7 Warming Morning Drinks Beyond Golden Milk

With the chill of winter mornings upon us, there's nothing quite like a warm, comforting drink to kickstart your day. While golden milk—a tasty mix of turmeric, milk or plant-based alternatives, and Ayurvedic digestive spices—has become a morning favorite, there are many other delicious options to discover. If you're looking to boost your immunity, uplift your mood, or simply enjoy a cozy start, these seven warming morning drinks will make your mornings enjoyable and festive.

Bonus: Complimentary Vata recipe eBook.

1. Spicy Chai

A spicy chai latte is hard to beat. This aromatic drink features black tea paired with Ayurvedic digestive spices like cardamom, ginger, pippali, and cinnamon.

To make one, steep black tea in hot water. Then, combine milk (or a non-dairy option) with the spices and a hint of sweetener. For an added kick, sprinkle a little black pepper on top. Not only is this drink satisfying, it comes loaded with health benefits. Digestive herbs like ginger can enhance digestion (agni) and reduce ama (toxins).

2. Matcha Green Tea Latte

Matcha is more than just a trend; it's a powerhouse of nutrients. This finely ground green tea powder is rich in antioxidants and offers a steady energy boost without the jitters that coffee can sometimes cause.

To prepare, whisk a teaspoon of matcha powder with a bit of hot water until it's smooth. Then, blend it with steamed milk of your choice and sweeten with honey or high quality maple syrup.

Now, pay attention if you try matcha green tea. Some people will find it relaxing and others will experience it as stimulating. Trust your direct experience. If it is stimulating, move on to different warming morning beverages. There are plenty of Ayurvedic winter drinks and you'll find the ones that are balancing for you.

3. Herbal Infusions

Herbal infusions are a delightful choice for a warming morning beverage. You can mix ingredients like ginger, peppermint, chamomile, and lemongrass to create numerous flavorful warming drinks.

To make a herbal infusion, steep your selected herbs in hot water for a few minutes. For a refreshing ginger infusion, slice fresh ginger and simmer it in water. These herbal drinks are not just tasty; they can aid digestion by enhancing digestive and elimination health—meaning you can enjoy comfort alongside wellness.

Please note: Saumya Ayurveda does not recommend using herbs as if they were over the counter or prescribed pharmaceuticals. An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner will create you a custom herbal formula, special nasya, and customized Ayurveda plan to support the whole you. Herbs are not Ayurvedic because it comes from India. Nor it is correct for you because it is organic. Herbs become Ayurvedic when used as part your customized Ayurveda plan which is carefully tailored for your constitution. An herb that is balancing to one person for a concern, may be imbalancing to another.

4. Cinnamon Cocoa

For those mornings when you want a little indulgence, try a warming cinnamon cocoa. By combining cocoa powder with warm milk, a hint of cinnamon, and a natural sweetener, you create a drink that feels like a tasty treat.

To whip it up, mix cocoa powder and cinnamon into hot milk until completely blended. Enjoying a cup of this drink is like wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket while also benefiting from the magnesium in cocoa, which can help improve mood and reduce stress levels.

Again, pay attention your inner experience. For some, cocoa can aggravate Pitta dosha. See if it's balancing for you, and if not, move on!

5. Turmeric Ginger Tea

If you enjoy the health benefits of turmeric but want something different from golden milk, give turmeric ginger tea a try.

To make it, steep turmeric and fresh ginger root in boiling water. Finish it off with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of honey for extra benefits. This vibrant drink can alleviate morning stiffness and offer anti-inflammatory benefits. It supports balanced agni (digestive fire) and reduces ama (toxins).

6. Hot Apple Cider

As autumn settles in, hot apple cider becomes a go-to drink for many. This flavorful beverage is simple to make and bursts with seasonal ingredients.

To prepare hot apple cider, heat apple juice or cider on the stovetop with cinnamon sticks and cloves. Adjust spices according to your taste, and relish the warm, inviting smell that fills your kitchen. This drink not only warms your body but also brings you the essence of the changing season.

Related Reading: Ayurvedic Recipe|Spiced Apple Cider to Boost Immunity

7. Broth Latte

For a hearty and nourishing morning beverage, consider a broth latte of your choosing. Packed with nutrients, broth is excellent for health.

To prepare, heat your favorite broth and blend it with a splash of milk or a dairy-free alternative. Season it with salt, pepper, and your choice of herbs. This savory drink not only warms you up but also fills you with essential nutrients that support joint health and overall wellness.

"As with all food and beverages, observe how it feels to you. Does it digest well? Is it grounding? Does it help you cultivate your inner stillness or rev you up? While revving up is tempting, even understandable, what we want to do is to nurture, is energy, vitality, and resilience naturally, and not turn to central nervous stimulants like caffeine. Our own energy, when balanced and nourished with Ayurveda, sustains us beautifully and does not deplete our adrenals and nervous system as does a habit of coffee."

-Veena, Saumya Ayurveda

Embrace the Warmth

As you step away from golden milk, these seven warming morning drinks can enliven your chilly mornings providing digestive, immunity, and cleansing benefits by stoking your digestive fire and reducing toxins. Each choice has its unique flavors and health benefits, catering to sweet, spicy, or savory tastes

Give these recipes a try and discover your favorites. Let each sip wrap you in warmth and coziness. Celebrate the season with these delicious drinks, and enhance your daily routine one cup at a time.

Share your experiences with these drinks and experiment with new ingredients to create your signature warming beverage. Cheers to a vibrant and comforting start to your day!

Remember variety is the spice of life so try different Ayurvedic winter drinks and see which one's work well for you. We seek energy, vitality, and resilience. We don't need stimulating beverages as we have enough stress in our daily lives. Caffeine is a central nervous stimulant. Who needs more stimulation? Rejuvenate with a balancing Ayurvedic warming morning beverages.

Click the Get the Book Button to download your copy.

7 Warming Morning Drinks Beyond Golden Milk

Discover how personalized Ayurvedic treatment can change your life

Book a free consultation with Veena from Saumya Ayurveda

Discover the Saumya Ayurveda Way

We all want to be heard, understood, and cared for as whole beings, not a set of isolated symptoms. True health is more than the absence of disease, which is why Western medicine so often leaves us feeling hopeless and unseen.

Deep down, you already know what you’re searching for: a new framework for living – one that brings your entire being back into balance. With Saumya Ayurveda, you’ll receive individualized guidance to create the physically, mentally, and spiritually vibrant life you crave.

Saumya Ayurveda provides concierge, top-notch, award-winning Ayurveda care. We strive to keep it simple, so you can focus on you! Our practice model is client focused not on retailing herbs.

Our effective multi-appointment consultation packages provide you with experienced Ayurveda care, enthusiastic guidance, and inspiring support.

Explore our personalized services and book your FREE discovery call today.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE…

If you found value in this article, please help others by sharing it and reposting it on your social media platforms. Just click the three vertical dots at the top of this page.

Saumya Ayurveda is dedicated to offering you insightful Ayurveda content for free to assist you in embracing an Ayurveda lifestyle. Thank you for your support.

MEET VEENA: YOUR AYURVEDIC GUIDE

Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.

She is President Emeritus and teaching faculty of the Meditation Center.

Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home, learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee.

An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veena’s deep, intuitive knowledge of Ayurveda empowers her clients to reclaim their fullest, most vibrant lives –mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven in your lifestyle, naturally.

Learn more about Veena's work and book your FREE discovery call today.