Haldhicha Dudh

Why This Recipe Works

Haldhicha dudh (in the Marathi language of Western India) is a traditional beverage that is used to soothe people when they have a cold or cough. Translated as “turmeric milk,” haldhicha dudh combines turmeric with heated sweetened milk. When developing the proper proportions for our recipe, we relied on the advice of our colleague Kaumudi Marathé who grew up with the drink. Because fresh turmeric is seasonal, this drink is instead made with ground turmeric so that it can be enjoyed year-round. Turmeric is a spice that's sensitive to temperature, so we whisked it into the milk off heat to allow it to bloom without overcooking and tasting bitter. We tested a wide range of turmeric amounts and landed on 2 teaspoons—any more and the drink became gritty and tannic (like oversteeped tea), and any less resulted in a too dairy-forward drink. Instead of sugar, we sweetened our milk with honey because it balanced the earthy turmeric while providing a more natural flavor. We enjoyed trying out additional ingredients that paired nicely with the turmeric and found black pepper and ginger to be exciting add-ins thanks to their invigorating flavors. Once we added additional aromatics, a short steep time was necessary to draw out their flavor.