Lots of people have their go-tos when feeling out of sorts. I have my teas. I got a little experimental adding a massive dollop of turmeric to my spice tea. It seemed to do the trick and given the amount of this sweet ambrosia I have been drinking all week, it is shocking that I haven’t turned completely yellow. Turmeric tea, however, is here to stay.
Turmeric tea is a serious drink, not for the faint of heart. It might just cure every last ache, pain, and woe-is-me in your life. After all, anything is possible.
Over the years I have been enjoying a turmeric tea, if not daily, definitely a few times a week. I love loading my teas with loads of anti-inflammatory herbs to keep inflammation down and the immune system healthy.
One of the most popular posts and recipes I’ve ever written (besides the ditty on Arbonne), is this one. I had been to introduced turmeric as an herb in tea while running a retreat in St. Lucia and have been hooked since.
Why Turmeric?
Inflammation is running wild in our bodies these days, leading to all kinds of seemingly disconnected symptoms, from joint pain to food allergies to digestive troubles. Turmeric’s active ingredient curcumin is one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory herbs.
12 Health Benefits of Turmeric
- Antioxidant: Curcumin has the ability to quench free radicals that can cause mutation in our DNA.
- Cancer Preventative: The cancer-causing effects of cigarette smoke, barbequing, and smoke of any kind are suppressed by curcumin.
- Anti-Inflammatory: Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory powers are as effective as many anti-inflammatory drugs, including effective as phenylbutazone and cortisone without the side effects.
- Liver Protective: Curcumin has been shown to have a protective effect on the liver and is incredibly effective at increasing bile release, which helps with fat digestion.
- Wound Healing: Natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties to keep the infection away from cuts and burns.
- Super Brain Function: Curcumin greatly reduces the rate of mental decline. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
- Kills the Bad Guys: Curcumin has anti-microbial properties that fight the nasty guys such as Clostridium, Streptococcus, Entamoeba histolytica, and several pathogenic fungi.
- Natural Pain Killer: Helps reduce sensations of chronic pain. Yay more of this!
- Promote Weightloss: Helps manage weight, and aid in fat metabolism.
- Reduce Depression: A staple in Chinese medicine for helping lift mood in cases of depression.
- Boost Effectiveness of Cancer Drugs: Studies have shown that turmeric can boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
- Skin Healing: Can help internally and topically with psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
Most often, we enjoy turmeric when flavouring (and gorgaliciously colouring) our favourite Indian curries. Turmeric is what gives these dishes that orange glow (and it unfortunately stains your counters and blender). You can also find it as a whole root, if you’re lucky to live somewhere where that’s available, but most often I use the dried, powdered version.
Basic Turmeric Tea Recipe
This is my original turmeric tea recipe and it makes an excellent jumping off place if you’re just starting to experiment with turmeric in your beverages. This one is very simple and very effective. As you acquire a taste for turmeric tea, you may find you can tolerate and enjoy increasing the amount of turmeric you use.
Print
Simple Turmeric Tea Recipe
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of clove
- pinch of nutmeg
- tsp fresh ginger (optional)
- pinch of fresh ground black pepper*
- As much turmeric as you can handle! Start with a teaspoon and go up from there.
- 1–2 cups of water
- Raw honey to sweeten
- Milk sub of choice (I went with fresh coconut milk, but almond and hemp would both be delicious)
Instructions
Slow and steady stove top method
- Simmer herbs and water together for 10 mins.
- Strain out and add honey and milk.
Fast and furious blender method
- Boil water in your kettle and add to blender (a blender with gradual speed increase will reduce likely hood of pressure from steam of boiled water exploding out of your blender).
- Add in spices and blend until smooth and unified in colour.
- Strain out tea and add milk and honey.
*I have included black pepper in this recipe as studies show it aids in the absorption of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. I happen to be allergic to black pepper and so I omit it.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
Make It A Turmeric Tonic
The difference between a straight-up tea and a tonic, is that we’re now introducing a few additional herbs along with higher amounts of fat.
To craft up this powerhouse drink, I added some other top notch anti-inflammatory herbs to the mix including cloves, cardamom seeds, goji berries and a pinch of cayenne. I tossed in the power fat hemp seeds for their anti-inflammatory omega 3s, as well as organic clarified butter (also known as ghee) for its gut-healing and nervous system-fueling medium chain saturated fats.
Fat is a pretty important part of any herbal tonic. See, herbs have different medicinal components to them, some of which are water soluble and others that are fat soluble. When you add a shlop of fat to your herbal bevvys, you’re getting the best of both worlds – the full medicinal kapow. And you could always use coconut oil if you kick it vegan.
I sweetened the brew with a little dollop of raw honey. This is truly culinary nutrition at its very, very best – something that tastes super amazing, and fuels every cell of your body with bullet proof health.
And this, my friends, is the next level, bullet proof Turmeric Tea Tonic recipe. Drink it in the best health ever!
Print
Turmeric Tea Tonic
- Total Time: 3 mins
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Description
An anti-inflammatory elixir for immune health.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups hot water
- 1/2 tsp up to 1 tsp dried turmeric powder (work your way up!) or 1 inch fresh turmeric root, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 tsp cardamom seeds
- 1/2 tsp whole cloves or 1/4 tsp ground
- pinch of cayenne
- pinch of black pepper (optional)
- 1 Tbsp Goji Berries
- 2 Tbsp Hemp Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Ghee or Coconut Oil
- 1 Tbsp honey, or to taste
Instructions
Blender Method
- Place all ingredients in your high speed venting blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour through a fine mesh sieve and enjoy.
Stove Top Method
- Place water, turmeric, cardamon seeds, cloves, cayenne and goji berries into a pot and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Strain out liquid and allow it to cool, then blend with hemp seeds, ghee and honey. You may choose to put this back on the stove to heat to desired sipping temperature.
- Prep Time: 3 mins
- Category: Drinks + Smoothies
See, we Culinary Nutrition Experts all have our faves.
As these recipes have become increasingly popular over the years, your questions have continued to roll in. I have put together an FAQ to hopefully help get you on your Turmeric-Tea Loving way!
FAQ On Turmeric Tea
(Turmeric root in abundance!)
What kind of turmeric do you use. Is it the same one as the turmeric in the spice section of the grocery store?
It is! I always choose organic, non-irradiated spices. Frontier Organics is a great spice brand.
I only have ground spices, not whole. Can I use them in the same quantity that you have in your recipe?
Yes, you can absolutely use pre-ground spices! You would likely want to use slightly less, and may be able to skip the ‘straining’ step if they are ground very fine.
Is it possible to make the tea with fresh turmeric?
Absolutely! And it’s even better with fresh in my opinion. You’ll likely want to start with 1/2 to 1 inch of fresh ginger, scrubbed and chopped fine.
Should I add black pepper to my tea concoction since they say that it boosts the effects greatly?
I have added black pepper to the recipes as options. Piperine, an active ingredient in black pepper can make the curcumin more absorbent when curcumin is taken in supplement form. As a whole food, as we’re using it here, the naturally occurring oils and addition of fat in the tonic version, many of the fat-soluble properties will be readily absorbed.
Can I empty out a couple of turmeric/curcumin capsules into the tea in place of the turmeric seasoning from the grocery store?
You can, but it might be little bit of a waste. I have personally never tried the capsules but they are a concentration of the active component. When using in culinary applications, I typically recommend sticking to a whole food form and saving the capsules for therapeutic dosing.
Does a supplement (pill) of turmeric have the same effect? I don’t like tea.
You will get some similar benefits from a turmeric supplement. There is also a lot of benefit to the synergistic effects that happen when you combine these spices- not to mention the lifestyle benefits of sitting quietly and sipping a cup of warm, homemade herbal tea.
I notice you say to add as much turmeric as you can handle, but how much is too much per day?
There aren’t really limits as we’re using it in culinary uses, not therapeutic doses. One or two cups of this tea a day is no problem, unless your natural health care provider has advised of a potential contra-indication. Typically with natural foods, your body and taste buds tell you when you have had enough.
Could I get same results placing the ingredients in an empty tea bag rather than having to strain the water every time?
You could definitely simmer all of the ingredients in a large tea bag, or even a small sack made from cheesecloth. However, placing the ingredients in a tea bag and letting them steep in a hot water as you would a for a green tea, wouldn’t get out all of the medicinal constituents.
Why do have to use milk in the recipe?
You don’t have to use anything you don’t want to! The milk is nice as it adds a creaminess that balances the flavour, and the fat in the milk can also help increase the absorption of the fat-soluble constituents.
How much milk substitute do you use?
Is a glug a technical term? Usually just enough to mix in and make it creamy looking and tasting- maybe 1/4 of a cup?
Why does your recipe say to strain the tea? And how do you do it?
I include straining the tea in the directions as if you are using whole spices, even after blending, they are likely going to be a little chunky. I love straining my teas that use whole herbs to ensure a smooth consistency. I use a small mesh strainer like this one.
Could turmeric tea make your skin yellow? I’ve heard about people who drink too much carrot juice and their skin turns yellow.
Turmeric tea will make your skin yellow if you apply it yo your skin. If working with fresh turmeric, it may turn your fingertips yellow as you cut it. I have never heard of anyone turning yellow from drinking too much. In fact, I have heard of people using it as a tooth whitener, but I’ve never been brave enough to try.
