Pink Moon Milk

See how to make the best pink moon milk! Composed of milk, cherry juice, spices, and shatavari, this pink milk is a delicious sleep tonic and can inspire a blissful night’s rest. The easy moon milk recipe also includes variations with collagen powder, chocolate, and pomegranate juice.

What is pink moon milk?

Wondering what pink milk is? If you’ve never heard of moon milk before, it’s a warm milk drink based on Ayurvedic traditions. Moon milk is typically made from a mixture of milk, honey, spices, and apoptogenic herbs.

The pink color is achieved by red juices (like cherry or pomegranate juice) and natural colorants (such as beet powder or pink pitaya powder.)

Benefits of pink moon milk

In the holistic practice of Ayurveda, moon milk is consumed as a sleep tonic before bed. As I’ve just mentioned, the drink contains a blend of spices and apoptogenic herbs that are said to promote relaxation and calm.

Adaptogens are plants that have positive benefits for sleep and help your body deal with mental and physical stressors. We’ll talk more about the role of each ingredient in the next sections.

And if you’re looking for more slumber drinks, be sure to check out our lavender milk, too!

What does pink moon milk taste like?

My pink moon milk recipe tastes milky with the fruity flavor from tart cherry juice and a hint of sweetness. Cinnamon and cardamom lend a subtle spicy note, with shatavari and beetroot extract adding a slightly earthy aroma.

Moon milk ingredients

Moon milk is such a fun and easy treat to make for bedtime. The recipe is quick to throw together, and you’ll need just 7 ingredients. Here’s the breakdown!

This is just an overview. For the ingredient amounts and recipe instructions, scroll to the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Milk makes up the base of this moon latte. Traditional Ayuverdic moon milk is made with cow’s milk, but you can use non-dairy milk as well. Unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or a mix of almond and coconut milk are great options.
• Tart cherry juice gives the moon milk a fresh, fruity flavor and gorgeous pink color. According to research, tart cherries increase sleep time and quality. Be sure to buy real, unsweetened cherry juice, not juice made from concentrate or a juice blend.
• Shatavari powder is made from the dried root of the asparagus racemosus plant and boasts many wellness benefits. I’ll talk more about this fascinating ingredient in a moment.
• Cinnamon infuses the pink moon milk with a warming note. I find the subtle, infused aroma of cinnamon sticks more pleasing, but you can use ground cinnamon if that’s what you have.
• Cardamom pods add depth and elevate the flavor of the moon milk latte. You might be tempted to use ground cardamom, but it won’t blend well and can taste overpowering.
• Beet powder (optional) helps to amplify the pink color and further improves sleep quality.
• Agave syrup or honey (optional) adds a hint of natural sweetness. You can omit the sweetener if preferred.

Let’s have a closer look at some of the key ingredients.

Tart cherry juice

Tart cherries naturally contain melatonin and tryptophan, two bio compounds that can increase sleep time and improve sleep quality.

Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle by making you feel tired at nighttime. Tryptophan, an amino acid, aids to produce melatonin.

Studies suggest that drinking sour cherry juice before bed helps your body produce more melatonin and, therefore, can help to promote a good night’s sleep. (sources: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Shatavari powder

Shatavari powder is a traditional Ayurvedic herb used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Although there isn’t much scientific evidence, shatavari seems to offer many health benefits.

The herb is considered an adaptogen, which means shatavari helps your body manage stress better, calm the mind, and promote better sleep. But as I’ve said, more research needs to be conducted to confirm these effects.

Cinnamon and cardamom

Cinnamon helps to remove tension from the muscles and stabilize blood sugar levels. Crashing and spiking blood sugar can keep you up at night, and cinnamon is said to lessen this effect. (source 1)

There is evidence that cardamom possesses a mild sedative effect. The spice contains the compound α-terpineol, which seems to increase sleep duration. (sources 1, 2)

Beet powder

Last on our list is beet powder. A study by Washington State University found that consuming beet juice at nighttime can aid in getting restful sleep and increase sleep duration.

