The exploit of the search for “ turmeric ” on Google thanks to the golden milk

2023 Author: Cody Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 19:13

Golden milk. Or "golden milk" if you prefer.

And if this catchy name weren't enough, add that the turmeric milk also comes from India: an evocative combination that alone would be enough to explain the overwhelming success that the "golden milk" is enjoying in a large part of the world, from Sydney to San Francisco passing through London, after having Google searches for "turmeric" by as much as 56% from November 2015 to January 2016.

Also take into account the fact that for centuries the drink has been - and still is - one of the most widespread in Ayurvedic medicine, one more reason to please the tastes of us Westerners, consumers who are attentive to aesthetics as much as to health but, above all, to the fashions of the moment in terms of food.

And this is the moment of golden milk, also called "turmeric latte"

In fact, as the Guardian explains, it is turmeric, a common spice that belongs to the same family as ginger, that makes it special by flavoring it with simple milk, vegetable or animal, as well as giving that golden-yellow color that is so popular on Instagram.

A success that crosses the ever-growing one of plant milk, sanctioned in particular by one of the most fashionable bars in Oxford, the Modern Baker, which prepares the "Golden mylk" with great satisfaction from customers, where the y indicates a non-animal milk, in homage to recent vegan trends.

The same happens at Nama, a vegan restaurant located in Notting Hill, in west London, where the drink has already been served for two years. “Nobody prepared this type of milk,” says Nama cofounder Irene Arango. "We tried to offer small tastings that customers immediately liked"

Of course, for our Western ears the combination "milk and turmeric" does not sound so familiar or pleasant, being used to associating the reddish spice with tasty exotic foods or the inevitable chicken curry.

But this is not the case in Southeast Asia, particularly in India, where the yellow drink flavored with turmeric has always been considered a panacea not only for its goodness but above all for its healthy virtues, ranging from treating back pain to intestinal inflammation., from colds to rheumatic pains, thanks to the curcumin present in the spice.

In fact, curcumin, the active ingredient contained in turmeric, has proved to be a valid aid in the treatment of various diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders, high cholesterol and diabetes.

The most common and widespread recipe in the countries of origin provides turmeric powder mixed with milk, with the addition of a pinch of black pepper or, optionally, of ghee, Indian clarified butter, even if, explains the owner of Arango, that a particular iced version (like this recipe of Bon Appetit) and another version of the "espresso" model is in great demand in her restaurant.

But the variations are many, the original and ancient recipe of haldi doodh was quickly joined by new western customizations, very often based on turmeric not in powder but in the form of cold-pressed juice.

And even the web is now clogged with recipes and variations of the yellow drink.

Goop, the lifestyle site of actress Gwyneth Paltrow, offers for example a golden milk recipe based on almond milk and coconut oil, while the Californian vegan restaurant chain Cafè Gratitude, on the other hand, offers the blonde drink by customizing it with milk of almond, freshly squeezed turmeric juice and honey.

And in Italy?

As fascinating as it is, golden milk is still not as prevalent in bars and cafes as it is in old London or the distant Americas. On the other hand, there are plenty of recipes.

But if the desire to taste this yellow wonder with an exotic taste should suddenly assail you, you can easily make it at home.

In this way, you too can say that you have tasted the golden milk, and above all, after having photographed it, immediately run to publish the shot proudly on Instagram.