This tea turned my blender yellow! What do I do?
Celebrate that you’re putting your new appliance to great use. Turmeric may stain the inside of your blender yellow but it will fade over time. Some have said leaving your blender out in the sunshine will help remove the yellow. I just let mine go in the cycles of yellow to not yellow depending on what I am making.
After boiling the root, can it be used again as in smoothies? Will there still be nutritional value left in the root?
Similar to juicing, or making nut milk, after you have cooked the turmeric, what is left behind is mostly just fibre. You have pulled out all of the magic so there isn’t a huge nutritional benefit to eating roots after they’ve been boiled out.
Is anything lost by not stovetop-ing or blending the mixture? Couldn’t someone just microwave the water, and (tenaciously) stir the mixture after it is placed in?
I don’t ever recommend microwave use. The simmering and/or blending helps break down and draw out some of the medicinal constituents. If you really, really, really don’t want to bother, your best bet is to boil a kettle of water and stir in the spices that way, but you won’t be getting as much benefit.
Can a make a pot of this in advance and store it in my fridge?
You sure can! It is best fresh or consumed in 2-3 days. And when you are reheating, do it over low heat on your stovetop.
358 responses to “Simple Turmeric Tea Recipe”
Hi Meagan, this tea looks absolutely Yummy!
I will try it today but only have ground cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and turmeric. Can I use them in the same quantity that you have in your recipe? Thanks :)
Turmeric is key. The rest is totally a free for all. Enjoy!
Can you use the ground grocery store type turmeric and ginger?
You sure can!
Good morning! More questions here..I am new to the turmeric world, but I am a believer so far. I am wondering if I should add pepper to my tea concoction since they say that it boosts the effects greatly, and also, can I empty out a couple of turmeric/curcumin capsules into the tea in place of the turmeric seasoning from the grocery store?
Go for it!
Just wondering if i would get same results placing the ingredients in an empty tea bag rather than having to strain the water every time?
★★★★★
It would not be as strong from a tea bag.
Why do have to use milk in the recipe
You don’t have to. But it’s part of my recipe to make it creamy.
I am pre diabetic and need to start things off right! I do not want to be diabetic ! I would love your tea recipes and anything else that could help me! Thank you!💞
Hi Judy! I have a few informational/tip posts that you may want to read: https://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/what-is-the-glycemic-index/ and https://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/are-you-addicted-to-sugar/. For a custom health protocol, I highly recommend working with a local health care practitioner who can build a protocol for you based on your history and unique health needs.
I tried this recipe and love love love it! But I was up most of the night with insomnia! Could it be the tea?
Glad you loved this! It’s hard to say what is the root cause of your insomnia. I don’t see this tea as particularly stimulating, though ingredients affect everyone differently. If you had this later in the day/evening, added a generous amount of sweetener and use sweetened nut milk, it’s possible you could be too wired to sleep.
I am dealing with chronic arthritis throughout my lumbar, hands and knees with some agonizing pain. I have drank a coffee cup of Turmeric tea consisting of 2caps., honey and almond milk. Mercy! The flavor is awesome.
★★★★★
You did not just write “Mylk”.
I did Vanessa! Just for you my womyn…
I saw your “tweet” about this last week and have been drinking it almost every day since then. OMG, I LOVE it. I leave out the cloves (hate ’em) and admittedly, I like a lot of honey in it. But it is SO GOOD!
And when I have leftovers, I put it in a mason jar in the fridge, and in the morning, I use the cold tea as the base liquid for my banana smoothies. Heaven!
What an awesome idea. I love that. You can also heat it up in a pot.
That IS a great idea! I just had a cup of this and it was delicious! I’m not sure why it says “not for the faint of heart”? I used date syrup and rice milk. I want another cup…
This is actually very similar to a nightly concoction I’ve been brewing too which is: 1 cup unsweetened almond milk + 1 tbsp of ground flax + couple of drops of stevia + as much turmeric as I can handle :)
I can’t wait to try your spiced up version!
Hope you’re feeling peppery and bright soon :)
I’ve been feeling something coming on…thanks so much for this! I really needed it!!
Yum, I’ve got a pot on the stove now — seems like just the perfect pick-me-up for the end of this crazy week!!!
Trying this ASAP. Yes, this week has been silly. <3
it is too early in the morning and i am up with my munchkins and laughing out loud that you read my post! i had NO idea you would “find”that! i do sincerely enjoy your blog…it is just so refreshing and easy to read! so thanks for doing it!
Can’t hide! I can see incoming links. That’s how I found you :) Blushing from your praise.
Hi, does a supplement (pill) of turmeric have the same effect? Don’t like tea much.
It really depends what effects you’re after. Best to consult with a natural health care practitioner before you opt for supplementing with curcumin.
Hi Meghan, thanksfor posting this wonderful recipe! I am always looking for ways to get in some turmeric, and this tea tastes great. I added in some cardamon, and a little cayenne pepper (I like it spicy), so it turned out like a turmeric chai. Yum! And now I also have a beautiful yellow colored blender : )
I love your blog, you always make me smile. Thanks for that too!
Awesome! I am drinking mine right now with cayenne in it. Keeping me warm that’s for sure.
I’ve never thought of something like turmeric tea, but it sounds amazing. And perfect for staying healthy and warm during this crazy winter!
Just tried this! <3
I used coconut 'mylk', some vanilla bean, stevia&honey combo, and drink it with an extra stick of cinnamon for prettiness. :P I also pressed it through a french press, but somehow it was too think and wouldn't strain well, had to let it trickle out reallllll slowly. Still tasted amazing though! thanks for this! i'm loving the benfits of the tumeric! <3 <3
I made two pots this weekend, and even the boyfriend tried some.
I think cayenne will only help! Can’t wait to try it out as the new next batch! This is going to be my default — and it sure makes the place smell good!
Meghan, this is a genius and delicious recipe! I have been trying to find ways to get more tumeric in my diet….so this is perfect. Thank you :)
For all of you trying this tea…this may seem fairly obvious, but: do not brush your teeth after drinking this. I made that mistake this morning and now I have a funky ( but bright!) yellow tooth brush ;)
I make my toothpaste with turmeric, peppermint extract & coconut oil. It leaves my mouth super clean and really whitens my teeth!
Turmeric is amazing!! The research on Alzheimer’s has also inspired research on eye health. (I have some info on my site, if anyone’s interested.) I love the idea of making tea out of it!
Is it possible to make the tea with fresh tumeric? I’ve only been able to find recipes using powdered tumeric. I always have fresh on hand.
For sure! Just simmer it for about 20 mins. I WISH all I could get was fresh.
I know this will sound a little silly, but how do you strain it? I tried a coffee filter and that didn’t work. I also just drank mine “straight” no milk – it was really yummy.
With a sieve. Simple as that!
I knew there were special benefits to tumeric but this drink sounds so delicious and very palatable!
I will try this for sure as I could use it for several of the cures listed. If I can’t have the tea daily, will a tumeric capsule do the trick just as well? I have some laying around that should be used up.
thanks once again for your wise words, Tara
i’ve been drooling over this recipe all week, and will be trying it tonight as i didn’t have tumeric. :)
Just had this with breakfast – yum!
I have to admit i was a little hesitant about this tea Meghan… but it’s SO good!!! What a great stress reliever last night! I love the chai flavors and such a great way to use tumeric. This may become a nightly routine! :-)
It would definitely be a super health building one! And all those spices are great for balancing the blood sugar too!
Why do you have to strain it? Drank it tonight without straining and it was great.
awesome! I’m totally intrigued by this, but pretty sure I’m way too lazy to strain!
I’ve been meaning to try this since you posted it and this morning thought i’d see about making a dent in the turmeric supply (we seem to accumulate it by not just small jars-full). It was just what i was hoping for. the cinnamon gives it a nice sweet spice, and the nutmeg a nice subtle floral hint, lovely way to have a decadent-feeling tea without the annoying caffeine jitters or chamomile tummy jumbles (chamomile and I do not get along). Now i may just have to try some of the other suggestions and recipes.
Thanks for the great blog. I was diagnosed with UC..ummm…nearly 12 years ago. Docs said diet wouldn’t matter. finally got sick of all the drugs (HATED Imuran, and couldn’t remember to take the mesalamine). Discovered if i don’t eat eggs or milk products, my gut is happy. also significantly reduced availability of processed foods; so vegan it is. and my gut has been behaving like a gut and not a foreign object. rather nice, really.
*i will however say that the hospital visit 8 years ago was a wake-up call and i appreciate the fact they could get me back on track. yes, surgery was mentioned, and numerous drugs tried. The infliximab did its job though and i got to go home. I prefer the method of changing lifestyle so that meds are not necessary rather than abusing the body and trying to fix it with meds. besides, there are so many yummy recipes and exercise is rewarding, and when your gut says your killing yourself, perhaps it’s time to listen and look at your life. I suppose i’m a bit dense and needed a bit more aggressive prodding than some :)
according to your # 3 – my grandfather has Alzheimer’s :( while i don’t remember all of the details, my mother told me that a doctor did some research on my grandfather’s family and said that anyone in this bloodline should up their intake of turmeric so as decrease the chances of us getting Alzheimer’s. Turmeric seems to be a cure-all! thanks for sharing this. i am a tea lover and am definitely going to try out this tea! hugs!!
