As the evenings draw in, we’ve been thinking about what makes the season change a little brighter. For creator Sohini (@smokeandlime), that means leaning into warming spices, cooler air and a cup of haldi doodh before bed.
There’s something reassuring about its simplicity: no caffeine, nothing over-complicated, just milk gently infused with turmeric, ginger and whole spices. You'll slow down while you make it, and again while you drink it.
Using the Loka Chai Maker, the spices are brewed slowly on a low heat, giving them time to soften into the milk without losing their character. Sweetened with honey or jaggery and finished with rose petals, saffron or black cardamom, this is one evening ritual you can easily make your own.
Sohini's Haldi Doodh
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk, or milk of choice
- 1 tsp fresh turmeric, grated, or 1½ tsp good-quality turmeric powder
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 2 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 2 cloves, crushed
- 6 black peppercorns, crushed
- ½ tsp fennel seeds, crushed
- 1 tbsp honey or jaggery
To garnish
Rose petals, saffron or a whole black cardamom.
Method
Crush the whole spices in a pestle and mortar.
Add the milk to the Chai Maker, then grate in the fresh ginger and turmeric. Add the crushed spices and brew on the lowest heat for around four minutes.
Strain into a cup and sweeten with honey or jaggery to taste. Finish with rose petals, saffron or black cardamom.
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