Table of Contents
About this Turmeric Lactation Tea
My clients and Instagram followers LOVE this tea! They call it, “Therapy in a cup” and “Love in a mug” and “Mommy colostrum!” As an Ayurvedic Postpartum Chef, this Turmeric Lactation Tea is one of the first things I give to a mother after she births her baby. This tea is part of my daily postpartum hydration regimen. The moms I serve consume two, 8-ounce mugs per day. This recipe makes enough for four eight-ounce cups of this decadent elixir.
I learned this recipe from my teachers at the Center for Sacred Window Studies while training to become an Ayurvedic Postpartum Caregiver. I’ve modified it just a bit from the original recipe, which you can find in the cookbook, Touching Heaven. I’m so grateful for my teachers at this school, and I highly recommend the program if you are interested in becoming a postpartum doula.
“Turmeric Lactation Tea” is the modern name coined by westerners for this warm, nourishing postpartum drink that new mothers have consumed in Southeast Asia for many thousands of years. There are as many variations of this tea in India as there are families! South Asia is the birthplace of Ayurveda, India’s 5,000-year-old holistic health system, which considers food (and rest) as medicine for the postpartum mother. Modern-day households in India still uphold these ancient Ayurvedic traditions and diet protocols. Traditionally, the birthing mother lives with her mom or mother-in-law where she is cared for by her maternal elders. In India, a postpartum mom’s mother or mother-in-law will traditionally make her warm teas and drinks, much like this one, every day for the first 42 days postpartum.
Ingredient Notes
How does this tea help postpartum mothers recover from birth?
According to Ayurveda, food is medicine. This tea is consumed during the postpartum time not only because it tastes delicious but also because each and every component supports the mother’s healing process, enhances the quality of her breastmilk, and may increase the quantity of milk she is able to produce.
Recovering from the birth process takes many months, requiring the mother to rest and eat appropriate foods. After birth, her body’s digestion is very delicate and vulnerable. This tea supports her digestion, allowing the nutrients from her meals to be adequately absorbed and assimilated. The turmeric helps to reduce any swelling or inflammation she might be experiencing from the birth. Many of the ingredients have immunity-boosting properties, which support her body’s ability to heal itself, builds her immunity, and protects her from illness during this vulnerable time. When the mother is properly fed and cared for, her body can self-heal, and she can fully recover from the effects of birth. This tea’s spices will create healthy digestion, preventing her from experiencing gas, bloating, heartburn, or constipation. Simultaneously, the warm milk provides many nutrients her body needs to stay hydrated, rebuild tissues and produce milk. The warmth of the milk helps to reduce the vata, the extra air, and space in her torso cavity, encouraging her organs, muscles, and tendons to migrate back to their pre-pregnancy location.
The health benefits of this tea for both the mother and the baby are numerous! Let me share the ingredients here and explain the medicinal, healing qualities of each.
- Ginger — aids in digestion, is a proven galactagogue, reduces bloating, boosts immunity, improves circulation, helps the body to absorb nutrients, kindles digestive fires.
- Fennel — boosts milk supply, supports digestion.
- Cardamom Pods— supports digestion
- Cinnamon Sticks— regulates the blood, improves circulation, digestion support.
- Whole Cloves — digestive aid
- Fenugreek seeds — a proven galactagogue
- Turmeric Powder — reduces inflammation, builds immunity, reduces gas, supports good gut bacteria, stabilizes blood sugars.
- Black peppercorns — kindles digestive fires, supports digestion.
- Saffron — blood cleanser and nerve tonic
- Whole milk — provides protein, builds Ojas (vital energy), galactagogue.
- Almond Milk (cow milk alternative) — protein, helps repair tissues after birth, galactagogue.
- Warmth — warmth is essential for healing. Warm drinks support her body’s healing process by reducing the extra air and space inside of her after giving birth.
Why is this tea so good for breastfeeding mothers?
