Temple Turmeric: Holiday Spiced Lassi

Temple Turmeric has always been known for creating unique concoctions, but this one is at a whole new level. The company has taken a lassi, which is traditionally a yogurt drink, and turned it into a vegan offering that could almost be mistaken for the real thing. Looking at the list of ingredients, which includes turmeric, mango, dates, cranberry, coconut milk, sachi inchi, hemp, quinoa, chia seed, cardamom and vegan probiotic, it’s hard to imagine exactly how the resulting flavor came about. Aside from the flavors of mango and turmeric, it’s really hard to distinguish the ingredients from the mix. Even the coconut milk doesn’t really stand out, which isn’t a bad thing. We really like how all of these flavors work together so well. In terms of taste, the only real differences between this and a traditional lassi are a slightly lower viscosity and some slight grit to the finish. But nutritionally, we really love what the company has created and would definitely pick this over the traditional approach. On the packaging and positioning front, this product is a Whole Foods exclusive for the 2015 holiday season. It doesn’t feel like something that’s really trying too hard to be a holiday drink, (it’s not eggnog-flavored or anything like that), but it seems like a nice seasonal extension. Otherwise, the look and feel is very similar to the company's other flavors. Overall, some pretty innovative formulation for what is a stellar tasting product.