With its numerous health benefits and the growing popularity of the “Golden Milk Latte,” turmeric is becoming the talk of the town. 

Andrea and I first connected over social media and a love of turmeric. Turmeric in its root form looks similar to ginger and has incredible anti-inflammatory properties. (It also makes for a killer latte when mixed with coconut milk and ginger). Naturally, she was one of the first people that I thought about interviewing for the featured friends section.  Continue reading to learn about the benefits of turmeric, why we all should be drinking golden lattes and more about the beginnings of Andrea’s company Golden Root.

Introducing Andrea Claire Slinde of Golden Root

Let’s talk about what led you to where you are today…

I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I studied Speech Pathology and Global health. During my quarter life crisis, I quit my job at a VA Hospital in Madison, and got a job that spring working on a small organic CSA farm to learn more about food and move away from traditional healthcare. After that season, I moved out to Denver and have been working on natural food startups ever since! Food and health is what I’m most passionate about and I love making products that help others feel their very best!

I am in love with the name of your company, Golden Root. 

Can you talk to us more about Golden Root and why we should all have turmeric in our diets?

The name Golden Root exemplifies what turmeric looks and feels like to us. Creating healthy, grounding, and healing turmeric products is what we do best. We make a caffeine-free turmeric latte mix using all organic and non-GMO ingredients. Our turmeric latte mixes can be enjoyed as a latte beverage, or mixed into your coffee, smoothies, cooking and baking as a way to add turmeric to your daily diet.

Golden Root has 600-800 mg of turmeric per serving (depending on the blend), and is coupled with a healthy fat like coconut milk powder, as well as black pepper, to help aid in the absorbability of turmeric. The active ingredient in black pepper, called piperine, helps the active ingredient in turmeric, called curcumin, become 2000% more bioavailable in the body. Our turmeric latte mixes are balanced and provide the perfect healing blend of sweet, savory, and spicy.

What inspired you to start this business?

My inspiration of starting Golden Root started simply out of a curiosity to find natural ways to reduce inflammation in my body. As an active Coloradan who enjoys skiing, hiking, and running, I wanted to find ways to incorporate turmeric into my daily diet, and to do so with intention. I had been making turmeric tonics at home because I knew about the healing, anti-inflammatory, and blissful benefits of turmeric.

“I finally tried my hand at making a traditional Ayurvedic recipe of a turmeric drink called Golden Milk to soothe my inflammation.”

I wanted to create a powdered version of the recipe so that I could conveniently make it at home or on-the-go and share it with others. The first time I made a recipe, it tasted like drinking a bag of ground black pepper with hints of earthy tree bark. But I made it, over and over and over again, and after dozens of iterations, I finally found a recipe that I loved, thus, Golden Root was born!

What has been the hardest part about having your own company?

The hardest part of owning your own business is not getting lost IN the business. It’s difficult to learn how to separate myself from my business, because I give so much of myself to it on a daily basis. When I do separate myself, I gain a clearer perspective of who I am, where the business is at, and what direction I believe it can go in the future. I just listened to an audiobook called The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber and I encourage every entrepreneur to give it a listen or read to better understand common mistakes that can inhibit the growth of your business. This book has been a game changer for me.

Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that helps keep you moving forward?

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

What about this quote gives you the feels?

I love this quote because it reminds me that success and failure and forever are fluid. In order to find success, we must process and learn from our inevitable failures. But most importantly, it reminds me that regardless of success or failure, the only direction to move is forward.

I love that interpretation. Failure seems to be a word that a lot of people fear, when in reality it is something that moves us forward. Life is all about self-acceptance and growth. So where do you find inspiration to move forward?

Things that inspire me include nature, finish lines at races, and passionate stories or documentaries. I’m also inspired by people who embrace vulnerability and humility in order to develop their skills, goals, and dreams.

Yes! There is something so refreshing about a person who is willing to take risks and step outside of his/her comfort zone. I think that we all have it in us – sometimes we just need some encouragement. Her Cardinal Rules is all about supporting and finding strength in being vulnerable. My hope is that after reading the blog people will walk away feeling like a “Badass Beauty.” I want it to become a phrase that we all use to describe ourselves.

What do you think makes someone a badass beauty?

A badass beauty is someone who is persistent and inclusive and has such a burning passion for what they do that you can see it in their eyes.

You also picked some killer words to describe women…

Strong, intelligent, resourceful.

I feel like this is one of the hardest questions to answer about ourselves, but what do you think makes you a badass beauty?

My willingness to learn, grow, and enjoy the process. I am also always striving to personify the qualities above!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions! It has been such a treat getting to know you better. Is there anything else that you want people to know about Golden Root?

That Golden Root is in it for the long haul and there’s more golden goodness to come! It is my goal to have sustainable practices, equitable partnerships, and mindfully crafted products make up Golden Root’s DNA as we grow. It is our ultimate mission to make turmeric an everyday ingredient to help people fight inflammation and feel their best.

If you are ready to try your hand at making a “Turmeric Latte”  you can find Andrea’s favorite recipe here.