This tea is a galactagogue, meaning “a food, drink or drug that promotes or increases the flow of a mother’s milk.” How does this milk support that process? Let me explain.
- Hydration– Producing milk requires that the mother consumes tremendous amounts of fluids. The higher quality fluids she consumes will create high-quality milk for the baby. Warm teas are one of the best ways to keep a new mother hydrated. I always keep a thermos filled with tea by her bedside so she can sip on warm tea 24/7.
- Relaxation– What’s more relaxing than a good cup of tea served to you by your loved one while you are resting in bed? Relaxation is vital for the milk to come in and flow down through the milk ducts and out the nipples (this process is called “let-down”). The warm milk is a natural sedative, helping the mother relax and nap when the baby naps.
- Hormone Regulation–The birth process can cause a mother’s nervous system to up-regulate, and in some situations, birthing mothers’ autonomic nervous system (ANS) experiences shock. This is often just a natural, physical response to childbirth. However, if her ANS remains in an up-regulated, hyper-aroused state for too long, it could prevent her milk from coming in and allowing it to flow smoothly. The mother’s post-birth environment must be very low-stimulation, that she is kept warm, she can rest, and that she consumes proper food and beverages. This tea supports a calm and restful environment, allowing her nervous system to feel safe and begin to down-regulate. When her ANS is down-regulated, the stress hormones from birth (cortisol and adrenaline) subside, allowing beneficial, milk-producing hormones to kick in (oxytocin, endorphins, and prolactin). This tea supports the release of the mother’s “love hormones,” oxytocin, and endorphins, helping her feel safe, relaxed, fall in love with her baby. This is what the body needs to produce milk.
- Anti-inflammatory– Many birthing mothers experience swelling and inflammation from giving birth. Consuming turmeric and other healing spices will help reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by childbirth. When the swelling subsides, the body can focus on producing milk, and with less swelling, there is more space in the breast tissues for the milk to go!
- Protein, Vitamins, Minerals + Fat — Milk provides much-needed protein, calcium, iodine, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins B2, B12, and fat. The mother’s body needs high-density nutrition to produce high-quality milk. Breastfeeding mothers need to consume a high-fat diet (healthy fats). I always encourage my mamas to drink whole milk. If you have access to raw milk, this is the best! Be sure to bring it to a full boil when making your tea.
Love in a cup – On an emotional level, the tea’s aroma while it’s cooking on the stove is healing in itself! It fills the home with soothing and delicious scents, stimulating hunger in the mother. When her caregiver brings her a mug of this Turmeric Lactation Tea while she is feeding the baby, she feels deeply loved and nurtured. When the mom feels loved and nurtured, she passes that love onto the baby. Who knew a cup of tea could do all that?
Steps To Making Turmeric Lactation Tea
Here’s a quick overview of the steps to make this drink. For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to see the recipe.
1. With a mortar and pestle (I like this one) Peel and chop the ginger. Crush cardamom pods.
2. Fill a medium-sized saucepan with water and add all the spices.
3. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer on very low for 20-30 minutes.
4. Add the milk and saffron, return to boil.
5. Stir in the maple syrup. This is my favorite brand!
6. Strain the tea into a mug and store the remainder in a pitcher or thermos.
Turmeric Lactation Tea Variations
- Add ⅛ tsp nutmeg powder (or fresh grated)
- Substitute whole milk for almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk
- Substitute maple syrup with 6-7 dates, cooked with concentrate, and pressed through a strainer
Notes and Tips
- Check your local Indian grocery store to purchase the spices. If you make this tea daily for six weeks, you will need large quantities of these spices, particularly fennel, cardamom pods, and cinnamon. They will be much more affordable at the Indian store than at a conventional grocery store. You can also find them online through Mountain Rose Herbs.
- The longer you boil the concentrate, the stronger the flavor will be. If you boil it so long that the water dries up too much, just add more water and simmer it again.
