Bad news: the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte, synonymous with peak autumn vibes, now costs 99% more than it did when Starbucks first debuted it on menus around 2005, according to Money. Worse news: Rural Media Group reported in February of this year that the average price of a golden latte today, or what Ayurveda has long called haldi doodh, is now subject to a massive 25-fold markup controversy, rather than an actual agricultural shortage.
And while raw milk commodity prices are indeed fluctuating wildly because of a global dairy surplus, the extreme retail pricing of this ancient golden remedy is driven primarily by luxury “colonial rebranding” and wellness-industry markups of what grandmothers throughout the Global South have been preparing for their families for generations.
In particular, Indian grandmas (often referred to as nani or dadi) have used turmeric as a foundational home remedy for roughly 4,000 years. Long before the modern “golden milk” and “turmeric latte” craze, mothers and grandmothers brewed warm milk with a pinch of turmeric and black pepper to comfort a dry throat and warm the spirit before bed.
Across South Asia and parts of the Middle East, the golden rhizome is considered both a simple, everyday beverage and a dietary staple. Around 500 BCE, the spice entered Ayurvedic medical texts and was documented in Sushruta Samhita, the foundational Ayurvedic compendium (circa 250 BCE), as a crucial ingredient in homemade ointments and natural cleansing rituals.
As trade routes expanded, the use of turmeric as a home remedy spread to China, East Africa, and West Africa, embedding itself in the local folklore and grandmotherly traditions of those cultures. For millennia, grandmothers have traditionally relied on turmeric for a variety of practical home healthcare rituals, from traditional haldi (turmeric) paste consisting of turmeric powder mixed with water, oil, or milk applied to comfort and nurture weather-worn skin, to a chickpea flour, yogurt, and turmeric blend used to clarify the skin and to give brides a radiant glow before weddings. Valued for its natural purifying and soothing properties, it was the ancient foundation of daily protective skin care.
Grandmas are the original wellness influencers, though their due credit is often withheld. To unwind after long days, they steeped chamomile tea. For tired knees, they rubbed a bit of arnica balm directly into the skin. At the end of a long day, they drew a basin of hot water and salt as a footbath. In Internet-speak, this might be rebranded as Abuelacore or Grandmamaxxing to grab your attention. We just call it the kitchen apothecary, and it never went out of style.
Before Pumpkin Spice: The Plants of Spooky Season
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), and ginger (Zingiber officinale) were in our abuelas’ pasteles long before they became staples in seasonal lattes at every corner cafe. These three timeless ingredients have been revered across many traditions as warming spices for the cold months, traditionally used to support digestion and circulation when the weather turns.
This is also the season of thresholds. Samhain, the Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest, falls at the turn of October into November, when many traditions hold that the veil between worlds grows thin. The plants of the season reflect that:
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Long associated with dreams and protection in European folk tradition, often bundled and burned or tucked under pillows.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Believed to represent “remembrance,” hung over doorways and burned to clear a room.
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
A bitter protection herb in old European folklore, traditionally used in smoke rather than in the kitchen because of its strong cleansing properties.
Then there’s baking. Grandmother knew that a pie in the oven is its own kind of medicine: for the house, for the people who gather around it, and for whoever needed a reason to come home. As Samhain and Día de Muertos draw near, we invite you to fill your pantry with the botanical bounty of Mugwort, Rosemary, Wormwood… and yes, apple pie!
This week, we’re sharing another free recipe: a decadent lattice apple pie with roast-potato-style caramelized apples, served warm with no-churn rose fior di latte melting into a pool of dirty rose caramel. Save it for your holiday gatherings, though you may need to make it twice. Fair warning: once you try it, seconds are inevitable.
Your Autumn Anti-Hustle Manifesto: Do Less, Simmer More
Every culture has its version of liquid medicine. But not all broths nourish the body the same way. When’s the last time you really looked inside your bowl? A quick note: Many of these can be made vegan or adapted for your needs. Here are some of the world's most nourishing soups:
Miso (Japan): fermented and rich in living cultures, traditionally enjoyed for gut and immune support.
