Saffron Milk Tea: A Recipe for Depression and General Wellness (2024)

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Saffron Milk Tea is an Indian healing beverage. This nourishing version includes raw milk (although I include a dairy-free variation). It is wonderful to drink before bed to help with depression and insomnia. The elixir has a lovely flavor, floral and tea-like. See if it helps to bring general wellness to your life…

SAFFRON’S HISTORY AND USES

The filaments of saffron (find them here) come from the crocus flower and are native to the Middle East.

Their healing properties trace back thousands of years, being used to treat depression, and also hormone, memory and circulation issues, and more recently cancer.

Rich in antioxidants, the phytonutrients in saffron make it one of the most powerful flower herbs available.

For mild to medium cases of depression, saffron is used even by some medical practitioners and is a resource worth trying.

HOW TO MAKE SAFFRON TEA

Happily, saffron tea can be made with the greatest of ease by simply adding the red filaments to any cup of hot tea.

Or follow the instructions below for Saffron Milk Tea.

Saffron Milk Tea: A Recipe for Depression and General Wellness (1)

How to make Saffron Milk Tea

This recipe is a traditional Indian recipe that first uses and steeps cardamom pods in hot water. However, this ingredient is optional.

Here are the recipe steps:

  1. Simmer water and cardamom pods for 5 minutes.
  2. Remove from the heat. Add the saffron. Steep for 5 to 8 minutes.
  3. Add the raw milk or coconut milk, for dairy-free, and the remaining ingredients: optional rooibos tea and honey.
  4. Strain and serve.

Enjoy before bed or anytime of day.

Saffron Milk Tea: A Recipe for Depression and General Wellness (2)

Print Recipe

4.91 from 11 votes

Saffron Milk Tea

Substitute full-fat coconut milk, if you are dairy-free. Saffron Milk Tea is an Indian healing beverage. This nourishing version is wonderful to drink before bed to help with depression and insomnia. The elixir has a lovely flavor, floral and tea-like. See if it helps to bring general wellness to your life ...

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Bedtime, Beverage

Cuisine: Indian, middle eastern

Keyword: depression, saffron milk, saffron tea

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 414kcal

Author: Megan

Cost: $2

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups raw milk
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 Tablespoons loose rooibos tea (optional)
  • 15 to 25 saffron threads (this is a medicinal amount of saffron)
  • 3 cardamom pods (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons honey local, raw, or stevia, to taste

Instructions

  • Place the water and optional cardamom into a small saucepan, and bring it to a boil.

  • Simmer the pods for 5 minutes.

  • Turn off the heat, and add the saffron threads. Allow the strands to steep for 5-8 minutes.

  • Add the remaining ingredients. Stir and heat the milk to warm, not boiling, to protect the living nutrients in the raw milk.

  • Strain and serve, adding more sweetener if desired, to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 414kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 43g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 17mg | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg

Saffron Milk Tea: A Recipe for Depression and General Wellness (3)

The following saffron is an excellent value. The quantity and the quality make it a good product choice.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Clayton says

    This looks great!

    Reply

  2. Anni says

    We’re growing our own saffron this year (planting now, harvest next year). Just maybe I could try this when we get our first harvest!

    Reply

    • Megan Stevens says

      Oh wow, this so wonderful to hear!!! Where do you live? Do you have an ideal climate? I love your posts about all you grow!! So happy for you to live that life, just wonderful (full of wonder!:) )

      Reply

  3. Dina-Marie says

    Saffron Milk Tea: A Recipe for Depression and General Wellness (4)
    Thanks for sharing – I didn’t know all the benefits of including saffron in my diet!

    Reply

  4. homemadeforelle says

    Saffron Milk Tea: A Recipe for Depression and General Wellness (5)
    I love roobios tea. It’s great for anxiety, but I haven’t paired it with saffron. I actually have all the ingredients in my cupboard, so I will give this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  5. Ms. Joy says

    Saffron Milk Tea: A Recipe for Depression and General Wellness (6)
    Yum! I will try this with some coconut milk (I am allergic to dairy) and some Chai roobios (minus any “natural flavors” or unknown ingredients). This seems absolutely divine and perfect gold delight for a cold fall day! 🙂

    I never had saffron tea, so this will be interesting! (although recently have had parsley tea!)

    Ms. Joy

    Reply

  6. Anna @GreenTalk says

    Saffron Milk Tea: A Recipe for Depression and General Wellness (7)
    I am growing saffron so I was so excited to see your post. I guess Anni and I are sisters!

    Reply

    • Megan Stevens says

      Oh how lovely!!! What a dreamy thing to grow and harvest!! So your yield– it must take a lot of flowers to get enough stamen?

      Reply

      • Anna @GreenTalk says

        Yes. You only get 2 to 3 threads per plant. True saffron in the store is really expensive.

        Reply

  7. Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says

    This sounds delicious Megan! Love the beautiful color from the saffron. Pinning.

    Reply

    • Megan Stevens says

      Great, Emily. Thank you!!

      Reply

  8. Maryanne says

    Can the Saffron be ‘re-steeped’ or can you only get one cup of tea from 15-20 threads? Thanks for sharing this recipe and information!

    Reply

    • Megan Stevens says

      Yes, you can re-steep it. It won’t be as powerful or potent; but you can. 🙂

      Reply

  9. Bethzy says

    “Indians love tea very much and it’s the most drink beverage in entire India, hence I suggest this should be in the purest form and hence organic india tulsi green tea is best for both children , adults and old women.
    Greetings from India
    Keep bringing more!!”

