Everyone knows about the elaborate use of spices and nuts in Indian cooking. They are used to prepare various milk based drinks for the following reasons:

• To use milk as water and fat soluble media: Milk is an excellent media to dissolve water and fat soluble active components of spices. Hence processing milk with herbs has dual benefits.
• To improve taste: Adding these spices and nuts makes milk more delicious.

If the spices are boiled with milk, then the health benefits of milk get fortified with those of the spices.

Quality of milk
It is very important to use the highest quality of milk that you can find. We recommend clean raw whole milk from certified healthy grass-fed and organically raised cows.

Quality of spices and nuts
We recommend using certified organic spices and nuts whenever possible.

General method of preparation of milk with spices There are different methods of preparing milk with spices.

Simply add spice powder to milk and have it.

Take the spices in half a teaspoon; add to one cup of milk. Heat it in mild heat for a minute.

Boil the milk with spices.

Spices & Nuts Combinations

1) Dates, almonds, cardamom, fennel
Ingredients:

• 1-2 dates
• 1 almond
• 1-2 cardamom pods
• ¼ tsp fennel seeds
• One cup warm milk

Method:

• Mash the dates after removing the seeds.
• Remove the external cover of cardamom, and add the inner seed part to almond and Fennel and crush this into powder. Mix it will.
• Add the mashed dates with this powder, mix uniformly.
• Take one spoonful of this mix; add it to one cup of warm milk.

Benefits:

• Cardamom with dates and almonds gives the drink a special flavor.
• Good for your heart.
• Supports stomach and intestinal health.
• Supports respiratory health.
• Helps maintain normal cholesterol levels in healthy people.
• Naturally rich in Vitamin E.

2) Saffron, nutmeg, ghee, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom
Ingredients:

• A pinch of saffron
• A pinch of nutmeg powder
• ½ tsp ghee
• ¼ tsp dried ginger powder
• A pinch of cinnamon powder
• 1-2 cardamom pods
• One cup warm milk

Method:

• Remove the external cover of cardamom and powder the inner seeds.
• Take warm milk and add ghee and mix it well.
• Add rest of the powders and mix it well.

Benefits:

• Excellent drink to have after food for proper digestion and nourishment. Brings satiation and contentment.
• Excellent nourishing drink to have after a game of tennis or any sports / workout.
• Good for stomach, improves digestion.
• Good energizing drink for growing children and elderly people.

3) Almond, Raisin, Dates, Pistachio
Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp almond powder
• 1 tbsp chopped raisins
• 1 tbsp chopped dates
• 1 tbsp pistachio powder
• One cup warm milk

Method:
Add mashed raisin and dates to warm milk and mix it thoroughly. Add Almond and pistachio powder, stir it well.

Benefits:

• Acts as natural, mild and safe laxative.
• Excellent drink to improve gastric and intestinal health.
• Improves bone strength.
• Good for eyes.
• Energizing and nourishing milk drink.

Variation: Add a pinch saffron also. Benefits: Traditionally, in Indian customs, this drink is given in the first night of marriage as this drink improves sexual power.

4) Cardamom, Fennel, Saffron
Ingredients:

• A pinch of cardamom seed powder
• 1 tsp fennel seed powder
• A pinch of saffron
• One cup warm milk

Method: Mix all the powders with warm milk and stir it well.

Benefits:

• Beneficial for gastric health
• Improves digestive power
• Relieves belching and mild vomiting sensation
5) Ginger, Turmeric, Nutmeg, Black Pepper, Cinnamon Ingredients:
• 1 tsp dried ginger root powder
• A pinch of turmeric powder
• A pinch of nutmeg powder
• ¼ tsp black pepper powder
• ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
• One cup warm milk

Method: Mix all the powders with warm milk and stir well for 2 minutes. Benefits:

• Improves digestion.
• Relieves lack of taste, improves appetite.
• Keeps respiratory and skin allergies at bay.
• Good for joints, relieves stiffness.
6) Turmeric and black pepper
One pinch of each of turmeric and pepper added with warm milk. This combination is traditionally used to improve digestion and to relieve respiratory and skin allergies. 7) Honey, sugar, ghee and yogurt One spoon of each of honey, sugar, ghee and yogurt is mixed with Milk and stirred well. This combination is called as Panchamaruta, used in the Indian custom for worship. This milk combination is very rich in nutrition and is an excellent energizing and coolant drink. Single-Spice Milk Drinks 1. Saffron Warm milk with a pinch of saffron is natural aphrodisiac and nourishes and moisturizes skin. 2. Garlic: Add one teaspoon of garlic paste and one cup water to one cup of milk. Boil it till one cup remains. Filter and drink. In Ayurveda practice, this combination is used to relieve bloating and stomach discomfort. 3. Turmeric Traditionally, a pinch of turmeric added to half a cup of warm milk is given for instant relief from itching and allergies. 4. Long pepper Add one teaspoon of Long pepper (Piper longum) and one cup water to one cup of milk. Boil it till one cup remains. Filter and drink. This spicy milk drink is used in Ayurveda to relieve indigestion, nausea and to improve respiratory health. 5. Ghee One cup of warm milk with 2 – 3 spoons of ghee is especially given during pregnancy in Ayurveda practice. This combination is nourishing. It also brings about mild and natural laxative effect, very much needed during pregnancy. This is natural coolant and nourishing drink. This combination is used even after-delivery care of the mother.