Dal (South Asia): an Ayurvedic staple of lentils, protein, fiber, and balancing spices.
Egusi (West Africa): ground melon seed and leafy greens in a mineral-rich stew.
Caldo de Hueso (Mexico): slow-simmered bone broth, a classic restorative.
Congee / Jook (China, Korea): the classic rice porridge of Traditional Chinese Medicine, traditionally served to soothe digestion.
Ital Stew (Jamaica): plant-based Rastafarian cooking with roots, herbs, and no additives.
Pho (Vietnam): a broth fragrant with basil, star anise, and clove.
Tom Yum (Thailand): lemongrass and galangal, revered for warming the body in the cold season.
Sopa de Atole (Mesoamerica): nixtamalized maize for minerals and steady energy.
Birria (Mexico): slow-simmered chiles and protein, a traditional restorative meal.
And of course there are so many more! Mohinga, tarhana, ramen, borscht, pepper pot…. To make any bowl a little more apothecary, stir in a spoonful of our Belly Love Powder, a daily digestive harmonizer, or swap your usual stock for a slow mushroom broth. For some additional soup-spiration from our blog archives, check out these recipes:
The Grandmamaxxing Reset: 7 Days of Old-School Self-Care
October through December is such a lovely season to romanticize your routines. For the next week, try one small ritual a day:
Day 1: Stock the cupboard. Fill a shelf with your fall apothecary: rose buds, golden milk, cinnamon sticks, a good salt, and a ritual candle.
Day 2: Golden hour, literally. End the evening with a warm cup of Golden Moon Milk instead of your phone.
Day 3: The foot soak. Hot water, salt, a handful of rose buds, and twenty unhurried minutes. Or try an energetic cleansing herbal bath for your whole body. Here are a few ideas!
Day 4: Bake something. Try this apple pie, or anything that makes the house smell like a home.
Day 5: Simmer a soup. Make a big pot and share it with your loved ones.
Day 6: Light a candle with intention. Our Self-Love Ritual Candle pairs beautifully with a slow self-massage using Rose Body Oil. To really lather yourself in luxury, try this DIY massage oil candle infused with our pristine Patchouli and Rosewood essential oils.
Day 7: Build a small altar. Add a photo, some marigolds, a cup of tea, and sweets for someone you miss. If you need a little more guidance, we have a free guide to altar-making here.
What a Curandera Knows That AI Can’t Teach You
You can ask a chatbot what chamomile is for, and it might even give you a decent answer. What robots cannot teach you is how the leaves feel when they’re ready to harvest, how your grandmother hummed while she steeped them, or why some remedies only work when they’re made with care. That kind of knowing only lives in relationship: with elders, land, plants, and community.
That’s why we’re honored to sponsor the Aniwa Changemakers Summit, taking place October 22–25, an unprecedented gathering of visionaries, wealth stewards, and changemakers exploring how capital, innovation, and ancestral wisdom can serve a more regenerative future for all life. If this vision calls you, apply to attend here.
Today, October 15, is also the final day to bring the rainforest botanicals home with 50% off your second purchase from the Rainforest Superfoods Collection: some of our abuelitas’ most cherished plants from the Americas, many of which are small-batch or wildcrafted, including Copal Blanco, Bobinsana, and our most exquisite Heirloom Cacao ever.
Now go call your grandmother. Or cook her recipe tonight.
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Buy two eligible items from the Hispanic Heritage Month Collection in a single online purchase and receive 50% off the lower-priced item. No minimum purchase required. Valid for one use per customer from October 10 through October 15, 2026, ending at 11:59 PM Pacific Time (PT) on October 15. To redeem the offer, enter code HERITAGE50 at checkout. The discount is not applied automatically. Kits are excluded from the promotion. This offer cannot be combined with other promotions, discount codes, or offers unless otherwise stated. Free U.S. shipping applies to orders over $75.
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