# Warming Spice Teas for Chilly Mornings: Chai and Golden Milk > How to brew golden milk in milk or a plant milk, a simmered chai and a lemony turmeric ginger tea, plus easy kitchen uses for three warm spices. Canonical: https://healthstylz.com/herb-guides/warming-spice-teas-chai-and-golden-milk/ Published: 2026-10-23 by HealthStylz. Product facts checked 2026-10-23 on mountainroseherbs.com. HealthStylz is a Mountain Rose Herbs affiliate. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. ## In short For a warming, caffeine free cup on a chilly morning or evening, start with a spice blend and a saucepan. Golden milk, known in India as Haldi Doodh, began as milk, turmeric, black pepper and oil. Mountain Rose Herbs suggests 2 tablespoons of its Golden Milk Tea gently simmered in milk or a plant milk for 10 to 12 minutes, or 1 tablespoon steeped in 8 ounces of boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. Firefly Chai and Turmeric Ginger Tea use the same 1 tablespoon, 3 to 5 minute steep. In the kitchen, turmeric powder goes into curries, rice, lentils and soups, dried ginger root can be infused as tea, and Ceylon cinnamon chips add a softer, sweeter cinnamon note. This HealthStylz guide sticks to flavor, tradition and method. ## Key takeaways - Golden milk, or Haldi Doodh, is a turmeric drink from the Ayurvedic tradition that you can simmer in dairy or plant milk. - Golden Milk Tea, Firefly Chai and Turmeric Ginger Tea are all listed as caffeine free and brew with 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces. - Turmeric powder, dried ginger root and Ceylon cinnamon chips each have simple everyday kitchen uses. ## Spice in a mug on chilly mornings When the morning is dark and chilly, a mug of something spiced and steaming is hard to beat. Ginger, cinnamon and turmeric have been kitchen staples for a very long time. Mountain Rose Herbs notes that ginger has been used as a spice in food and beverages for thousands of years, and that cinnamon is mentioned in the Bible and in Egyptian texts. This guide covers three loose spice blends and three single spices from Mountain Rose Herbs. All three blends, Golden Milk Tea, Firefly Chai and Turmeric Ginger Tea, are listed as caffeine free, so they fit an evening cup as well as a slow morning. The methods come from the product pages or are plain kitchen guidance. How each blend is brewed, as listed on its Mountain Rose Herbs product page (captured Oct 23, 2026)| | Drink | Amount | Liquid | Method and time | Caffeine | | | Golden Milk Tea, steeped | 1 tablespoon | 8 ounces boiling water | Steep 3 to 5 minutes | Caffeine free | | | Golden Milk Tea, simmered | 2 tablespoons | Milk or milk alternative (amount not stated) | Gently simmer 10 to 12 minutes | Caffeine free | | | Firefly Chai | 1 tablespoon | 8 ounces boiling water | Steep 3 to 5 minutes | Caffeine free | | | Turmeric Ginger Tea | 1 tablespoon | 8 ounces boiling water | Steep 3 to 5 minutes | Caffeine free | ## Golden milk, the traditional way Golden milk is known in India as Haldi Doodh. The Mountain Rose Herbs product page describes it as a turmeric based drink in the Ayurvedic tradition that began as a simple mix of cow's milk, turmeric, black pepper and oil. Over time, cooks added other spices and flavorings such as ginger and cinnamon. The Golden Milk Tea blend follows that path. Its ingredients are turmeric root, ginger root, coconut flakes, hulled cardamom, cassia cinnamon chips, black peppercorns and pink rose petals. The page describes a warming, rooty turmeric aroma with a gentle spicy body and smooth finish. There are two ways to brew it. For a quick cup, put 1 tablespoon of the blend in a cloth tea bag or mesh basket, pour 8 ounces of boiling water over it, and steep 3 to 5 minutes. For a richer, more traditional cup, try the saucepan method: - Put 2 tablespoons of the blend in a medium saucepan. - Add milk or a plant milk. The product page does not give an amount, so start with what fills your mug or two. - Gently simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Keep the heat low so the milk does not boil over. - Pour through a fine strainer into your mug. Sweeten if you like. Mountain Rose Herbs calls the simmered version a stronger decoction. A decoction simply means the herbs are simmered, while an infusion means they are steeped in hot water off the heat. The page notes that a plant-based milk makes a tasty vegan cup. ## A simmered, milky chai Firefly Chai is a caffeine free take on chai. Instead of black tea, it uses red rooibos with ginger root, cassia cinnamon chips, cardamom, cloves and nutmeg. Mountain Rose Herbs describes a spicy, robust aroma and a flavor that starts warm and ends with a piquant finish, a little smoother than chai made with black tea. The product page gives one method: 1 tablespoon of tea per 8 ounces of boiling water, steeped 3 to 5 minutes or until it reaches the strength you like. That makes a clear, spiced cup. Add a splash of warm milk at the end for a creamier one. For a deeper, milkier chai, you can borrow the saucepan idea from golden milk and simmer the spices right in milk. The Firefly Chai page does not give simmering directions, so taste as you go and stop when the spice is as strong