G&B Coffee’s Spice Trail

Spice up your life, the Spice Girls once screeched amid booty shakes and hip thrusts. And at L.A.’s much-loved and -lauded G&B Coffee there is a new way to do just that. While co-owner Charles Babinski may be a serious coffee aficionado—he just won the U.S. Barista Championship title, essentially the Oscars of the coffee world, with a Honduran espresso, juniper syrup, pine-tree honey and grapefruit reduction blend—he recognized a demand among his customers for “non-caffeinated options that were thoughtful and delicious.” So he turned to an ingredient that has been a perpetual presence in his own kitchen: turmeric. Long revered for its anti-inflammatory properties, studies have also found that turmeric may have a positive impact on serious medical conditions from cancer to arthritis to Alzheimer’s. “Turmeric is a restorative ingredient and the flavor of the fresh variety is so unique, operating in this middle ground between sweet and savory that’s really exciting,” says Babinski. G&B’s Almond Macadamia Turmeric Tea (also known as The Turmeric Situation) is a concoction Babinski (and many a groovy health folk) has been making a version of for himself at home for years. “You include turmeric with these full, rich ingredients like the almond macadamia milk [G&B makes its own daily] and you get a drink that has heft, depth, substance and a restorative vibe.” And for all those in need of regular restoration, here’s the recipe. FV

G&B’s Turmeric Situation

fresh turmeric

fresh ginger

honey

almond macadamia milk [plain almond or macadamia milk also works]

black pepper

Blend 1 part fresh turmeric, 1 part fresh ginger, and 2.5 parts water in a Vitamix then strain. Add 1 part honey, or less depending on desired sweetness. Stir 1 part turmeric base into 4 parts steamed almond macadamia milk. Dust with black pepper.