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Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
5 min
20/01/2026
Turmeric milk (or haldi doodh) is still an Ayurvedic medicinal drink, but it has evolved beyond its traditional roots and now features as a café-inspired drink, offering dairy-free variants, functional blends, and rich-flavoured options tailored to modern lifestyles, all while retaining turmeric as its key ingredient.
For centuries, haldi doodh has been a staple of the Indian kitchen, consisting of warm milk with turmeric, a small amount of pepper, and consumed at night or while ill. However, with the growing popularity of healthy living and wellness, the way that haldi doodh is prepared has changed, and now the beverage can be thought of as a modern-day drink that works within a routine and lifestyle.
The basis of the modern haldi doodh, however, has not changed; it is still made from turmeric in warm liquid. However, haldi doodh is no longer only ever consumed during sickness; it is now being consumed daily as a healthy drinking habit, a caffeine-free alternative to coffee, or a mindful way to end the day. The emphasis is no longer solely on the health benefits of turmeric; it is just as important to have a complete and balanced drink experience with the correct texture and aroma.
This iteration takes inspiration from traditional coffee drinks; like coffee, the quality of the milk and texture of the milk when consumed, i.e., the creaminess of the milk drink, is paramount to the experience of drinking this beverage (they are meant to be savoured and enjoyed slowly). Golden milk lattes are typically very creamy, smooth and only slightly sweetened. These are designed for leisurely sipping, rather than gulping them down quickly or all at once. The core idea is an intersection between wellness and indulgence: A drink that feels luxurious while still delivering on its wellness promise; hence, golden lattes have become popular at urban cafés and among those who use home frothing machines for their coffee.
In the last few years, as dairy-free options have gained popularity and become mainstream, haldi doodh has transitioned effortlessly to the new way of drinking it. Many plant-based options focus on lightness of flavour and ease of digestion. The very nature of the plant-based alters the perception of flavour; some brands have introduced a nuttiness to their haldi dood,h but others still maintain a very light flavour profile, creating a golden milk with a lighter experience that is far easier to consume throughout the day.
Golden Milk is viewed as a "delivery vehicle" for other health and wellness objectives in this more contemporary approach to Golden Milk. Depending on the context, Golden Milk can provide "calming" benefits, "restorative" properties or "immunity support". Rather than have the drink be perceived as overly medicinal, the goal of gold milk blends is to find balance, making this drink a feasible "everyday habit" rather than an occasional or temporary solution.
Complex flavours have taken focus for this version of the beverage; rather than the heavy, dominant taste of turmeric, the drink is layered, rounded and aromatic. The beverage appeals to consumers who appreciate the nuances in culinary offerings, as well as the intentionality of the flavours that create the taste of wellness instead of simply correcting the body with a beverage. This is golden milk with flavour designed specifically for the taste buds, not just for the body.
With the introduction of various portable and convenient versions of haldi doodh, consumers are able to continue their nightly ritual without having to prepare it nightly due to the time constraints of today. The convenience of these beverages has simplified the ritual but maintained the emotional connection of comfort, warmth and self-care associated with them.
The golden milk trend is less focused on new ingredients but rather on changing the context in which haldi doodh has been used. Haldi doodh has transitioned from being a reactive remedy towards a lifestyle drink used as a preventative measure within the cultures of cafes, plant-based eating and functional wellness, and has responded to a society that has less time to prepare.
