It’s not quite a smoothie, but something so much more than plain ol’ milk. It’s banana milk! This refreshing homemade banana-flavored milk is fortified with chamomile tea and ashwagandha. It’s an herbal elixir full of nerve-nourishing ingredients that can help bring a bigger sense of calm into your day.
READY TO SIP ON SOME BANANA MILK?! HERE YOU’LL FIND:
What is Banana Milk?
Health Benefits of Banana Milk with Chamomile & Ashwagandha
How is This Different from Other Non-Diary Milks?
How to Make Banana Milk
Tips & FAQs
Banana Milk with Ashwagandha & Chamomile Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Botany Culture is 100% reader-supported. If you make purchases from any of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read the full disclaimer here.
What is Banana Milk?
How do you milk a banana, you ask? Well, I’m sorry to say that you can’t actually milk a banana. 😁 This is simply banana-flavored milk. Its origins are traced back to Korea in the mid-1970s. It’s said that the Korean government developed it as a way to get Koreans to consume more milk. At the time, bananas were seen as somewhat of a delicacy. And since Korea’s climate doesn’t support growing them, import prices were rather high. So adding them to milk was a crafty little government ploy.
Why Koreans needed to be persuaded to drink more milk, I’m not sure. The internet didn’t have any answers for me.
Health Benefits of Banana Milk with Chamomile & Ashwagandha
This particular banana milk stands out from the crowd of non-dairy milks with the addition of chamomile tea and ashwagandha, both of which are known for their nerve-soothing properties.
Chamomile tea is a popular home remedy for calming everyday stress and anxiety, as well as supporting better sleep. In fact, you’ll undoubtedly find chamomile in the majority of sleepytime herbal tea blends on the market. It’s one of most well-known herbal teas out there.
But even more so, chamomile is a remedy for all matters of tension, from headaches to sore muscles to menstrual cramps and stress-induced inflammation. The benefits of chamomile far surpass its reputation as a cup of bedtime tea.
Ashwagandha, on the other hand, has a long history of use as an adaptogen. It can help to support stress and anxiety, insomnia, and general exhaustion. And it also provides everyday immune support. Like chamomile, ashwagandha is mildly sedative and anti-inflammatory.
Together, chamomile and ashwagandha, make a great duo for a nourishing and relaxing beverage.
But is it better than other non-dairy milks?
You can even find commercially produced banana milks on the grocery shelves. And if you’re wondering if it’s any better than the plethora of other non-dairy milk options out on the market, here are some things to consider:
- This homemade version is not fortified with vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, that other commercial non-dairy milks might include.
- However, this homemade version also leaves out the non-food ingredients, such as chemical preservatives, highly processed sweeteners, and even artificial colorants or flavorings. There’s nothing but wholesome, real food ingredients in this recipe.
- Store-bought versions might not even included any actual banana. Instead, artificial banana flavoring is used.
So it better? In many ways, yes. But isn’t homemade usually, if not always, better? Also, it’s just another option for us non-dairy drinking folks.
How to Make Banana Milk
At its simplest, to make this non-diary milk, you’ll throw some frozen bananas, water, coconut milk, or other non-dairy milk into a blender, process until smooth and creamy. That’s it!
However, to make this extra nourishing version, there’s a few extra, but incredibly simple steps:
- Make a strong cup of chamomile tea.
- Add the chamomile tea together with frozen bananas and a few other health-promoting ingredients to a blender. Process until smooth and creamy. And now, you’re done!
Tips & FAQs
Banana milk is 1000% better served ice cold.
No one likes warm milk, perhaps unless you’re a cat. Drinking this milk even at room temperature just isn’t as enjoyable, in my opinion. When it comes to banana milk, the colder the better.
Use frozen bananas if you can. Otherwise, you can pour over ice if desired.
When it comes to sweeteners, you have options.
While the bananas provide natural sweetness to this non-dairy milk, you may prefer it a bit sweeter. Using the ripest bananas you can find will naturally impart a lot of sweetness and if you prefer, add in a little honey (if not vegan), maple syrup, or even a Medjool date.
If you’re not choosing to make this nourishing non-dairy milk entirely vegan, chamomile’s subtle nuances of apple and honey pair really nicely with a little squeeze of honey.
There’s a banana milk for all seasons.
You can change up the herbs and spices used in this herbal milk to give it an appropriate seasonal flair. Try these ideas for year-round banana milk:
- Be the envy of pumpkin spice latte lovers everywhere and add your favorite pumpkin spice blend. (Try my favorite DIY Pumpkin Spice blend!) Warming spices like nutmeg and ginger are perfect for the colder months of the year.
- Swap out the chamomile tea for tulsi and hibiscus tea, throw in a paper umbrella, and sip on this while you sit poolside.
- Add in a splash of rose water and pour into champagne flutes for a nourishing herbal addition to your summertime weekend brunches.
Banana Milk with Ashwagandha & Chamomile (dairy-free)
Course: Drinks, BreakfastCuisine: Gluten-Free, VeganDifficulty: Easy1
servings10
minutes
This calming elixir is nourishingly creamy with a pleasant floral hint bound to give you a sweet sense of calm whenever you need it. It contains chamomile and ashwagandha to help ease everyday stress and anxiety. And let’s not forget the banana, a staple fruit rich in vitamins and minerals key for serotonin production.
Ingredients
1 cup chamomile tea, chilled* (Here’s how to make chamomile tea.)
1 cup coconut milk, or other non-dairy milk)
1 large banana (frozen is best)
1/2 teaspoon ashwagandha, powdered
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
maple syrup (or honey if not vegan) to taste (optional)
Directions
- To a blender, add all ingredients. Puree on high-speed until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy!
Notes
- Chilling the Chamomile Tea: You can make a large batch of chamomile tea, store in a glass jar, and keep it in the fridge for use in this recipe or whenever you want a glass of herbal iced tea. Alternatively, make a single cup of tea for use in this banana milk recipe and quick chill it with ice. Throw a handful of ice into the tea, stir around until cool, then add tea (with or without ice) to the blender.
Did you make this?
Tag @_botanyculture_ in your snaps on Instagram
& hashtag it #botanyculture.
DISCLAIMER: The information given in this article is intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your healthcare practitioner before consuming certain herbs & medicinal foods, especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking any prescription medications.