How about a Green Tea-Turmeric blend, and along with the Honey, add some Bee Pollen!!!
I wonder how much of the goodness of Turmeric dies in the boiling process?
Is Turmeric a root?
How do you buy this whole, and where in California?
Take care!
I have a question, do you think it would be all right to boil say a liter of plain turmeric tea from powder and store it in a plastic bottle at room temperature (here in the tropics that’s around 27-31 deg C) for a week? I only want to drink around a cup a day and I don’t want to be boiling so often since I only have limited access to a stove.
I would have recommend against that one- do you have cold storage? That would be the first recommendation and the second would be to find a glass bottle or jar. The potency will decrease over time so the fresher the better.
You might make a concentrated spice paste by cooking the spices in less water for 30 minutes until there is very little water remaining. This paste should keep at room temperature, stored in a clean, tightly sealed jar. Spices are the original preservatives!
When you want a cup of the tea, simply add a spoonful of the paste to a mix of hot water and mylk. Sweeten with honey if you like.
hi Megan,
Got your blogsite from my massage therapist. Where do you get tumeric root/ fresh tumeric? Is it callled anything else?
i have powdered tumeric but don’t know how active the ingredient is anymore.
thanks, Judy Hirsch
Fresh turmeric is tough to find sadly. You could try asian markets/china town or kensington if you are in toronto. Indian stores would also carry it. Otherwise- organic powdered would work.
I love this idea and will try it!
I put tumeric and a few whole cloves and sperment in my homeade chicken soup and my mexican rice sometimes. Tumeric is awsome, tea? wow thanks!
Hi Meg! I love this article!
I have one question, could turmeric tea make your skin yellow?
I’ve heard about people who drink too much carrot juice and their skin turns yellow.
Thanks so much in advance!
Hi Dalia! I haven’t heard of that…I know about the carrot juice but have not heard of that for turmeric!
Thanks a lot for your reply, I’ll definitely try this wonderful tea!
Hugs from Mexico!
Hi Meagan,
thanks for the info and receipe. Like Anna – i have UC and im looking for alternatives also. i have not tried this – but will. will the pill version work also? not sure that i would be able to make the tea daily – so just looking for a second choice.
Happy Holidays!
Hi Rhonda, I am sure, like most suffering with IBD, you are desperate for some sweet and healing solutions. Unfortunately- I can’t offer nutritional advice regarding supplements through my blog or email. It’s a legal thing and a safety thing.
Meghan…….Just finished my first cup of Turmeric Tea via your recipe…….YUM YUM YUM!!!…..Thank You! Cant wait to try some of your other recipes. Blessings to you!
I currently take MS CONTIN for my pain. It is not working very well right now. My doctor will not increase dosage. Is there something else out there that works better?? I’m on SS so price is a big issue, and I can’t afford a prescription drug plan with all the bill I have right now. Any help would be appreciated.
I have never been one to recommend drugs and sadly not much coverage is available for natural solutions.
Hi, I have chronic spine pain.. on norco and soma -narcotic pain med/muscle relaxer. Been on this for years. Had multiple surgeries. Finally decided I am going to go the natural approach. I have been researching both Turmeric and Boswella for its anti- inflammatory results. I been doing the Turmeric tea.. It is actually makes you feel better. A great for infections too.. Going to use this when I get a cold/flu. Modern Pharmacuticals don’t want people stopping taking their expensive drugs. Tired of being on so many meds when they just mask the problem at hand. Just my opinion.
Hey Anneliese- thanks for sharing your story! We have to agree, most Pharma companies are only about keeping people sick (healthy people aren’t very profitable, are they?). Glad you have found some comfort in Turmeric- it is so very good for you in many ways.
I just found your site via my new roots and have been reading and reading all night! Now sipping some of this tea and I LOVE it – like a caffeine free chai. I’ll definitely try it with raw cacao/cayenne in the future as well.
That tea is a favourite.
heres what I do daily:
I take one vegi-cap, I fill it half with organic ginger and half with organic turmeric and swallow. It clears up my brain fog, and reduces the aches and pains in my back and knee. The ginger helps with my digestion and makes me just feel nice.
I also make salad and put powdered ginger and turmeric into the dressing (fresh garlic, dark olive oil, ume plum vinegar and apple cider vinegar).
One word YUM I love and my disabled son xxxxooo
How much of fresh tumeric root do we use? In the tea.
Sounds great. Just curious as to how much mylk to add?
Thanks!
Just tried this and LOVE it. Thank you! I notice you say to add as much turmeric as you can handle, but how much is too much per day? Also, not sure if you can answer this one because of legal/safety issues, but my mom is on medication for high blood pressure and I read somewhere that people on those kinds of meds should be careful with turmeric. What is your opinion on this?
p.s. I’ve been having pain from inflammation in my foot, and the only thing that helped was honey bee venom, but I couldn’t tolerate the shots in the sole of my foot (and I’ve been through some pretty serious [read: aggressive] Korean acupuncture!). I just drank this tea and -I kid you not- the pain went away about 15 minutes after drinking it. I’m hooked!
YUM! This is awesome. I’ve been just throwing fresh turmeric and lemon and ginger into water and letting them steep and sort of drinking it like that, but this latte idea is making my heart sing.
Thank you for sharing your recipe for tumeric tea. I am harvesting about 20 lbs. of fresh tumeric root out of my garden and I was looking for ways to use it. I love your tea! I have increased the spices and added cardomom powder for an added flavor. Thanks again!
Amazing ! love it ! Thank u
I have dried turmeric fingers I bought from a local Indian markets. How can I use these to make the tea?
Thanks so much!
I have never tried to dry fresh tumeric roots so I am not sure how to use them. I would guess that you could use about 1/4 lb or 1/3 lb to replace 1 lb of fresh root in a recipe.
I am going to try and juice the fresh root and freeze the juice. Will let you know how that works.
I just googled tumeric tea as I am looking for something natural that combats inflammation. Found your website. Thanks so much. Anyway, I was anxious to get started and rather than boil any ingredients, I used a natural Indian chai tea loaded with spices cardamon, cinnamon, and added a heaping teaspoon of powdered tumeric. It was was delicious. And the pain in my foot and knee from arthritis went away after about 20 minutes. I plan to drink this at least once per day. I just purchased some almond milk for variations on the basic tumeric tea. So happy!
Hi I just made this tea and it’s delicious but it’s dyed my brand new vitamix hello : (
Do you know of any methods to get the yellow stains out?
Thanks for all you do!
*Yellow* not hello
Just keep cooking and making things in it- it goes away- have no fear!
I made the tea and it’s really wonderful. I had seen another recipe that had suggesting boiling 4 cups water and adding 1 Tablespoon Turmeric to the water once it’s come off the boil for 10 min. I combined that one with yours. After the 10 min I whipped it all up in the blender. My question is, how much of this tea should someone drink who is trying to boost metabolism to help with a weight loss plateau? Any ideas?
Hi Deena, I am not familiar with that use of turmeric, but I can say that drinking this instead of sweetened drinks or coffee with milk and sugar is a great step towards shedding unneeded weight. There is no harm in drinking this throughout the day- but be mindful of your teeth as turmeric has a strong colour and overtime I imagine might stain your teeth so be sure to brush!
I just read tumeric whitens your teeth. Has anyone seen results of this.
A guy said he made it into a paste and he said the indians put it on their teeth at night before bed. Megan, has eating it and drinking it made your teeth gone yellow at all. I’m curious about brushing my teeth with it too but not all things you read are true.
Oh my! I have never heard of this but have seen it stain my counters, blender and fingers so I’d be very nervous about brushing my teeth with it.
I heard of a similar version of this from Dr. Sanjay Grupta, who only warms 1 cup of almond or coconut milk. In your cup place 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. turmeric, 1/4 tsp.ginger and make a paste by adding 1 tsp. agave or honey. Then pour warm milk over and stir, fairly continuously while drinking. I’ve drank this now for three days and have great results. Some may feel its a little strong in the spices and can adjust some if needed. I will try the suggestion of clove however. Thanks
So you don’t strain it at all?
Thanks for the recipe, in need of a pick me up so I’ll give this a go this evening. :)
Hi,
if you add black pepper to turmeric it will enhance the properties of it by 2000%, says a scientific study (somewhere over the.. internet!) No seriously black pepper is that amazing, so please do a search a find out about it. Black pepper can enhance the properties of any super herb/spice in general.. cheers to good health!
Hi Priti,
I was just going to suggest adding pepper also. I’ve also seen that adding some kind of oil, like olive oil, can increase the body’s ability to absorb the curcumin, the most potent constituent in turmeric I believe.
and Meghan, thank you for this nice recipe. I’m trying to start a turmeric routine and geez you said it… it is NOT for the faint of heart. :D
Question: does anyone else feel a sort of very mild head rush when you drink it? Like a tingly head feeling…not sure how to describe it. Just curious.