    Reply

  10. Madinah Saleem says

    I have saffron in a powder form. Since I read that too much dangerous. I have a health problem, Lyme disease which produces a lot of inflammation. In making 80 how much of this powdered saffron should I use.?

    Reply

  11. Kassia says

    I’m going to try this. I have had a tiny Trader Joe’s saffron jar in my cupboard forever.
    Do you have any other articles or ideas for depression?

    Reply

    • Megan says

      Hi Kassia, there are many factors, including age (for example if you’re young or going through perimenopause, postpartum etc.) I’m sorry you or a loved one is struggling with it. I do recommend you reading the article on vitamin A detox. That is what helped me permanently, actually within 2 days: https://eatbeautiful.net/vitamin-a-detox-diet-free-printable-food-lists-avoid-eat-toxicity/ Please continue to seek answers and reach out if I can be of help. xo and love!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Saffron Milk Tea: A Recipe for Depression and General Wellness (2024)

FAQs

How much saffron tea should I drink? ›

How Much Saffron Tea Should I Drink? Research studies and recommendations by the European commission have indicated that a daily dose of 1.5 grams has been consumed by people without risks - potential toxic effects might occur at high doses of 5 grams or above.

Is saffron tea good for anxiety? ›

Saffron was first mentioned as medicine in the Ebers Papyrus over 3,500 years ago, as a 'cheering cardiac medicament. ' Anxiety decreased significantly and equivalently in both groups. At 6 weeks HAM-A scores fell from 19.1 to 7.0 in the citalopram group, and from 19.7 to 7.6 in the saffron group.

How to make saffron tea for ADHD? ›

Instructions
  1. Start by heating water in a kettle or pan.
  2. Bring it to a boil and add mint leaves, ginger, cinnamon, sugar or honey, lemon slice, and saffron tea leaves.
  3. Let the mixture simmer for at least five minutes.
  4. Strain and add a lemon slice.
  5. Top with mint leaves and serve hot.
Jul 21, 2023

Does saffron tea make you sleepy? ›

Saffron contains compounds like safranal that have been shown to have calming and sedative effects. Drinking saffron tea before bed can help relax your mind and body, promoting better sleep quality and potentially reducing insomnia or restlessness.

Who should not drink saffron tea? ›

Saffron may trigger mood swings in people with bipolar disorder. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use saffron. Interactions. When used as a supplement, saffron may cause problems for people on blood pressure medicine or blood thinners.

Can you drink saffron tea everyday? ›

To enjoy the cancer-prevention benefits of saffron, you need the sunshine spice to be a regular part of your daily intakes. Drinking saffron tea is one of the best ways to include the herb in your diet every single day, and make use of its richness in antioxidants and flavonoids.

How long does saffron take to help depression? ›

It also improves sexual function in women and men and may help weight loss by suppressing appetite. Saffron starts to work for depression as early as 1 week, and its benefits continue to build over the first two months.

How long can you take saffron for depression? ›

Saffron is possibly safe when taken as a medicine in doses up to 100 mg daily for up to 26 weeks. Some common side effects include drowsiness, stomach problems, and nausea or vomiting. Allergic reactions are also possible. Taking large amounts of saffron by mouth is possibly unsafe.

What does saffron do for mental health? ›

There is also growing evidence that saffron may help improve mood and be a useful addition to treatment for depression. A study in the Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science found that a saffron extract increased dopamine levels in the brain without changing the levels of other brain hormones, such as serotonin.

How do you take saffron as an antidepressant? ›

In another study, patients were assigned to receive capsule saffron (30 mg/day) three times a day (tds) or capsule imipramine (100 mg/day tds) for a 6-week research. [25] The result showed that saffron at this dose was found to be effective comparable to imipramine in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression.

How many saffron threads to use in milk? ›

1. Add 4-5 Saffron (Kesar) threads in 1 cup of warm milk. 2. Drink it twice a day two hours after food daily.

What are the negative side effects of saffron? ›

Table 2
Duration of exposureDoseAdverse effects
4 weekscapsule /15 mg (twice daily)Abdominal pain
Headache
Dizziness
Daily drowsiness
49 more rows

What happens if you drink saffron milk every night? ›

Kesar milk, with its natural sedative properties, can play a crucial role in promoting restful sleep. The compounds present in saffron are believed to stimulate serotonin production, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep.

Can I drink saffron milk every night? ›

It is well known that milk infused with saffron has anti-inflammatory qualities that support joint health. A glass of kesar milk can be a lovely and healthful addition to your bedtime routine, nourishing and calming you for a good night's sleep, according to WebMD.

Can you drink too much saffron tea? ›

Some common side effects include drowsiness, stomach problems, and nausea or vomiting. Allergic reactions are also possible. Taking large amounts of saffron by mouth is possibly unsafe. High doses of 5 grams or more can cause poisoning.

Is it better to drink saffron water at night or morning? ›

Drinking saffron water first thing in the morning helps you decrease the sugar cravings. How To Prepare Saffron Water? Take 5 to 7 strands of saffron and soak them in hot water for 10 minutes. Drink this water on an empty stomach every morning.

What does saffron tea do to your body? ›

Due to its bioactive compounds, Saffron tea offers potential benefits such as antioxidant properties, mood enhancement, improved digestion, and potential anti-inflammatory effects.

References

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