- If you have thyroid issues and are taking thyroid medication, omit the fenugreek seeds.
- Be sure to crush the cardamom pods to release the flavor. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder, then place the pods on a cutting board, put a napkin over them, pound them with the back of a knife.
Questions you may have
What other milks can I use besides cow milk?
- If mom or baby has a dairy intolerance, Almond milk is the next best thing for postpartum mothers. Homemade is ideal; try my recipe here. If you use store-bought Almond milk, be sure to buy unsweetened. I like organic, unsweetened vanilla almond milk the best.
- Oat milk is a good option. Oats help boost milk production and, per my diet protocols, are a staple food for postpartum moms. You can try my recipe here. If you buy store-bought oat milk, be sure to get it without added sugar.
- Another option is to use coconut milk, or half coconut milk, half almond milk. You can try my homemade coconut milk recipe here, or use canned, full-fat coconut milk.
Is this tea caffeinated?
No.
Can I serve this tea iced to the postpartum mother?
No, cold drinks are not suitable for postpartum moms, according to Ayurveda. Everything she consumes should be warm, even in warm climates.
How long will this tea last in the fridge?
2-3 days maximum
What other sweeteners can I use?
I prefer maple syrups or dates; however, you can use agave or brown sugar. Honey is healthy when it’s not heated. Once it’s heated, it becomes toxic and indigestible. If you use honey, be sure not to boil it, adding it only after the tea has cooled slightly.
Can I use jaggery to sweeten the tea?
Yes, however, add it to each individual mug after the milk has cooled slightly, otherwise, jaggery will curdle the milk if you boil them together.
Recipe
PrintTurmeric Lactation Tea
- Author: Shelley Rahim
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
1 – 2” piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
1 piece cinnamon stick (3-4” long)
2 tsp fennel seeds
4 cloves
8 black peppercorns
20 – 25 cardamom pods, cracked and crushed
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Pinch of saffron threads
1 quart whole milk (4 cups) —Almond milk, Oat milk or Coconut milk also work
3-4 TBS pure maple syrup
2 1/2 C water (filtered)
Instructions
- Pour 2.5 cups of filtered water into a medium saucepan.
- Crush the cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle and add to the water.
- Peel and slice (or grate) the ginger. Add to the water.
- Add the remaining spices, except for the saffron, to the water. Bring spices to a boil.
- Turn the heat down to med-low and simmer the spices for 15-30 minutes, until the water is reduced to ½-1 cup in quantity. This is your tea concentrate.
- Add the four cups of milk and pinch of saffron.
- Bring milk to boil, then reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 2-5 minutes longer.
- Add the maple syrup.
- Pour into a mug, sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg on top.
- Serve to the happy mama and listen to her say, “mmmmmmmm” as she takes a sip.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Teas
Keywords: Turmeric Lactation Tea
17 Responses
Hi Shelley! How long does this last in the fridge please?
she stated 2-3 days
Sorry for the slow reply! Yes, 2-3 days is the max. XOXOXO
This recipe is such a gift! My daughter just had baby at 37 weeks and it’s in the NICU. I’ve made three batches of lactation tea in three days. Of all the ways I support her, I think this is her absolute favourite. She loves this drink to such an extent that I think it’s meeting a serious nutritional need. Plus, her milk supply is really, really good, despite the fact that she can’t breastfeed the baby yet. I’m heading to the store for more supplies! This, along with lactation cookies, will be my gift for new moms going forward.
Thank you SO much for this comment! 💖 She is so lucky to have you! Isn’t it empowering to know that you can help her in this situation? Simple things like this really make a big difference. She feels loved. She feels cared for (when everyone else is focusing on caring for her baby). This love she feels (and is literally drinking), helps the oxytocin and prolactin to flow! I’m so happy you now have a go-to gift for postpartum moms! Let’s keep spreading the love and healing the earth, one postpartum mother at a time! XOXOX
Can you make this ahead and freeze it? What about your other teas?