I heard for turmetic tea last year but i still don’t drink it. If that tea is really natural pain killer that would be great! :)
I hate the taste of turmeric, but I keep hearing of its amazing health benefits, and Turmeric is supposed to kill cancer cells for people on a ketogenic (high fat, low carb, low protein) diet.. I’ve found it does actually make nice tea–I like its strong, exotic flavor (like incense), but ONLY in a tea. I haven’t found any food I like it in. I like to put the powdered turmeric in my glass coffee pot with some water, and let the electric heating element keep it just the right temperature. The water never boils, but it’s hot enough and stays that way so that I’m sure it’s extracting the goodness from the turmeric. Then when I pour it out into my cup (a hot drink whenever I feel like it) to drink, I add a few tablespoons of coconut oil, which helps the body to absorb the curcumin. The tip about the pepper is interesting, will try that.
Hi, i have two bulging discs in my back so alot of inflammation and pain. Tried this tea today and amazingly some of my pain is gone!! I was wondering if anyone knew how many cups a day i should drink? Any advise greatly recieved x
Going to try this tea recipe.Having a shoulder op on 20th May, tore my right shoulder rotator cuff (mountain biking). Have been off alcohol now for 15 days trying to detox but this sounds like an awesome way to detox and for my body to be on after my operation!
Sian, so good to hear that back pain is relieved with the tea. I have had some lower back problems and am anxious to try this as I really don’t like over the counter anti-inflamatories. Thanks for writing about your relief with the tea. Best Wishes in your recovery!
Marietta
Thanks for the helpful post!
Hi Meghan,
Thank you for your enthusiastic approach to nutrition and health! It’s inspiring. I stumbled on this recipe while perusing your website today and thought it sounded great, but I wanted to try an “iced latté” version for summer! I brewed the tea as suggested using 1c water, strained, sweetened with honey, and then whirled it in the blender with ice and a very ripe banana. Tasty!
Thank u so much for this turmeric tea recipe. I have been thinking how to make turmeric tea n now here it is. I am going to try it since I am a diabetic with hypertension. I always look for natural treatment. I have been drinking cinnamon tea or ginger tea but now I will try turmeric tea. thanks once again
I am trying to find dosage equivalents and use directions for the raw root as opposed to the powder. I have to admit I did NOT read all 4 years of comments. Any help?
Thanks so much for the receipe which looks delicious.. I’ve been checking out the one that looks the most to-my-taste, and I’ve found it.
I am unable to take anti inflams (drug style) as had a brush with mortality using naproxen and been wanting to try turmeric for arthritis and all the other good reasons. I’ll let you know how it goes.. Joyce x
I’m in the same boat Bobbie. How can I use the raw root (and not go through 4 years of comments :)
Meghan, I am at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in Ottawa right now, and your name came up in class. Everyone LOVES you!!! I’ve had “The Undiet” for several months now and it’s the first thing I recommend to all my fitness clients. I want to be just like you when I grow up ;) Thanks for being so quirky and awesomely knowledgeable!
I have been drinking turmeric tea for about five months for osteoarthritis pain and it has worked wonders. I usually boil the root with fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, cloves, a tsp of cayenne and sweeten with honey. After the tea cools I strain and refrigerate and drink daily. I would like to know if after boiling the root if it can be used again as a paste in smoothies? Will there still be nutritional value left in the root?
I was wondering what kind of turmeric do you use. Is it the same one as the turmeric in the spice section of the grocery store?
Hi Meghan…just came across your blog on Tumeric tea. I have fibromyalgia and had west nile twice so the chronic pain can get very intense at times. I heard about tumeric but was unsure how to use it. I am drinking some right now but used very limited amounts to start and will build from there. I will let you know how it helps…thanks
I made this and it was gloppy is the only word i can think of. It was never like a tea. I added it to soy milk and it turned to sort of snot consistency. was it the soy that made it like that or one of the spices?
Love this tea…thanks so much! Im a colon cancer survived sice 2011 I change the way I eat juicing and eating raw veg and Fruits, One thing I couldnt fine a subs was the chai late i drink every day w almond milk. So glad I found this substitution. Can wait to try other recipes! Blessings!!!
Fresh Turmeric & Ginger (sliced), cinnamon,cayenne pepper,Nutmeg. Plus I added two cuts of fresh sugar cane Bolied then simmered for 10 mins, after straining I added acacia honey then finished off with coconut milk. Thank you for the great post :)
The only thing missing from this recipe is a bit of oil (a good half to whole teaspoon unprocessed, organic coconut oil – or olive oil if you prefer) which protects the turmeric’s chemicals through the stomach, and a couple grinds of peppercorns Which increases absorption of the active chemicals by upward of 2000 percent! These are included in most “golden milk” recipes which is basically what you are making – albeit this recipe is not as effective without the two missing ingredients. :)
★★★★★
I would add to what some of the folks already said, which is that turmeric has little to no benefit if you do not add black pepper. So, I love the look of the recipe, especially the ginger (mmm), but there aren’t any benefits, it’s scientifically proven, unless there is black pepper in it.
★★★★★
Do you have the reference for the studies? I’m allergic to black pepper so it’s not an option for me- but have never read anywhere that black pepper is required for turmeric to be effective. Thanks in advance.
I did a quick search and still couldn’t find a reference- though did see something for curcumin- when taken as a supplement needs piperine- an active component in black pepper. As a whole food, however (fresh root, or powder), the benefits of turmeric can be absorbed thanks to the naturally occurring presence of the oils. But if you have any other references, please share!
This tea is so good. I say it is as good as a pumpkin spice latte without the coffee.This fall I had 2 surgery and 3 cortisone shots in my back for Osteoarthritis both in my neck and lower back. Afterwards I had insomnia so bad I was awake till 3-4 in the morning for about 3 weeks. In an effort to cleanse my body, around December 1st, I started drinking the tea around 6-7 pm. I was falling asleep by 9 pm and sleeping all night. My inflammation has subsided and I can function well.
Using this tea this is what I have learned:
Turmeric must be mixed with black pepper to be absorbed. ( ¼ cup turmeric and ½ teaspoon ground fresh whole black pepper)I just keep that mixed up and take a teaspoon when I make the tea. I didn’t know I should add Coconut oil. But I do add that to my coffee. I will try it in my tea.
Is there a limited amount of turmeric you should have a day? I have read and heard different things anywhere from 500 mg to 2600 mg.
What can I use to make the tea. It stains my pan and it is difficult to pour the tea from the pan to my teapot without spilling it. I have a gas stove, is there a special tea pot I can use to cook it in.
★★★★★
[…] turmeric tea recipes, so I decided to make a batch last night. I worked off of this recipe here: Turmeric Tea. I really liked her recipe and how simple/easy it was. I made a larger batch (just increasing […]
how much milk/ sub do you use?
Hi Meghan
Thanks for the great recipe. Can I use raw milk instead of milk sub?
★★★★★
I thought this was great. I didn’t have cloves and I added a bit of black pepper as I’ve read it helps with absorption. I also didn’t need honey or mylk. Kind of reminded me of chi tea and some detox teas I’ve tried. Really good!
This looks like a great recipe and I love turmeric tea – but just want to share with the group that turmeric is contraindicated for pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with bleeding disorders or those who take blood-thinning drugs.
If I wasn’t to use the root and used a good tumeric powder from whole foods market, will that do the trick? And the same for the ginger?
And must you have black ground pepper, that I love?
The thing is. . . If people are saying how they have the relief from this and other recipes, or just the tumeric. . . . without the black pepper. . . Then that to me is the answer right in those statements of people who say it has worked for them, and without the black pepper. With that said , it would be nice, if we could find out if this is true. And this is the first time I have heard of this. I usually just dash tumeric on or in something. But I love Teas, and especially Chai Tea. I have daily coconut oil in my diet. So no need to add to my tea. I am going to try this Tea, and make a batch for others. How long can it be stored inn your Fridge??? And to stay fresh, and insure it will still be potent with it’s medical properties??? TY :)
Thank You! :)
The Recipe is so delicious and tasty. I have tried many such similar recipes but none have worked so great for me. Thanks a lot for those detailed and step by step instructions that made it easier to get the job done in no time. I love almond milk and I am greatly fascinated by its health benefits around us. Here I also have some info regarding almond milk that will be a great value to all its readers.
http://www.body-in-balance.org/blog/nutrition/health-benefits-almond-milk/
Hey Meghan, I just had a question for you, that haven’t seen addressed anywhere else: is anything lost by not stovetop-ing or blending the mixture? Couldn’t someone just microwave the water, and (tenaciously) stir the mixture after it’s placed in? And yes, the definite subtext to this question is “i’m lazy”.
Many thanks, Jeff
You’ll never find me advocating for microwave use. It negatively affects the water molecules. Throw it on your stove and simmer for 20 minutes. Set a timer and walk away. You can be just as lazy and still get the health benefits :)
Thanks! Loving this recipe, just made it for the second time in two days. I also added vanilla powder. Instead of milk I’ve made it bulletproof with butter and some cream and also cacao butter and blended. It’s Soooo yummy! Like a super healthy chocolate chai!
★★★★★
Thanks for the recipe I am a dancer and have been struggling with pain in my wrists and shoulders for months. I’ve been drinking this shit at least 2 or 3 times a week and it’s making such a difference!
love this drink it all the time I sometimes add monk fruit sweetener when out of honey but cant get my family to drink it any suggestions?
Try starting with a smaller amount of turmeric and play with the spices to suit their palates. They may also enjoy this tonic a little more? https://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/turmeric-tea-recipe-anti-inflammatory-recipe/
First taste it is yummy. Will await any results, but definitely will have it again.
