When is tea not a tea? You won’t actually find tea leaves in the Turmeric Almond Macadamia Tea ($4.50) that barista champion Charles Babinski added to the menu at G&B Coffee in downtown Los Angeles, but the only thing you’ll miss is the caffeine in this vivid, dynamic beverage, which defies easy categorization but is dangerously easy to drink.

“It would not be correct to say that I invented it,” says Babinski. “That style of drink (turmeric plus almond milk and spice) is a classic and a drink I’ve been making at home for years. Turmeric is such a great flavor, balancing so well between the sweet and savory. It’s delicious but still feels restorative.” What could easily become G&B’s latest signature drink ($4.50) incorporates fresh turmeric, fresh ginger and local honey. This bright yellow juice is a great match for steamed almond macadamia nut milk, which is lightly sweetened with dates and steamed. Bonus: Babinski matched the aromatic swirl of turmeric nut milk with a dusting of spicy black pepper, which lingers at the finish. That could also describe the effect of G&B, which is a fitting punctuation mark to pretty much any stop at Grand Central Market.