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

Updated · 17 Comments

I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. I am not a doctor; please consult your practitioner before changing your supplement or healthcare regimen.

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. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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.

How to make saffron tea for ADHD? ›

Directions
  1. Pour 4 cups of water into a pot, add ginger and cinnamon (optional) and bring to a boil.
  2. Uncover, turn heat down slightly, add saffron threads, and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Add honey to sweeten, if desired.
  3. Strain tea into 4 cups and enjoy a deliciously healthy, slimmimg, caffeine free tea.
Oct 17, 2017

Does saffron tea make you sleepy? ›

Saffron might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking saffron with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.

How much caffeine is in saffron tea? ›

But what about Saffron Tea? The simple answer is no; it is 100% void of caffeine. There is still good reason to rejoice, though, particularly among those who're caffeine sensitive. We would normally recommend caffeine-free infusions to pregnant women, too, but that isn't the case with Saffron Tea.

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.

What is the best time to drink saffron tea? ›

Saffron is rich in antioxidants, including crocin and crocetin, which help combat oxidative stress and free radicals. Consuming saffron tea at night provides your body with antioxidants that can support overall health and contribute to cellular repair during sleep.

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 to take saffron for mental health? ›

Other research suggests that taking 30 milligrams (mg) of saffron each day could cause similar effects as drugs that treat mild-to-moderate depression, such as imipramine and fluoxetine.

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 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.

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

Can I drink saffron tea everyday? ›

As a dietary supplement, people can safely take up to 1.5 grams of saffron per day. However, only 30 mg of saffron per day have been shown to be enough to reap its health benefits ( 7 , 17 , 30 ). On the other hand, high doses of 5 grams or more can have toxic effects.

Does saffron tea raise blood pressure? ›

Saffron has many different chemical components. Some of these may help to reduce blood pressure and provide protection against heart disease. A review of studies done on rats showed that saffron lowered blood pressure.

Why is saffron tea so expensive? ›

Since such a small part of the flower is used, it takes 75,000 saffron flowers to make one pound of saffron spice. The small amount of saffron spice per plant, along with the fact that harvesting must be done manually, leads to saffron's being majorly expensive.

Does saffron tea help mental health? ›

Saffron tea has earned its place as a natural remedy with the potential to support mental well-being. With its natural antidepressant effects, cognitive benefits, mood-boosting properties, and potential for improving sleep, saffron tea stands as a promising addition to a holistic approach to mental health.

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 to drink saffron for best results? ›

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. Drink it regularly for 15 days if you want to see the results.

What does saffron tea do to your body? ›

It fights inflammation in the body that can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer. Research suggests it may also protect the brain from cognitive diseases and migraines. Saffron tea also contains safranal, an antioxidant that may increase antibacterial and antiviral activity in your body.

When should I take saffron morning or night? ›

Taking saffron about an hour before bedtime may aid in falling asleep and potentially enhance overall sleep quality.

References

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