★★★★★
Hi. I made this tea last night. How do you strain it? Coffee filters didn’t work. Thanks.
I use a fine mesh seive.
Tried it several times, LOVE IT!!!! Today I’m trying to do it in a teabag and see if that works! It hurts me too much to strain it. Yes I have pain in my hands I really hope this helps me…n
★★
Helen try the turmeric tea tonic that Meghan has put together for the purpose of inflammation….it works WONDERS! Believe me I suffer, correction used to suffer from inflammation from my hip joints. Painful stiffness during the entire day, night and the mornings were the worse. No pain medicine nor muscle relaxer were helping anymore. These were before a rheumatologist put me through intravenous medication saying it was one of many autoimmune inflammatory diseases. We all know that drugs help with one thing but hurt or create others. In my case, my liver was damaged (but reversible), cysts throughout my body & organs, and got the flu. Stopped that medicine, yet I still needed help with my inflammation. Found the tonic and have been drinking it for a month and a half and I FELL GREAT!
★★★★★
Hello Meghan,
A co-worker suggested having turmeric, honey & either lemon or ginger combo into a tea to battle pain. I googled turmeric to learn more & get a tea blend. Up comes your site. I used your tea blend (minus cloves & “milk”). It tastes great & can’t wait to see the effects.
★★★★
Thanks for sharing!
Looks like the best recipe I have seen out there. Waiting for organic turmeric to arrive from Amazon. Looking forward to trying it soon.
★★★★★
Let me know what you think!
In my personal Experience ,Turmeric has many healing properties for skin. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory so it reduces redness or other skin irritations.
Dried turmeric fingers? I have never seen those! I would guess you’d want maybe 1 sliced up? Or about 1 Tbsp worth?
Meghan, I LOVE this recipe and am I ever glad I found it!! Delicious, most definitely!! Soothing to the max =) I use fresh turmeric and ginger root ground up in the blender for a more powerful taste. Then added coconut oil and liquid cayenne drops from your turmeric tonic recipe: super delicious!! Shared the recipe with my Jamaican mum who just loves it!! She said it really helps her aches and pains. Thank you so much!! ;-)
★★★★★
Could this be made in a Kerug coffee maker? It would strain out the tea as it brews! I’m still going to brew it on the stove but just asking if this is possible. Can’t wait to try it.
Thank you all for the original recipe and comments with suggestions. I had not liked turmeric, yet I bought a fresh tuber along with some fresh ginger and was looking for ideas on how I could use it. I find this tea to be quite pleasant. It’s a keeper. Thanks! BTW, I couldn’t find the inflammatory turmeric tea mentioned in someone’s comment. Might you send that to me?
★★★
Thank you for this recipe. It was tasty. I always peel and freeze my ginger which makes it super easy to grate. I make my own almond milk ( 1 c almonds soaked in water overnight- next morning drain and rinse then blend in vitamin or blender with 4 c water.) then strain pulp thru cheesecloth and use pulp for future baking recipes. I learned a lot from detoxinista.com and I think she would love this recipe. I used a splash of almond milk with 1 & 1/2 c water to simmer the herbs but I would use 1 c water next time. Sweetened with local honey and nunaturals stevia. Your recipe rocks! Thank you again
Is there a reason you need to strain the tea? Is it better if you strain it?
The consistency is better.
This smells delicious as it simmers!
One question: Is it normal for the turmeric & spices to turn into a kind of jelly? Is this what you’re straining out?
★★★★
The cinnamon can have this effect if it’s really concentrated and depending on what kind you’ve used. It’s all good though and very soothing.
Thats nice. Turmeric tea also helps in curing cough and cold.
Love the looks of your receipts!!!
Okay, I have been trying to get turmeric into my life. This seemed like a good idea. At the end it didn’t have quite the spice I wanted. I steeped it with a roobio ginger tea tea bag and added a bit more honey. Now it seems perfect. Thank you.
★★★
Thank you!!
★★★★★
I just bought a bag of organic turmeric, can’t wait to try!!
★★★★★
I’d like for you to post your credentials to the page with proof that you’re a nutritionist because I find that point to be highly suspect. ANY nutritionist would KNOW that turmeric is NOT an herb. It’s a root. There are very SPECIFIC difference between roots, herbs, and spices. If you’re getting extremely basic information incorrect how are we to trust that anything else you’re saying is truthful and correct?
★
Wow! Who knew a turmeric tea recipe could inspire such outrage. Yes, whole turmeric is a root, however it is also classified as an herb in both traditional medicine and culinary applications. Since you’ve shown a great interest in this root, perhaps you’d enjoy further reading. Thanks for dropping by my site! http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/can-turmeric-alleviate-500-causes-human-suffering
Hi Meghan,
I start every day with a mug of boiled water and the juice of half a lemon which is supposed to stimulate/detox the liver. I had been told not to drink it at night because you shouldn’t stimulate your liver late in the day. If the turmeric tea also stimulates the liver, should the tea be taken earlier in the day? Thank you.
Turmeric’s primary action is not as a liver stimulant but depending on the tradition of your health care practitioner, you may get conflicting advice.
my questions is : I only heard recently about tumeric teas and how it can help with diferent ailments. I bought my tea from a tea shop which is mixed with mango and some kind of lemon express and a natural flavoring.. Its loose tea . Then I read that natural flavoring is not a good thing. So…. buying from a tea shop would give me the same benefit as if I made my own ?
Thanks for the recipe, am trying it right now. I have arthritis in my hands…hope this will help with the pain and swelling. Can you drink it everyday.
It does taste good.
★★★★★
You sure can! Eliminating pro-inflammatory foods like gluten and dairy will also be essential for optimal results.
I am newly interested in Turmeric as an anti-inflammatory. Doing some research I got the idea that the benefits of Turmeric can be unavailable in some forms. One website is offering a very pricey concoction. Does steeping the Turmeric make it available?
I am about to try your recipe for the first time.
Steeping likely won’t draw out as much of the medicinal constituents as a decoction- a longer simmer.
I just made the elixir for the first time. I made mine in my blender using hot water. I’m using it for the anti-inflammatory affect. Is it better to simmer it on the stove top to reap the benefits then? Thanks
Simmering it may draw out more constituents, but really- drinking it regularly is the most important part.
Hi Meghan, Thanks for your reply. I’ve been making the elixir for a few days now. I added some of the spices that you put in the tea to the elixir recipe. I love this drink. I have it first thing in the morning and then at night time. Thank you so much for sharing
I am looking at this for health benefits due to Deteriorated Disk Disease. I was looking at measuring this to gallon size. Does it retain health benefits for, I would say around 1 week?
Is it possible to put allspice in place of the cloves and nutmeg? Also, I see a lot of the turmeric teas online have lemon as one of the ingredients. Would it be beneficial to add lemon to this tea somehow?
Lemon would add a boost of vitamin C and a bit of a tang. If you fancy that, go for it! You are welcome to mix and match the spices as you like.
[…] Turmeric Tea […]
Hi Meghan! I’ve been drinking the tumeric tea about 3-4 times a week for the past 3 weeks. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this strange side effect…sweaty and stinky feet!!!! A co-worker is also experiencing this… Thought this might give you and your readers a good laugh if nothing else…
★★★★
I can’t say I’ve heard of this side effect!
I started taking turmeric three days ago. I have almost chronic lower back pain and I don’t like over taking NSAIDS. I also take an anti depressant. Today I noticed how much better my mood is. I wasn’t manic or feeling high but I felt genuinely happy. I take 500 mg 1 x daily. I’m hoping it helps with the disc Inflammaton too, Thank you!
Just made a Turmeric Tea for the first time, using fresh turmeric and ginger. Love it! Warm and comforting on a grey ‘Spring’ day. Thanks!
★★★★★
Amazing!
Drinking this tea for the gout. Hope it helps
Hi Meghan,
I am obsessed with this recipe. Would I be able to add the spices in the blender with room temperature water and than boil it on the stove? I can’t put hot water in my Nutribullet but I think it would be good to blend it so that it could come out smoother. Also for the black pepper, is just regular black pepper that I can add? Thanks in advance
Best,
Ruben.
Absolutely!
Grea tips here!
★★★★★
I am just starting to have a cup before bedtime.. 1 boiled 2 cups of water with 1teaspoon of raw turmeric powder. Added 3 spoonfuls of raw honey and 2 spoonfuls lemon juice. Honestly I was wondering why blogs say that it tastes good but for me, the taste was so aweful that I almost cannot take in. But then I have to drink it considering the health benefits.. I wish I can take more of these as much as I can.
★★
It’s a little bit of an acquired taste for sure. I too find it delicious but I’m not sure I would have ten years ago when I was still on a more processed diet.
I wouldn’t recommend adding boiling anything to a blender, as most have plastic parts! Great recipe though
★★★★
Exactly. There is no safe plastic. Our various government offices approve and disapprove things as being safe, depending on how much the corporate lobbyists pay them. Especially, never heat plastic. I would use a metal stick blender instead.
★★★★★
In a cup of hot water I place a green tea bag, a small teaspoon of turmeric powder and a small teaspoon of a high quality coconut oil (full of acid lauric). That’s unbeatable. This mixture helps so much our body to self heal and prevent diseases.
