Moon Milk

Vegan MoonVegan Moon milk is an Ayurvedic drink that's consumed before going to bed. This drink is made with tonic water, walnut milk, fruits, and spices.

This post is sponsored by the Be the Best You promotion at Publix. The opinions and text are all mine.

A trendy new insomnia-fighter 

As Indians, drinking warm milk before going to bed is an old ritual we still follow. It is not new for us but the west seems to have caught on to it now and made it into a wellness trend!

We call it Haldi ka doodh but here it's called different names like moon milk or rainbow milk. It also comes in various other flavors and colors.

To help my brother and me sleep well, my mom would give us a glass of warm milk with sugar and a pinch of turmeric before we went to bed. 

Since I have shared Turmeric milk on the blog, I wanted to try a couple of moon milk recipes to see how they tasted.

Moon milk is basically warm milk, made with spices, sweetener, and sometimes also fruits.

Create a sleep routine

Our parents, grandparents, sleep experts, all seem to be saying the same thing. It's important to create a routine for everything in life and that includes sleep time.

While browsing through your phone should not make it to your night routine, there are many other things you can do before lights out.

You can take a shower, listen to some soft music, read a book, talk to your loved ones, read a story to your child, play with your pet, drink tea or moon milk, or even listen to a podcast. 

Whatever you choose to do, do it for a few days regularly to get your body accustomed to the routine. It helps train your body and brain that it’s time for sleep.

Only if you sleep well through the night will your body be fully recharged to carry on with the day.

Why make this

A glass of warm milk infused with your favorite flavors will certainly help you relax and unwind after a long, busy day. It acts as a sleep tonic.

• If you are wanting to have a sound sleep, consume this milk-drink before going to bed
• This drink is vegan and keto-friendly
• Easy and quick to make
• It's flavorful, soothing and comforting to taste
• Can be enjoyed by children as well as adults

Shopping at Publix

We are regular shoppers at Publix for many reasons. We always visit this store for all our basic grocery needs. It's our go-to one-stop-shop! Plus, the staff is friendly and helpful.

They carry a wide range of products that suit all kinds of lifestyles – vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, etc. Plus, they always have some kind of promotion going on! Now, who doesn't like to save some $$$?

I am here to tell you that they have a Plant-Based promotion at Publix from 9/11/21 – 9/24/21 where you can save on a variety of plant-based products. 

These products make it easier to choose plant-based foods without sacrificing taste, quality, or convenience!

Dairy-free milk – Since we are making a vegan Ayurvedic drink, I am using Elmhurst Unsweetened Plant-Based Walnut Milk. The warm nutty flavor really works here!

Goldthread Tonic – I have used the Lavender Bliss flavor to make this drink because I am aiming to make lavender moon milk with this tonic water. 

Drinks made with these tonic waters help restore, tone, and invigorate systems in the body and promote general health and well-being. 

Fruits – I have used Dole Berry Blend that consists of frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and avocado. These fruits bring in the required tartness and balance the flavors. 

Spices – saffron, nutmeg, ginger powder, sea salt, and turmeric powder work wonderfully together in making this bedtime drink soothing and comforting.

Sweetener – I have used maple syrup. You can use any sweetener of your choice.

1. To a thick bottomed pan, add (room temperature) Elmhurst Unsweetened Plant-Based Walnut Milk. Warm it up over a medium flame for 2 minutes. Then add all the spices – turmeric, saffron, sea salt, nutmeg and ginger powder. Mix and continue to simmer for 5-6 minutes. Chef Tip - Keep stirring the milk at intervals.
2. Take it off the flame when you start to see bubbles on the surface. There is no need to boil the milk. Add maple syrup and mix it into the milk.
3. Allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Then transfer the contents to a blender jar. Add the Goldthread Lavender Bliss Tonic.
4. Add the Dole Berry Blend. Blitz to blend everything together. 
5. Sieve the drink if needed. Taste and add more maple syrup if needed. 
6. This ayurvedic drink tastes better when it’s frothy. Chef Tip - Work it up using a frother.

Serving suggestions 🍽

Pour in serving glasses, garnish with edible flowers and serve. You can enjoy this moon milk warm or cold. 

To make it more fun, serve this moon milk with some roasted vegan marshmallows. Experiment with the other wonderful flavors of Goldthread tonic water to make different moon milk drink recipes.

You can also mix in a tablespoon of healthy fats such as unrefined coconut oil or vegan ghee before drinking this Ayurvedic drink.

This drink made with tonic water, walnut milk, fruits, and herbs is ideally had before going to bed. It promotes sound sleep.

Top recipe tips 💭

Use any plant-based milk in place of walnut milk in this recipe. You can also use vegan creamers for a richer texture. If you don't have ginger powder, grate some fresh ginger and add.

Feel free to experiment with the fruits as per your preference. Skip spices that you don't have. This moon milk recipe is very flexible. 

Add pitaya, spirulina, matcha, moringa, or ashwagandha, if you like the flavor. You can also add vanilla extract, cinnamon powder, or cacao powder to this Ayurvedic drink. 

If you like a little bit of kick, add some crushed black pepper along with the other spices. Feel free to skip any if you don't have it. Skip adding the flowers too, if you like.

Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram @cookilicious with the hashtag #cookiliciousveg. I love hearing your feedback! 

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