Posted by Les Mauvaises Herbes
A major trend in the wellness world, "moon milks" are as delicious as they are pretty! The term moon milk applies to any relaxing milk-based drink (plant-based or otherwise) consumed before bedtime. In the natural products market, you can find all sorts of instant powders for quickly making your little colorful comforting drink, but we much prefer preparing them ourselves using basic ingredients, so we can choose exactly what goes into them. It is possible to adapt the recipe infinitely! You just need to choose calming plants with a pleasant flavor, using 6 to 7 grams per cup (in total).
Nighttime lattes contain plants that help induce sleep. Please note: these are not miracle cures for insomnia, which is often multifactorial. However, studies show that having a daily routine before bedtime helps you fall asleep faster and get more restorative sleep. Why not add a moon latte to your evening routine? It’s a chance to take a moment for yourself and relax!
To help you drift off to sleep, combine your moon latte with the application of a little sleep balm.
Not really the "do it yourself" type?
Try our ready-to-use nighttime lattes!
Calming plants
Holy basil
Ocimum tenuiflorum or Ocimum sanctum
Not to be confused with the Genovese basil you put in your pesto, holy basil is also called tulsi, a Sanskrit word that translates to "the incomparable." This herb is often referred to as "the queen of herbs" in herbal literature. It is a major plant in Ayurvedic medicine—the traditional holistic health approach of India—where it has been used for over 5,000 years. It is also highly prized in Hindu culture in general.
As a nervous tonic, it supports focus and mental clarity while calming anxiety and mild feelings of depression. It is also an anti-inflammatory, blood sugar-regulating, and important adaptogenic plant. Unlike most adaptogens, which are mushrooms or tough roots that require long preparation, holy basil is prepared as an infusion in just a few minutes. In short, we love it in our moon lattes!
German chamomile
Matricaria recutita
Chamomile has an established reputation for its calming and sedative power! Chamomile infusion prepares you for sleep and also aids digestion. Chamomile can be consumed by children. A great opportunity to prepare a little comforting moon latte for them before bedtime.
Adaptogens are a category of plants often derived from the Chinese or Ayurvedic pharmacopeia. These are plants that help the body adapt to stress, trials, and changes in the environment (moving, change of season, new career, back to school, etc.!) by modulating stress hormones in the adrenal glands and allowing cells to use more oxygen and produce more energy. They were studied extensively by the Russians in the 70s to increase the endurance as well as the physical and mental well-being of workers, cosmonauts, soldiers, and athletes. You must use them for several weeks to enjoy their full effects. Consult your naturopath, phytotherapist, or herbalist to find out which one is most appropriate for you and how to use it!
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
A calming plant well known for its essential oil, lavender can also be used in infusion! Lavender infusion facilitates digestion and calms the nervous system to provide us with peaceful and restorative sleep. Just like chamomile, it can be safely consumed by children.
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
A magnificent "weed," lemon balm is as delicious as it is beneficial. It is used for its calming and digestive effects, and to facilitate sleep.
Damask rose petals
Rosa damascena
There is little literature on the therapeutic use of rose, because it is mainly used for its cosmetic properties, and because articles about the "rose bush" actually treat the dog rose (Rosa canina). Traditionally, it is used for depression, grief, and to calm stress. We appreciate it for its heady and rich perfume!
Additions
To enhance the flavor
For a little extra flavor, you can add a pinch of cinnamon, ginger, or cardamom to our herbal blends. We also like to flavor our moon lattes with sweet clover essence, which is reminiscent of the scent of vanilla and almond. Also called "boreal vanilla," sweet clover essence is produced here in Quebec from the tiny flowers of the white sweet clover (Melilotus albus). It can be found ready-to-use in gourmet food stores. We particularly love it for flavoring hot drinks and desserts. Yum!
… and the color!
For pretty colors without artificial dyes, you can also add to our moon lattes:
- beet powder or dragon fruit powder
- blue butterfly pea flower powder (Clitoria ternatea—yes, that really is its name! Go look at what the flower looks like and you'll understand!)
- turmeric
- spirulina
Try our recipes
Not ready to start formulating your own? Try our recipes, tested and approved time and time again. Mmmmmm!
Nighttime Holy Basil Lavender Latte
Préparation
15 min
Conservation
recette minute
Rendement
375 ml
Nighttime rose and chamomile latte
Préparation
15 min
Conservation
recette minute
Rendement
375 ml
References
health.com/condition/sleep/moon-milk
healthline.com/nutrition/lavender-tea-benefits
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296439/
webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1101/holy-basil
nationalgeographic.com/culture/food/the-plate/2016/08/long-before-doping-scandals–russians-were-studying-performance-/
passeportsante.net/fr/Solutions/PlantesSupplements/Fiche.aspx?doc=camomille_allemande_ps
webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-951/german-chamomile
healthline.com/nutrition/rose-tea#other-benefits
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4737971/