I would like to know if you can drink the tea/tonic if you have Severe Hemophilia B.
★★★★★
I don’t see why not- it is a food after all but if you have specific concerns, please reach out to your natural health care practitioner.
I made mine with coconut milk and it is delicious! I’m hoping it will clear up my congested sinuses. Thanks :)
★★★★★
I hope so too! Allergies this season seem to be extra rough!
How often should I drink this to see weight loss results ?
Hi Patsy (that’s my mom’s name, too!), the tea alone will not result in weightloss. Much of weightloss will have to do with what other foods are being eliminated, and your hydration, and exercise levels. I hope this helps. If you’re interested in my approach to optimal health, please check out my book UnDiet
I bought the turmeric supplement, but decided to grind it into powder form and add it to my tea. Should it have the same anti-inflammatory benefits?
It should!
Dear Meghan i’m very interested in your Turmeric tea ,how log will it be before you feel the benefits.i have lots of pane in my joints anti inflammatory problems yours maggie Loftus Kitimat
Hi Maggie, To experience the anti-inflammatory benefits it will be important that you are also removing and pro-inflammatory foods from your diet. The most common include gluten, dairy, sugar, coffee and alcohol. Just as important as adding in the good stuff is taking our the not so good.
I’ve been making the tea for about 2-3 weeks now and straining it before drinking. I’ve been using powders except with ginger, which I slice. All noticeable black pepper remains in the strainer. Will that reduce the effectiveness of the drink?
From simmering it you’ll be extracting some of the beneficial constituents so you’re all good!
Hi There,
Sometimes I can’t spend 20 minutes making a cuppa in the morning so on those days I simply use a quarter teaspoon of turmeric powder, sprinkle black pepper then add hot water stir and drink.. Tastes good although I’m not sure if I’m getting good absorption?
I would recommend adding some fat in there too which will aid in the absorption of the fat soluble constituents in the herbs.
Can you use turmeric oil in the recipes?
What type of oil do you mean?
Can I drink it cold after boiled ?
You sure can!
Have you noticed any problems with teeth staining? I have close to 100 turmeric plants in the ground that I can’t wait to incorporate into my diet! I will definitely be trying your teas and tonics. Thank you!
100 plants! I’m coming over!!! I have not had any issue with teeth staining, only counter and blender staining ;)
Hello, this recipe sounds amazing! I have all the ingredients but couldn’t find the coconut milk and I might try it with regular milk tonight since I want to start right away. Is that ok?
If you’re aiming for anti-inflammatory benefits, I’d recommend skipping the dairy :)
Love the tonic Recipe. Many thanks
Tasted great! Left out ingredients I didn’t have on hand but what I did have on hand in my cabinet like TUMERIC, cinnamon gave me an idea of what to expect. For some reason I thought TUMERIC would be horrible. Drinking for the anti inflammatory benefits. Presently on prednisone and looking for alternatives.
Thanks, been using Tumeric as a spice on my meats, and lentil dishes, more than a good dash but, I haven’t experienced the taste of the Tumeric alone, hence the search for a straight up tea!!! Hope it doesn’t turn me off!!! Then I would be forever searching it in my dishes!!! I have been using pepper along with it. Well here goes, I don’t have cardamon, and will have to make the ghee by cooking out the milk solids from the butter. Cheers and thanks again!!!
I thought I might be the only person who is allergic to black pepper! Surprised not to be alone in the ban black pepper club. My family hates looking for pepper in my house
Hi Meghan,
Thanks for these recipes. I am trying to give up my morning caffeinated tea and would really like to try these.
I do have a little bit of an “odd” situation, in that my husband and I are full time RVers in a small trailer. One of the luxuries I have given up to live this lifestyle is a blender and food processor : / Is there a way that you can recommend that I can accomplish that step without the food processor?
I plan on trying to make a weeks worth of the spice mix for the basic tea recipe so that I don’t have to try and make it every morning.
Would that be possible with the Elixir recipe since it has the oils?
Thanks for any help!
What fun you are having! The oils can easily stir in but you’d want to simmer the tea with the spices first. You might also want to consider some of the compact blender models as an option for other recipes as well.
Can I just add tumeric to my English Breakfast Tea and Constant Comment tea?
★★★★★
For turmeric tea, it’s best to simmer the turmeric to get the best benefit.
Hello! Great recipe, how do you think it would be with Cayenne pepper?
I think it would be delicious!
Can this tea help with the common cold/sore throats??
Have been looking for a recipe/how to make it for a while. Can’t wait to try this tomorrow. Have all the ingredients for the basic tea ??
You bet!
I have been using Turmeric for about 5 mos now.. it has worked wonders for my arthritis pain.. have bought curcumin with black pepper added capsules too.. I love learning about all the health benefits of the naturals.. I’m excited about trying the turmeric tea.. how do you think hemp seed oil would work in the tea.. just a thought..thanks so much love all the new ideas..
Can I use this for pain relief after breast reduction surgery.
It can’t hurt! Wishing you a speedy recovery.
What is the shelf life if Frontier Tumeric?
Best to contact the company.
So I was surfing the web for different ways to take in turmeric. I have in the past purchased a tea that was combined with gunpowder green tea it was yummy. So I purchased the ingredients myself. Today i tried the turmeric, green tea, cinnamon and a teaspoon of coconut oil and a pinch of honey! yum Thanks for the cinnamon idea :-)
★★★★★
Hi Megan , thanks for writing all of this on turmeric tea , I have played around with your recipe for a few days now and have made some lovely turmeric tea, I added cardamom pods ,pinch of cloves ,teaspoon of nutmeg and cinnamon black pepper and turmeric only one teaspoon at first but I am getting braver . I’m hoping this will help my fatty liver and the burning abdominal pain I get on a daily basis. Thankyou x
Wishing you great health!
can I add lipton tea or Green tea with my fresh tumeric tea?
You can add whatever organic tea you like :) – though I would definitely avoid Lipton tea. I’m not a fan of their growing/farming practices.
Give it a try and let me know how it is!
Turmeric is sooooo healthy for you! I always have it during the winter months and honestly it helps me from getting sick. I absolutely love your recipe. It tastes amazing. But there are times when I don’t have time so for those times I bought a pack from http://www.thegoldennumberco.com and it is one of my favorites on the go! Love it. Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Would the capsule type or turmeric ground spice used in tea or other items help with digestive issues?
I recommend using the ground root in your teas and meals instead of using the capsules as the whole root contains other beneficial elements that may not be contained in the capsule form.
Can the turmeric tea be made ahead of time then reheated? Loved this tea would like to have on hand at work
Sure can! Please be sure to review the FAQ section above:)
This was delicious!
So glad you enjoyed it!
I haven’t tried your recipe, yet. Just found it while searching. But I’ve been drinking turmeric tea for a while. Actually only started because the turmeric dulled the taste of my ginger tea, so it became ginger and turmeric tea. Would just like to say that just drinking ginger and turmeric has improved my health dramatically. I guess it’s time to add some more good stuff.
★★★★★
Have been reading about the benefits of tumeric and came across this tea recipe. Thought I would make a couple of cups. Had everything but cloves. I was expecting I would have to force this down but willingly because of the health benefits. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole 2 cups! I like it just as much, if not more than my honey vanilla chamomile.
★★★★★
Wonderful!
Hi Meghan. The first time I made this tea, it had the it was watery just like tea. I like it very much. I am not sure what I have done differently other than adding more tumeric, but it seems to be thicker, more like a sludge. Should it be watery or sludgy? Could it be that I am boiling it too long or too hard? Should it just be simmered? Thanks for your help
Ann
★★★★★
Eye opener amazing how a few common spices mixed together can be so benifitial in so many areas of the body
★★★★★
I stumbled on this recipe because I wanted to know more about what tumeric does for the body and its benefits. I did everything except the cloves and milk because I didn’t have any. I found this refreshing and want to now drink it and replace it for coffee. 😂 Thank you !
Is “Frontier Organics” the same company as “Frontier CO-OP” ???
★★★
Hi Tracey, yes they are the same.
Have not tried it but I’m going to today
Can cajuan pepper be added to tea? does this tea interfere with precribed meds for high blood pressure or cholesterol?
Hi Vickir, You can add black pepper to turmeric recipes as compounds in the black pepper activate the curcumin compounds in turmeric. I would recommend that you speak to your natural health care practitioner to advise you if the turmeric tea will impact or interfere with your prescription medications.
Some Walmarts in Canada sells the fresh root.
★★★★★
IVE, BEING DRINKING THE TEA FOR 5 MONTHS, ITS GREAT, I DRINK IT AT BED TIME I CUT 3OR4 FRESH STICKS OF TURMERIC ROOTS FIRST PLACE THEM IN COLD WATER BEFORE CUTTING AND ADDING TO BOILING WATER,SQUEEZE 1/2 LEMON,AND ADD 1 TEASPOON HONEY,AND SPRAY A LITTLE COCONUT OIL. ITS AWESOME.
Funny, I just put my spices in the same jars! They sure don’t stack as well as I’d hoped, making it a bit of a disaster some times, so, I bought round magnets from the craft section and glued one on the bottom of each jar. Tadahhh! Love that turmeric tea! It’s helped me get my blood pressure numbers down med free. 😊
★★★★★
I made the basic recipe and added a tiny amount of vanilla bean paste. This was delicious!
