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Today I’m sharing a simple beverage that can help you fall asleep. When I have trouble falling asleep, I turn to drinks like this moon milk recipe to relax my body naturally and help me sleep peacefully. If this is something you struggle to do then try out this pretty pink drink!
Table of Contents
How to Make Moon Milk
This recipe is as simple as brewing tea. I like to warm the cashew milk over the stovetop, so as to not heat it too quickly. You can also use an electric kettle for this step.
You can omit the honey from this recipe to cut back on the natural sugar, yet you might find it lacking in sweetness if you do. Feel free to swap honey with the natural sweetener of your choice.
I purchase my culinary flowers from Mountain Rose Herbs as I trust their products. If you can find local culinary dried flowers that would be awesome!
Adaptogens help your body destress. Adding in Lion’s Mane powder or Ashwagandha powder is a great addition to moon milk after a long day.
Moon Milk FAQs
Moon milk is a nighttime drink to help you fall asleep. It typically contains some type of milk, adaptogens and a sweetener like honey. My version is dairy free (made with cashew milk) and can help calm your body and mind before sleep.
The moon milk name is derived from an ancient Indian use to help cure insomnia. Think of it as an all-natural sleep aid.
You can drink it daily, preferably right before going to bed.
Creating an Environment for Good Sleep
While natural sleep aids like my moon milk recipe below are great, there are many other things you can do to set yourself up for a good night’s sleep. Here’s how I like to wind down for bed:
- Turn off electronics one hour before bed. I know nighttime might be your only time to catch up on social media or scroll through light-hearted videos, but it won’t help you sleep! Instead, set a timer for one hour before bedtime and turn off that device. Read a book, meditate or talk to your loved ones before turning in.
- Keep your bedtime consistent. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day gives your body a natural pattern to follow. If you do this for several days in a row, you’ll find a good rhythm that will help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling more refreshed.
- Get rid of the lights. Even the little glow from a charger can disrupt sleep! Try to keep lights out of your bedroom while you’re sleeping. Plug electronics in the hall or kitchen to avoid having them light up while you’re trying to fall asleep.
Try these tips for seven days, then let me know how it goes! Are you more rested? More energized? In a better mood? What are your go-to methods to help you fall asleep? I want to hear it all.
Drinks to Help You Sleep
If sleep alludes you on a regular basis, then try one of these calming recipes designed to soothe your body into natural slumber:
Pharmaceutical sleep aids often leave me groggy for hours after I wake up and give me super weird dreams. I’ve turned to plants to guide me toward good and fulfilling sleep. When I can’t get my mind to stop running or I find myself restless before bed, I turn to the beverages listed above or my moon milk recipe below.
Let me know how this fun recipe turned out for you by leaving a rating + review. I love getting your feedback!
Pink Moon Milk
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cashew milk
- 8 ounces tart cherry juice
- 2 tsps Lion's Mane powder
- 2 tbsp raw honey raw
- dried culinary rose petals optional
- dried culinary lavender buds optional
Instructions
- Gently heat cashew milk in a small pan over medium heat until very hot. Remove from heat and whisk in remaining ingredients. For a frothy version, whisk vigorously (use a frother) or blend in a blender.
- Divide moon milk between 2 heat-safe mugs. Garnish, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Using store-bought cashew milk works, however, homemade is preferred. Due to the extra ingredients in store-bought brands, the cashew milk will likely separate and curdle when heated and combined with the cherry juice. It will still be fine to drink.
- Follow the suggested serving size for Lion’s mane powder depending on the brand used.
- Swap cashew milk with the dairy-free milk of your choice.
- Swap Lion’s mane for 1 tsp of Ashwagandha powder.
Any replacement od the cherry?
Hi Georgia! There’s not a really great replacement for the tart cherry juice due to it’s ability to help increase melatonin. Yet, you may give grape juice or pineapple juice a try!
Hi! Would reishi powder work instead of lion’s mane? I have some to use up.
Hey Julie, although they have different health properties both can do wonderful things and would make a great substitute!
Can you substitute moringa for the lion’s mane?
Hi Susan,
Moringa has a lot of health benefits, but there are mixed reviews on what time of day is the best time to consume it. It doesn’t contain caffeine, but it is touted for improving energy. Our Pink Moon Milk recipe is intended as a night cap of sorts, but you can of course make it anytime! So, I would go for it. Maybe just note if moringa seems to energize you, before including in your tea close to bed time.
Moringa is energizing , I would not take it after noon.
Ashwagandha powder.
Lion’s mane
Montmorency tart cherry juice
I’m not familiar with ashwaganda or lions mane. I did find a ashwaganda tea-would that work?
I found tart cherry juice but not montmorency -would that work?
Just from briefly reading reviews on Amazon some say that Ashwagandha has a bad taste. Is the Lions mane a milder taste?
This sounds delicious! Would you recommend oat milk instead of cashew to not have clumps when it heats up?
Hi Erin, great question! Homemade cashew milk (or any homemade plant milk) will react the best when heating. It won’t give you that clumpy consistency that you may get when using store-bought plant-milk. The curdling is due to the extra ingredients added to the store brands. However, store-bought brands will work, too! If you use cashew milk and it starts to get clumpy in your Pink Moon Milk, it’s still safe to drink. Try to make sure the milk doesn’t heat too quickly or to too high of a temperature.
You can use oat milk, if it’s preferred, however the same curdling possibilities and suggestions I made for the cashew milk would apply.
Homemade is the best option. Warmed milk, not boiling. Safe to drink either way. 🙂
Hope this helps.