Beetroots are rich in nitrate, which is converted to nitric oxide in the blood system and raises oxygen throughout your body. This is important because low blood oxygen levels can have a disruptive effect on sleep. (source 1)

How to make pink moon milk

It literally takes all of 5 to 10 minutes to stir up a cup of homemade moon tonic. The recipe yields a single serving, but it’s easy to do double, triple, or quadruple batches if you need more servings.

Step 1: Mix

Add the milk, cherry juice, shatavari powder, beet powder, cinnamon stick, and cardamom pods into a small saucepan. Wisk together.

Step 2: Cook

Warm over medium heat on the stovetop. Stirring occasionally, infuse for 5 minutes until the pink moon milk is warm and the beet powder has dissolved.

Step 3: Strain

Remove the pink milk from the stove and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a cup to filter out the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods.

Step 4: Add sweetener

Swirl in the agave syrup or honey. I added 1 teaspoon, but you can add more or less according to your taste.

Step 5: Froth

Optionally, fluff up the milk with a milk frother to create a soft pink foam.

Step 6: Serve

Enjoy the sleep tonic before going to bed. Feel free to dress up your moon milk latte with a sprinkle of dried flowers, pomegranate seeds, or chocolate shavings. Enjoy!

Variations

Pink moon milk collagen latte

To make a tasty pink moon milk collagen latte, add 1 tablespoon of your favorite collagen peptide powder to the recipe. Stir the powder into the warm milk and mix until dissolved.

I recommend either unflavored or vanilla-/chocolate–flavored collagen powder for this pink moon milk latte. You may notice some clumping immediately after adding the powder, which should go away after stirring.

Chocolate cherry moon milk

After some back and forth, I convinced my husband to try pink moon milk, too. He decided to add cocoa powder to his drink, and the chocolate note is really good.

If you’d like chocolate cherry moon milk as well, add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder to the recipe. You may also use slightly more sweetener. And for a finishing touch, sprinkle chocolate shavings over your bedtime beverage.

Pomegranate pink milk

Pomegranate juice is an excellent substitute for cherry juice in this pink moon milk recipe. The juice is rich in immune-boosting vitamins and antioxidants, which have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Be sure to buy pure, unsweetened pomegranate juice or make your own juice from fresh pomegranates and this handy juicer.

Vegan moon milk

For vegan moon milk, start off the recipe with unsweetened, dairy-free milk. Almond milk and oat milk are great options. You can also include coconut milk if you like a richer drink. Opt for agave syrup, rice syrup, or a splash of maple syrup as sweeteners.

FAQ

Do you drink pink moon milk hot or cold?

Moon milk is traditionally enjoyed warm. But don’t let that stop you from drinking moon milk cold if you prefer a chilled drink before bed.

When should you drink moon milk?

You can enjoy moon milk in the evening to prepare your system for bedtime and sleep. It’s also a great way to start the day. I occasionally drink moon milk in the morning to aid with relaxation before a hectic day.

Does moon milk really work?

Yes, moon milk can help you find a sense of calm and become sleepy. Drinking pink moon milk over several weeks can help lower anxiety levels and restlessness and regulate sleeping patterns. I definitely feel calmer and more relaxed.

However, it’s important to remember that we are all different. Moon milk isn’t a miracle drink, and you may experience no effect.

If you try this moon drink, please leave a comment about your experience. I’d really love to know how and if moon milk is working for you!

Can kids drink moon milk?

Yes, the sleepy milk recipe is kid-friendly and children can enjoy it a bedtime drink. I let my niece try some of this moon milk latte recipe. She loved the pink pastel color and slurped it down happily.

Depending on your child’s taste, you may have to adjust the sweetness. And be sure to half the amount of shatavari. 1/4 tsp powder is enough for children under 10.

Can I use ashwagandha instead of shatavari?

Of course! Feel free to substitute shatavari with the same amount of ashwagandha powder. Similar to shatavari, ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen and believed to ease symptoms of stress such as insomnia, anxiety, and nervousness.

Storage instructions

• Store: Keep leftover moon milk covered in the fridge and consume within 2 to 3 days.
• Reheat: Enjoy your moon milk cold, at room temperature, or reheat in a saucepan over low heat until warm. Be careful not to burn the milk.
• Freeze: You can also freeze moon milk for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.