Warm Winter Drinks that Fight Inflammation

In a recent article I shared 3 of my favourite green smoothie recipes. I love green smoothies, but smoothies are COLD, and now that winter is here I want something WARM, folks! The problem is, it may not be immediately obvious what inflammation-fighting, antioxidant power house drinks there are in the hot drink category. Lucky for you, I’ve got some faves, and I bet you $10.00 you haven’t heard of some.

Golden Latte

First up is one you may be familiar with. A golden latte is a latte made with turmeric, a super powerful inflammation-fighting spice. You may know turmeric from your curries, but it’s great in hot beverages too. You can make this like a traditional latte (just add turmeric!), but I prefer the dairy-free versions. Instead of regular milk, I like the super creamy consistency of coconut milk, and adding in cinnamon, ginger, and honey makes it extra special. Don’t forget to add a few cracks of black pepper so the turmeric can be better absorbed by your body.

Matcha Tea

If you come to my city, Toronto, you’ll find matcha in everything. You can get matcha cookies, matcha cupcakes, matcha ice cream, even matcha “angel hats” at my fave spot, Uncle Tetsu’s. But matcha tea is the OG. Traditionally, you sift the powder into a ceramic bowl and add a bit of hot water. Using a special bamboo whisk, you create a paste. You then add the rest of your hot water to turn the paste into tea. Voila! For some it’s an acquired taste, but if you like it then you love it. Like turmeric, matcha has great anti-inflammatory properties (though you’ll find it’s a touch more expensive!).

Teeccino

So maybe tea isn’t your thing, maybe your beverage of choice is COFFEE! Good news, according to research your morning cup of joe may also be an inflammation fighter. Sadly, coffee is a little too boring for this list, so instead, I’m going to recommend a great brand of products called Teeccino. Teeccino smells and tastes like coffee, but it’s actually roasted herbal tea and it’s totally caffeine free. Teeccino is made with ingredients like roasted chicory and dandelion root, and can be brewed like coffee or steeped like tea. Double bonus, chicory is a great prebiotic and helps maintain a healthy gut.

Gojiccino

I’d like to follow up one brand you probably hadn’t heard of (Teeccino) with another! Gojiccino, which is a bottle of pure goji berry paste. Talk about antioxidants, right? Here’s the bizarre part. When you mix Gojiccino with hot water, it tastes like… a cappuccino. How? I don’t know, but possibly magic. Right now it’s only available in Ontario and New York, but fingers crossed the craze catches. Of all the drinks on this list, I’d be willing to bet this one packs the biggest anti-inflammatory punch.

Gluhwein

Let’s cap this list off with a night cap ;) Gluhwein, also known as mulled wine, is a hot alcoholic drink made with red wine and spices. My favorite way to make gluhwein is to heat the red wine with orange rind, brown sugar, cinnamon, clove, star anise, and cardamom. Many people also like to add fresh ginger and amaretto! We often hear about the health benefits of red wine, spices like cinnamon, and roots like ginger. Heat them all together and you’ve got something sure to please. As an added bonus, it will make your house smell like Christmas.

I certainly hope you enjoyed this list, and that you’re jazzed to try some of these new drinks. "But Vicki, where’s the love for hot chocolate?!” Listen, most processed hot chocolate is sugary garbage (albeit delicious sugary garbage). If you’re craving some hot chocolate after reading this list, try making it yourself with coconut milk, real cocoa or cacao powder, brown sugar, and a touch of molasses.

Stay warm out there, friends!