Thanks
YES!!! I have a whole strategy and protocol for freezing this tea concentrate. If you are on Instagram, I have the recipe and video tutorial there; if not, I will list the process here. When I get time, I will update it on the main part of this blog post.
You will want to make the concentrate and freeze it BEFORE you add the milk. Add the milk and maple syrup when you make the tea during postpartum.
Here is a tutorial video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CeTzdjNFE3k/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Here you go:
Instructions for large-batch freezing–
You can make large batches of this decadent tea before giving birth so it’s easy to make each day. The concentrate will be stored in ice-cube trays in your freezer, ready and waiting for you after you give birth to your baby. Each mug will only take you 3 minutes to warm up!
⬇️ HERE’S HOW ⬇️
1️⃣ Make a quadruple batch of the tea concentrate (but don’t add the milk)
2️⃣ Pour the concentrate into standard 1oz ice cube trays
3️⃣ Freeze
4️⃣ 👶 Give birth to your baby!😲
5️⃣ Drink this tea daily 1-2 times per day for healing + plentiful breastmilk.
🔥Daily Heating Instructions🔥
➡️ Put 2 ice cubes in a mug
➡️ Add 8oz of milk (whole milk, raw milk or almond milk )
➡️ Microwave for 2-3 minutes
➡️ Add 2 tsp pure maple syrup
➡️ Serve to the mother in bed
The following recipe makes approx 10 servings.
4 batches of this recipe = 40 days of Turmeric Chai
👇Large Batch Recipe (10 servings)👇
8.5 c water
4 Tbsp cardamom pods, crushed
6” piece ginger, peeled and sliced
4 cinnamon sticks
8 tsp fennel seeds
14 whole cloves
32 black peppercorns
1.5 tsp fenugreek seeds*
1 3/4 tsp ground turmeric
4 pinches saffron threads
1️⃣ Bring water and all the spices, except the saffron, to boil.
2️⃣ Reduce heat and simmer until 50% volume
3️⃣ Add saffron and let sit until room temp
4️⃣ Strain
5️⃣ Pour into ice cube trays, freeze
6️⃣ Store in a sealed container or zip lock bags in freezer to keep fresh.
*omit fenugreek seeds if you have thyroid issues
☕️Happy sipping!☕️
This freezing method worked perfectly for me. Even though my baby is now 3 months, I’m planning to make a new batch, as I loved this drink so much.
I’m so happy it’s working out! It’s such a decadent, healthy treat…and so easy when it’s already made and ready to go!
Hi, can you call it a tea Concentrate. You recommend deleting it when you drink it? Or do you drink at full strength?
Hello! The liquid you make before adding the milk and maple syrup is the tea concentrate. It’s way too strong to drink straight and must be consumed with milk. Following the proportions in the recipe will be perfect! If you are inquiring about the freezing instructions, you want to freeze the concentrate only. You will add the milk fresh when you are ready to drink it during the postpartum time.
Do you recommend using fresh instead of powdered turmeric? If so, any change to the recipe?
Fresh turmeric would be amazing! Instead of dried turmeric, add about 2-3 teaspoons of grated fresh turmeric to get the same flavor and effect.
Hi
Can you use all store bought powders? If so what would be the quantities ?
Thanks
That’s a good question. I’m not exactly sure but I think it can lower the thyroid hormone, so, people with hypothyroid would want to avoid it. That being said, an occasional mug of chai is probably fine, but if you plan to consume it daily, per my protocol, I would omit it.
I’ve never tried it, but I’m SURE it would be good. You just might get a little bit of sediment in the bottom of your mug as you drink it….but, if that doesn’t bother you it would be fine.
Here are some conversions:
1 tsp ginger powder
1.5 tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp fennel powder
1/2 tsp clove powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp fenugreek powder
Give it a try and let me know how it tastes!
XOXOXO
Why do we need to omit fenugreek seeds while having thyroid issue.. ?