It is unusual for me to rave about a milk-based hot drink. I don't drink hot chocolate (or iced chocolate for that matter) and I find most commercial lattes too milky and too sweet. This drink isn't overly sweet, but it is milky. (I am using 'milky' to refer to non-dairy milks here.)
Either I am growing used to almond milks and no longer have an aversion to milk-based products, or the ginger in this drink cancels out the milk. I am placing my bets on the latter. The ginger here is full-flavoured and spicy. It tingles your taste buds and warms your throat.
If you aren't sure about ginger, you can adjust the spice proportions to taste. Cinnamon is important too, as are nutmeg and/or cardamom. You could probably add some vanilla to the mix as well. One of the things I love about this recipe is that it draws on pantry staples, and after making it once, you'll be able to approximate amounts to suit you preferences. Come up with your own blend, and enjoy.
Spiced ginger latte
A delicious, warming hot drink for one
Vegan and easily low fat and gluten free
Author: Bite-sized thoughts
Ingredients
1/2 to 1 tsp dried ginger, to taste (I recommend starting low and building up)
1/4 tsp + 1/8 tsp dried cinnamon, divided
1/4 tsp dried nutmeg or cardamom, to taste (or a mix of both)
2 - 4 drops liquid stevia or 1 tsp maple syrup, or to taste (omit if using sweetened milk)
3/4 cup non-dairy milk of choice (I like unsweetened vanilla almond milk and sweetened almond-coconut milk in this)
3/4 cup hot (near boiling) water
Method
If using a microwave: Place ginger, 1/4 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg and/or cardamom in a large mug, along with your sweetener of choice. Add the non-dairy milk and stir well. Heat on medium power in the microwave for 20 seconds, stir, and then heat for an additional 20 seconds on medium power. Top up with hot water, sprinkle with the additional 1/8 tsp cinnamon, and enjoy.
If using a stovetop: Place ginger, 1/4 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg and/or cardamom in a small saucepan, along with your sweetener of choice. Add your non-dairy milk and water and stir well. Warm on medium heat, stirring regularly, until ready. Transfer to a large mug, top with the additional 1/8 tsp cinnamon, and enjoy.
Submitted to Healthy Vegan Fridays.
What is your favourite drink at the moment?!
I'm sure I'd love this. It's like a chai latte but without the tea part- and I don't like black tea so this is much better in my opinion :)
ReplyDeleteCan't believe you don't like hot chocolate though?!
Well, I don't actively dislike it - I just don't ever tend to have it!
DeleteA tea-less chai latte is exactly what this is (with perhaps a dash more ginger), so if you're not a tea fan, it should suit you well :)
Not liking hot chocolate or lattes- you are just crazy! But good crazy, because this drink looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I do actually like chai lattes, but many cafes in Australia use commercial spice mixes that are as much sugar as spice - which has put me off cafe versions! Occasionally I'll still enjoy one though :)
DeleteAh, this reminds me of last year when I went through a phase of drinking spied almond milk every night. But then I quit cold turkey because the turmeric I loved putting in it was making my toothbrush turn yellow and it freaked me out.
ReplyDeleteOops spiced. And ha to using animal puns to vegans. This is like when I called Lisa's boyfriend "a good egg" then had to amend to "a good tofu dusted with black salt".
DeleteI tried a turmeric latte recently in a super trendy organic themed cafe in Perth - I liked the idea more than the taste but it makes sense that you are already making your own, being the trend setter that you are ;) It's probably just as well I didn't love it as a yellow toothbrush would freak me out too!
DeleteI'd take a good tofu dusted with black salt any day :-)
Oh YUM!!
ReplyDeleteI will have to try this latte, it sounds amazing, I am a bit of a ginger freak ;)
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Me too (ginger freak that is) - glad to know I'm not alone :-)
DeleteI almost wrote holy cow until I read Hannah's comment. :) I love the spiced ginger idea!
ReplyDeleteBahahaha...animal puns are welcome, don't you worry ;)
DeleteThis sounds delish! I find the flavour of almond milk unusual, but the ginger flavour would be terrific.
ReplyDeleteIt would definitely offset the almond if that isn't your thing :)
DeleteThis sounds lovely. I actually love milky drinks - I find bonsoy soy milk the milkiest but also love homemade almond milk. I also tried the coconut almond milk you blogged about and love that too :)
ReplyDeleteGreat! I still really like it - and especially in this ;)
DeleteWe have been drinking this for the last few days and love it! Like a chai latte without all the artificial stuff :)
DeleteOh, super! Thanks for letting me know :)
Deleteyou must be feeling a little autumn with this drink - love the top photo - much as I would like to I don't think even these spices can make me love a milky drink (even when I read the recipe and discovered it didn't have coffee) - though I can imagine they smell wonderful when you make it - it strikes me as a possible gift pack you could make with the spices (and perhaps coconut sugar?) and an instruction to just add milk and water.
ReplyDeleteAutumn is spot on, and perhaps you can just enjoy the smell (although that would be rather wasteful) as that is delicious in its own right. I love your idea of a gift pack too - and coconut sugar!
DeleteThis is the first recipe I've read where I've gone and made it before commenting! I agree with an earlier comment, its a bit like a chai latte. Yum. I used nutmeg but I wish I had some cardamom instead because I love it. I'll get some in and try it with that :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you made it, and liked it! Fantastic :)
DeleteI have made that mistake of getting enthusiastic about ginger and adding far too much at the outset so your advice is very good. This looks like a great drink to be enjoying right now as the weather changes and we need to build up our immune systems xx
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even registered the immune boosting consequences! A great scientist I am! Now I shall enjoy it even more :)
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