as you like. Strain well, since cloves and cinnamon chips are firm pieces. ## Turmeric ginger tea, bright and lemony Turmeric Ginger Tea is the lightest of the three. It brews a soft orange color, and the ingredient list adds lemon to the roots: ginger root, turmeric root, diced lemons, lemon verbena, lemon balm, rosehips and ginger root powder. Mountain Rose Herbs describes the flavor as sharp and lemony with warm, earthy notes, and says the blend offers warming comfort during the chilly months but is good any time of year. Brew 1 tablespoon in a cloth bag or mesh basket with 8 ounces of boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. The page invites you to experiment with steep time and amount, and says the tea is delicious alone or with added honey. ## Cooking with turmeric, ginger and Ceylon cinnamon ### Turmeric root powder Mountain Rose Herbs describes turmeric powder as earthy and slightly bitter, ground from Curcuma longa root grown in India. In the kitchen it is a key spice in Indian and Asian cooking. The product page suggests curries, rice dishes, lentils, potato dishes, stocks, sauces and soups. Start with a small pinch and taste. Its color is strong enough that it has long been used as a dye for robes and saris, so wipe up spills on counters and cloth right away. ### Ginger root, cut and dried Dried ginger root tastes pungent, earthy and spicy. The product page says it carries the familiar scent of fresh ginger without the bright citrus notes. It can be infused as tea or made into syrups. For a plain ginger tea, simmer a spoonful of the cut root in water, taste, and strain. The ginger root page showed it as out of stock on the capture date. ### Sweet cinnamon chips These chips come from Cinnamomum verum grown in Sri Lanka, also called Ceylon or "true" cinnamon. Mountain Rose Herbs describes them as mild, with a more subtle, delicate and sweet flavor than the closely related cassia cinnamon used in Firefly Chai and Golden Milk Tea. The page suggests steeping the chips as a cinnamon tea or adding them to your favorite tea blend. A small pinch in your golden milk saucepan adds a softer cinnamon note. **Safety first.** The Golden Milk Tea page states: "Consumption of black pepper should not exceed small amounts for use as a spice." The ginger root, turmeric root powder and sweet cinnamon chips pages each state: "No known precautions. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications." The Firefly Chai and Turmeric Ginger Tea pages list no precautions. Golden Milk Tea contains coconut flakes and Firefly Chai contains nutmeg, so read the ingredient lists if you have food allergies. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health advises that if you take any type of medicine, you should talk with your health care provider before using any herbal product. Talk with your clinician first if you are pregnant or nursing. Keep simmering milk on low heat and away from small children. ## Questions people ask **What is Haldi Doodh?** Haldi Doodh is the name for golden milk in India. Mountain Rose Herbs describes it as a turmeric based drink in the Ayurvedic tradition that began with cow's milk, turmeric, black pepper and oil, with ginger and cinnamon added over time. **Can I make golden milk with a plant milk?** Yes. The Golden Milk Tea page suggests simmering 2 tablespoons of the blend in milk or a milk alternative for 10 to 12 minutes. It notes that plant-based milk makes a tasty vegan cup. **Is Firefly Chai caffeine free?** Yes, Mountain Rose Herbs lists Firefly Chai as caffeine free. It uses red rooibos instead of black tea, along with ginger, cassia cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and nutmeg. **What is the difference between Ceylon cinnamon and cassia?** Mountain Rose Herbs describes Ceylon, or true, cinnamon as having a more subtle, delicate and sweet flavor than the closely related cassia. It adds that cassia bark is harder, thicker and reddish, while true cinnamon tends to be tan with many thin layers. **Are these spices safe to use if I take medicine?** The ginger, turmeric and cinnamon pages list no known precautions but recommend consulting a qualified healthcare practitioner if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health also advises talking with your health care provider before using any herbal product if you take medicine. ## Sources - [Golden Milk Tea Organic, Mountain Rose Herbs](https://mountainroseherbs.com/golden-milk-tea) - [Firefly Chai Organic, Mountain Rose Herbs](https://mountainroseherbs.com/firefly-chai) - [Turmeric Ginger Tea Organic, Mountain Rose Herbs](https://mountainroseherbs.com/turmeric-ginger-tea) - [Turmeric Root Powder Organic, Mountain Rose Herbs](https://mountainroseherbs.com/turmeric-root-powder) - [Ginger Root Organic, Mountain Rose Herbs](https://mountainroseherbs.com/ginger-root) - [Cinnamon, Sweet Chips Organic, Mountain Rose Herbs](https://mountainroseherbs.com/sweet-cinnamon-chips) - [Turmeric, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric) - [Ginger, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ginger) These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is for education only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.