★★★★★
Hi Meghan. Thank you for the recipe! I read a question above asking about subbing for the black pepper, and as well, noted that you said you’re allergic to that. Just wanted to offer the info that cayenne pepper actually acts as a facilitator of the cucurmin in turmeric in addition to, or even in place of, black pepper. If not using black pepper, simply increase the amount of cayenne recommended in yours or any other recipe. Due to chronic inflammatory affects of West Nile Virus, I ingest quite a lot of organic turmeric on a daily basis (the whole herb as is recommended here, not a fractionated herbal-constituent product) “enriched” with both fresh-ground black and cayenne pepper added. Turmeric is my friend indeed. Thanks again for the recipe.
Thank you for your recommendation!
This site is amazing. I’ve been researching Turmeric and this site is by far the most detailed site out there! Answered in simple layman terminology. Thank you for all the information.
★★★★★
Fantastic site! Said it all about tumeric. Heart warming for me cos I started trying out tumeric tea today.
★★★
I have arthritis and asthma .. the tumeric tea has really helped me to sleep better and wake up being able to move much better ..
The stiffness returns quickly but no pain.. thank you !!!
I haven’t try it yet but I got my recipe today so am going in tonight to try it
★★★★★
I bought ground tumeric at the store tonight and was wondering what to do with it, so I hit up Google and found your recipe. This tea is ahmazing. It tastes very much like chai to me. Next time I’ll add a splash of vanilla extract, and I might try maple syrup instead of honey. Yummy! Thank you for this recipe.
★★★★★
Is dried turmeric root as effective as fresh turmeric?
I have fresh tumeric how do I use it for tea ,do I scraped the skin and then boil it
Hi Celestine! Yes, peel the skin, cut the turmeric root into smaller pieces and place it in water to boil.
This tea is absolutely delicious! So shocked at home tasty and filling it is.
I wonder what has congealed. One of the ingredients, or all together, has congealed during the simmering process. What causes this?
★★★★★
Many thanks for being my own lecturer on this subject.
I enjoyed your own article quite definitely
and most of all appreciated the way in which you handled the
areas I widely known as controversial. You happen to be always really kind to readers like me and let me in my existence.
Thank you.
I would like to know if tumeric could be added to a fruit smoothie? I love my fruit smoothies with blueberries, strawberries, ice and juice. Could I just add the tumeric to that?
Absolutely, Nancy! Both fresh and powdered turmeric are amazing in smoothie recipes. You can check out more awesome ways to use turmeric here. Enjoy the goodness!
I added a pinch of cayenne to speed up circulation which helps decrease inflammation and could be substituted for black pepper to avoid allergy
★★★★★
What a great recipe. Didnt have all the ingredients though still so good. Made with the blender. Gets frothy! Hoping to try full recipe.
Thank you, I’ve been wanting to make and try turmeric tea and this is a delicious recipie. I did not have the dry herbs, so I used quality essential oils of cinnamon, ginger and black pepper, just one drop of each. Do you think using essential oils has the same efficacy as the dry herbs?
As long as your essential oils are food grade and high quality, I don’t see a problem with using them in this recipe.
Really enjoy your turmeric. Thank you
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe that is not only tasty, but also wholesome for our body & mind. Its so much easy to make, looks so delicious. I like it so much!
Hi, i was wondering if i could make a large batch of the tumeric tea at a time? Just using the spices, honey and a dash of water, simmering down a bit then store in the fridge to use as a syrup to add hot water and milk to.
★★★★
Hi Victoria, thanks for your message! Yes, that’s a great idea! I would recommend only storing the mixture for about a week.
I just tried your tea recipe and I thought it tasted great. I bet that combination of spices would be really good if added to water or broth used to cook rice. Can’t wait to try that. Thanks for your recipe!
I am making the tonic and really like the flavors, but I am not liking the hemp chunks. I like the flavor of them but when I am drinking I don’t do chunks. So should I be leaving them, grinding them, or draining them off?
★★★★★
Hi Rachelle, you can either leave them out of the tonic or grind them prior to blending. Enjoy!
I am on Eliquis for AFib- but need to rid my body of inflammation….. is it safe to take Tumeric in any form? I am kind of confused. Thank you!
Hi Wanda, I would recommend that you reach out to your health care practitioner directly for advice.
I am excited with your advice on turmeric. I live where I only use microwave to warm food but no cooking. How can I benefit – what is the simplest way of making this recipe without cooking?
You can use the second method – the Fast and Furious blender method. Then you can avoid the stove top if you’d like. I don’t recommend making this in the microwave, as I’m not a fan of microwave cooking.
I use local raw honey in many things but am trying to work blackstrap molassas into my diet. Could i use that in my tumric drinks or will the warmth ruin the health benifits of the molassas?
I’ve never added molasses to this, as it’s a strong flavour. However, you could give it a try and see if you like it! You’re adding the sweetener at the end in this recipe, so you don’t need to worry about the heat destroying anything. Let me know how you like it with molasses!
Looking to try a turmeric tea recipe, precisely because of its cancer fighting properties and this is a winner! I did look at Dr. Weil’s basic recipe and it seemed like it might be less interesting. This is quite good! I will try to incorporate it!
★★★★
So I found your site by way of (ooh shiny) or(squirrel) meaning I was researching the harsh and potentialy harmfull medication my dogs vet has put him on for arthritis (he is an old large..not over weight Rottweiler…) And some how tumeric came up…and then …and then …and now I am at your site!!! Lol…I have researched all of the ingredient for their safeness and effectiveness for dogs..and low and behold I Believe my ole man and myself will be relaxing and tending to our bodies together by drinking your tea and tonic recipes! Thank you so very much! (Funniest part) I seriously was looking to alleviate the harsh chemicals given to him and thought these recipes will also benefit me and some of my chronic aches and pains!! None of your ingredients were shown to have any adverse reactions when taken with my furbabie’s prescription and his vet is excited to know if I see any improvement..or changes. Especially on his down time from the meds…this down time is because the meds are dangerous if taken for extended periods of time…so I am excited to see also!!
When to take turmeric tea before or after meal? I usually took in empty stomach in the morning.
You can drink it up at any time!
I prefer to make batches of stovetop items. I see that you said this can be done with either recipe. Do you still get the same benefits by drinking either cold? Obviously adding the ghee/coconut oil would not work, but for the anti inflammatory benefits would those still be experienced?
★★★★★
Yes, you will still receive the benefits if you drink it cold.
Hi,
I was wondering could you mix all the herbs together and store in a jar or keep them seperate.
thank you
kathy
Yes, I think you could prep a turmeric tea ‘mix’ in small batches and then add the fresh ingredients when you make it. Let me know how it turns out!
Why don’t you recommend microwave cooking?
Hi Maureen. I go into detail about microwave cooking here: https://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/is-your-microwave-harming-your-health/
I have just made the simple turmeric tea for my husbands chronic pain. I thought he would fight me drinking this tea. To my surprise he drank it without a problem. He said it was the best tea he’s had in a long time! I hope it helps ease his pain. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Can I make a couple of litres of tea at a time with fresh roots & can I freeze it in containers ?
Yes, you can batch brew and freeze.
I have chronic knee pain. I have been prescribed diclofenac but the side effects can damage the heart. When googling how much turmeric you can take in a day it seems only the tablets doses are given. Which would be 500 mg 3 times a day. You say start with a tsp and go up from there. I would like to know how much is to much. I don’t want to continue taking the diclofenac if I can avoid it
Hi Anita. Supplements are more concentrated than the whole food, so it’s best to consult with your health practitioner about dosages.
Can I make the tea without coconut milk or ghee and just use raw turmeric, ginger, pepper and cinnamon? Can I stir it in the fridge and drink it as cold tea or do I have to drink it hot?
You can definitely experiment with this recipe and fine-tune it to your tastes.
Excellent recipes! Some further suggestions:
1. I drink turmeric teas as often at room temperature as I do when still hot. They are tasteful and healthy alternatives to drinking mere water.
2. Straining the ground spices is optional. I’ve yet to experience “oversteeping”.
3. Don’t ever miss the chance to include Cardamom!
★★★★
How much of the tea can I drink a day?
★★★★★
One or two cups of this tea a day is no problem, unless your natural health care provider has advised of a potential contraindication. Typically with natural foods, your body and taste buds tell you when you have had enough.
Great tea.
★★★★★
Do the hemp seed need to dissolve into drank
Hemp seeds are small and very easy to blend, so they will virtually dissolve when you blend them.
Can I drink the tea cold after I store it in fridge?
am interested in using tumeric as a poultice, have heard it is effective in treating infections of the skin. do you have any proportions to use in a poultice? thank you!
You can definitely use it in a poultice – how much you use will depend on how large of an area you are covering. A good guide to herbal poultices is here: https://wellnessmama.com/26604/herbal-poultice/
I am 77 yrs. old and extremely over weight with very painful arthritis, is there a recipe with turmeric that would help me? A response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hi Eliza – thank you so much for commenting! It’s best to check in with your health practitioner about specific recommendations for your case. A practitioner needs to have the whole picture and health history – as well as understand any contraindications based on other treatments you may be using – before making a recommendation.
