisfying.

Photo Credit: Jillian Curran of Lumina Boston Photography