Does anyone know of any practical way to strain this tea? I have used coffee filters, paper towels over a colander and a tea infuser. The spices all fill the tiny holes in my makeshift strainers and it stops straining completely. By the time the tea is “strained” it is cold and the final product makes only 1 cup from 2 cups of water. Sure would love to hear any suggestions ;-)
★★★★
Hi Tina – do you have a really fine mesh strainer? I find that to be really helpful. A nut milk bag will also work, but you’ll need to be careful with the hot liquid and it will stain your bag. Cheesecloth is a good option – you can double or triple layer it so nothing gets through.
I have been suffering a severe case of errosive lichen Planus in my mouth for about three years. It goes into remission for a few months and I have no idea why, but when it is active, as it is now, it circles my life and limits me. I hate that. Fresh organic tumuric is now available to me at my local grocery store but I am naturally cautious. If the tea I make is too spicy, I am afraid it will make things worse. What limits
do you suggest.
You could start off really small, like with an 1/8 of a tsp, and then see how it works for you.
Oh my goodness this is delicious! Suffering with back and hip pain, I’m going to make this soothing tea every night for my bedtime drink. I opted not to put in any form of sweetener, and honestly think it tastes fantastic without. I also didn’t bother to strain it. I used my nutribullet and it was fine.
I love this turmeric tea. But even after straining it the spices are in the bottom of the cup. Are the spices themselves drinkable?
★★★★★
Sometimes even with a very fine mesh strainer some small bits get through. Yes, you can definitely consume the spices!
I am 69 years old, I am having problems walking.
I have arthritis and a very bad heel spurs.
I have been drinking the tea for two days.
And I feel better and can walk better.
Thank you
★★★★★
I’m happy that you have found this tea helpful!!
Can you drink this tea morning and night as well?
Absolutely.
I would like to make small jars of the spices to give as gifts. Was curious if that would in any way reduce the effectiveness. Could you give the amounts needed of each ingredient to make about 1/2 cup of the spices and the amount of spices to use for every two cups of water used for simmering?
That’s a great gift idea! Storing the spices in little gift jars shouldn’t alter the effectiveness, unless the recipient leaves your gift sitting in their cupboard for years. The amount of spices in this recipe makes one serving – so you’d need to multiply until you filled the jar you’re using. I haven’t tested this recipe as a drink mix, so you may need to experiment a little bit if you aren’t going to directly multiply the amounts.
We make green tea with the powdered turmeric with ground ginger and cinnamon how do we keep it from being gritty from the spices and we make it by the gallon and use ice with it so what would the RECIEPE be for a gallon of green tea with the turmeric and all in it.
Turmeric tea by nature will always be a bit gritty. If you’re drinking it cold I would suggest using a glass straw and stirring between sips. I have never made this recipe in such a large quantity but I invite you to experiment with it and let me know how it goes.
Can I use a regular green tea bag and add turmeric and honey and it will work just as well?
Green tea has a different flavour profile than the spices I’ve chosen for this recipe. I haven’t tested it with green tea, but you could give it a try and let me know how it goes!
I may try the tea recipe but, won’t this stain your teeth?
★★★★
Nope, it doesn’t!
Beautiful Meghan, why can I print the tonic recipe but not the tea recipe?
★★★★★
It’s fixed now – you should be able to print it!
Thanks for this. I just had a bad fall and pulled badly, every muscle in my left leg. MUCH internal bleeding, bad bruising and pain. I’ve been taking ibuprofen but really don’t want to. I’ve just started taking the tea. How many cups a day?
Do you have any other things I could be doing to facilitate the healing process?
thanks
I wish you a good recovery, John! I can’t make specific health recommendations to you online, but I’d recommend working with a health practitioner to devise a protocol that’s specific to your needs. One or two cups of this tea a day is no problem, unless your natural health care provider has advised of a potential contra-indication. Typically with natural foods, your body and taste buds tell you when you have had enough.
I just boiled the water in the kettle then put it in the cup with green tea and turmeric powder found out that the taste is very good. Drinking this everyday.
Brilliant site and have learnt loads on reading it, I have MS so am eager to try these recipes but just have 1 question, if I make the Turmeric tea cross this automatically produce Curcumin or do you buy/ add this separately??
★★★★★
Hi Robbie! Curcumin is a component of turmeric, so you don’t need to buy or add anything additional to the turmeric.
I have allergies, asthma, and other inflammation issues. I found your recipe while searching for a tumeric tea. I wasn’t sure I would like the taste, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was also surprised by your comment that you have a black pepper allergy. I do also, but I have never met or heard of anyone else that did. It is a relief to know I am not the only one!
There seems to be a select few of us who react to black pepper! Glad you enjoyed this recipe.
I have high blood pressure and take an pill for iron. My biggest issue is inflammation. Can I just boil water and poor over a tea ball with 1 tsp. Turmeric and some pepper
You’d have to play with the recipe – as ground black pepper and ground turmeric would just fall through the tea ball. I’d recommend using fresh turmeric, whole peppercorns, and the rest of the whole seeds listed in the recipe if you want to use a tea ball.
Can’t wait to try it!!.. Can I make a batch of spices, store in a glass jar at room temp, then add the fat and honey at the time of making the tonic/tea?..
Thank you very much!
Yes, you could try that! I’d recommend making a small batch rather than an enormous batch to keep the spices fresh.
I really enjoyed this article. Today I made a fresh ginger, turmeric tea with goji berries and honey. It was really tasty! I boiled about 1/4 cup each of ginger and turmeric in about 8 cups of water. Some of it I drank hot and the rest I drank throughout the day. It makes water taste a lot better. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know what goji berries are and I’m not sure we have them in my country (Nigeria), so I have two questions:
1. What are the health benefits of goji berries?
2. What can be used to replace it where it’s not available?
★★★★
Hi Abigail! You can find out more information about goji berries in this post of mine: https://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/goji-berry-madness/. If you can’t find them, you can leave them out of this recipe.
Delicious, am sick this might boost me.
I just made a turmeric and rice water tea (w/pepper) using some of your recipe. I have had a flare up of colitis for some time now and I’m slowly adding natural remedies as well as letting go of old ideas. Result so far; mood boosted, stomach gas improved and the body is liking this… optimistic on adding more turmeric to my diet.
Thanks,
Chris
★★★★★
Hi Dear
the recipe is awesome I had been taking, freshly ground turmeric boiled in milk for few minutes,with freshly ground black pepper.
somehow I never liked milk of any kind nor can I handle multiple spices as we live in a tropical country with lots of sun.
I would like to ask if I can drink turmeric in boiling water with black pepper, kindly advice.
Just to add I am also diabetic.
★★★★★
If you’d like to pare this recipe down to only turmeric and black pepper, that’s up to you! You might enjoy those two spices with coconut milk and honey.
Can I put all my ingredients in my coffee maker filter and let the water drip through it to my coffee pot? Especially since I use a lot of whole spices?
★★★★★
Hi Rhonda! I’m not sure – I don’t own a coffee maker so I’m not sure how the process would compare to what I’ve described here.
To help with an illness, I found a drink I like, a real quickie: dark milk chocolate with a heaping TSP of powdered organic turmeric, stirred in well. Delicious! The chocolate, which is neither/nor —- not truly milk chocolate, not truly dark —- was a drink I had on hand, very cold. Lucky, because I felt like neither cooking nor concocting. Spices and chocolate were made for one another, so I thoroughly enjoyed my discovery and I’m hoping for the best. For anyone making their own, I would recommend some trial and error … Milk (whole or high fat is fine,IMO,) or water; Chocolate from whichever source you like —- the unsweetened bars, melted, are great —- Cinnamon, a bit of grated Ginger if it’s to your taste, and no more sugar, honey or other sweetener than you need; otherwise, your drink will put on the pounds. This is a recipe for folk who like experimentation. Good luck!
PS: Chocolate, delicious as it is, is abrasive. I would not recommend it for any upper abdominal condition.
Chocolate and turmeric is a great combo! I will typically use raw cacao powder for my elixirs.
Can I add TEA to this recipe? Will it still get same or at least some benefits of Turmeric, Clove
★★★★★
Hi Suresh! You could use tea instead of hot water in this recipe, but it depends on the type of tea. You’d want to ensure that the flavours are complementary.
How long will tumeric tea last if it is refrigerated?
This particular recipe is only one serving, so you won’t have extras. However, if you wanted to make it in advance (or make a larger batch), it should keep in the fridge for a couple of days.
How do you know that straining doesn’t remove the benefits? I’m hoping you know (not trying to be snarky) because I’ve been drinking *very bad tasting tea* that hasn’t been strained — which means that there are globs of solid turmeric, which I’ve been drinking at the bottom of every mug. I would love to strain — again just wondering how you know that this doesn’t remove the benefits.
I like to strain my teas when using whole spices for a smooth consistency. If you don’t want to strain, then use ground spices (and perhaps a little less of them). You’re getting a lot of the constituents out of the herbs and spices while simmering the tea. There may be some left at the end of simmering, but the overall benefit will still be in the tea. You could re-use the whole herbs again, though you’d get a much weaker tea the second time around.
Very good for arthritis and gout. Traditional anti-inflammatories only target one inflammatory enzyme. On the other hand, turmeric has an impact on several inflammatory enzymes and pathways. In one trial, turmeric was discovered to be able to control 30 distinct molecular targets. http://beatgout.org/turmeric-gout/