I originally shared this anti-inflammatory drink recipe on Instagram and Facebook just as something quick and easy (and delicious) I make when I’m feeling like my body needs a bit of an anti-inflammatory kick. It was just something I jotted down and shared with rough directions, and I had no idea this lemon ginger iced tea would become so in demand! So I decided to put it up on the blog here as well for reference — things get buried away so quickly on social media, and I thought since so many were making this recipe or preparing to make it that it would be good to give it a little dedicated spot on the blog too.
I first started making this iced tea at the recommendation of a naturopath as an anti-inflammatory aid and something to supplement and support the healing of the body. The recommendation given to me originally was to just boil some lemon and ginger together to then have as a natural tea. But… a). I’m not an herbal tea person, b). I’m not a big fan of ginger — well I am, in certain dishes, and of course in dessert, but on it’s own I can’t enjoy the intense flavor, and c). I really detest drinking medicine of any kind… :S The bottom line is that when I don’t enjoy something to that degree, I fail to make it a lifestyle, and even if I make it once or twice, it inevitably gets forgotten…
However, at some point I had a stretch of bad days dealing with inflammation, I remembered the lemon ginger concoction and thought I might as well give it a try. For good measure I decided to throw in everything anti-inflammatory I could think in my kitchen of that just made sense in a tea. So turmeric was a given (since turmeric recipes for inflammation are quite common), and cinnamon too. Then I added a bit of maple syrup to round things off. To my surprise it turned out yummy.
And what was even more of a surprise was how delicious it tasted the next day as an iced tea. I made too much of this stuff to drink in one go. My intention was to sip on it slowly through the day, and so I just cooled it and put it in the fridge. Once it completely chilled it turned out to taste AMAZING. And the perfect drink to sip on when your body needs a little TLC… Well, actually it’s just a delicious drink period. If you like flavored drinks, iced tea, etc., I know you’ll love this. If it helps with inflammation, I take it as a bonus :)
I know many of you probably already make similar things. My drink isn’t exactly revolutionary :) In fact that is why I didn’t think to even share this recipe on the blog originally, but just as a quick social share. But since so many were excited to try it, and excited at the idea of it even, I want to give this recipe a more well-rounded presentation so you know exactly what you’re getting and how you can tweak and modify it to suit your needs.
For starters, here are some of the things that inspired me about the ingredients in this iced-tea:
Lemons: considered capable of reduce inflammation and phlegm, act as a toxin flushing diuretic, act as an anti-bacterial, aid with digestion, reduce respiratory symptoms (asthma), help with headaches, reduce edema and bloating, reduce nausea, dizziness, help with blood pressure, and a million other things. So really, even if you’re not making this tea, drinking lemon water is always a good thing to include in the day. Lemon is often a common ingredient in anti-inflammatory drinks.
Ginger root: besides being considered as an amazing anti-inflammatory agent, ginger is also said to help with digestion, reduce nausea, reduce joint & muscle pain, clear sinus flare-ups, aid with nutrient absorption, help to fight physical and mental degeneration, help with menstrual pain & cramps, act as an immune-booster, and more…
Turmeric: considered a super anti-inflammatory food, an immune-booster, and according to studies it’s an amazing food for those suffering from auto-immune disorders such as IBS, IBD, & Crohns, and UC, arthritis, and many other auto-immune conditions, and moreover it’s said to be a cancer fighter. It’s believed to be a great anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, and I think I can really write an essay here based on all the studies done on this curing root, but you get the idea ;) No wonder turmeric is so common in recipes for inflammation and that there are so many turmeric recipes for pain relief.
Cinnamon: said to be an amazing digestive aid, a blood sugar-lowering food, a candida fighter, an immune booster, an anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial, an anti-fungal, virus fighter, and more.
Maple: ok, I didn’t include this one exactly for it’s healing properties ;) …more for flavor. Traditionally I know many people make this more like a turmeric cinnamon ginger honey tea. But being it’s me — maple it is! And yet, maple syrup does sport some great properties as well. It’s considered an anti-oxidant, an anti-inflammatory agent that is particularly helpful to those with IBD, and is full of vitamins and minerals too. Sure drinking gobs of maple syrup isn’t going to make anyone healthy… but I do personally consider it one of the healthier sweetener alternatives due to these factors (and the fact that it’s delicious helps ;) ).
Note: I am not a nutritionist, doctor, or a scientist by any means and the above information is based on commonly available research and information about the general properties of these foods. So take it as a rough guide and please research any areas / ingredients you are unsure of or would like to know more about. I just added it with the hope it gives you an overall idea of the amazing things that you’d be consuming in this simple iced tea.
Before we dive into this turmeric drink recipe, just wanted to share that I normally don’t measure the ingredients in this for myself. Just go with the flow and use what I’ve got. So you can adjust the flavors as you like, especially after your first trial of the recipe. Like a stronger lemon flavor? Add more in. A milder ginger flavor? Chop it very coarsely. Less sweetener? Go for it! Etc. You get the idea. Some people in the comments have also been sharing other ideas as well, like adding pepper, using fresh turmeric root, and so on, so feel free to experiment and explore with other flavors once you get comfortable with the recipe.
P.S. Someone was asking what my favorite brand of turmeric is for this recipe… while I’m not overly picky with my spices, Simply Organic is one of my favorite brands of turmeric.
Print
Anti-Inflammatory Lemon Ginger Turmeric Iced Tea
Prep Time: 5 minutes- Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 3-4 cups
Category: Drinks
Cuisine: Refreshement
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
A spiced, anti-inflammatory drink that you can whip up in minutes from common pantry staples. Vegan, gluten-free, and soothingly delicious.
Ingredients
- 1½ qt water
- ½ a lemon, sliced or rough chopped (or more to taste), rind included
- 1” ginger root, rough chopped (or more to taste)
- big dash of turmeric
- big dash cinnamon
- 2 tbsp maple syrup (more or less to taste)
Instructions
- Fill a 2 quart pot about ¾ full with water. Add in all other ingredients and bring to a boil on the stove. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Then remove from heat and allow the drink to cool off. Strain into a glass jar.
- Chill overnight in the fridge for an iced tea (or enjoy hot straight away)!
Notes
If you’re planning on making a larger batch of this, just note that after a day or so in the fridge you’ll need to shake it and then strain it through a sieve into your glass to avoid getting any residue in your cup.
Enjoy it & I’d love to hear how you like it!
x Audrey
~~
Disclaimer: this post contains an affiliate link to the turmeric powder I use by Simply Organic.
Instead of maple syrup, you can add unpasteurized honey and that will work better its used to relieve throat pain and anti bacteria anti virus and tastes good
Can you use ground ginger if you don’t have ginger root?
Yes, absolutely :)
Excellent recipe!! Perfect for so many ailments and general health! Easy to make and very effective! Thanks for sharing! I am 59 and I can say that It Truly calms the Swollen Prostate! I know because after drinking the Hot Version, I don’t wake up 5X’s during the night feeling like my Bladder is going to explode just to pee one Ounce of liquid at a time! It is a surprisingly Powerful Combination with effects that can be felt rather quickly! Your Recipe is Enlightening and Empowering! Thus I am a bit Smarter and and more able to manage My Own Health! I am Grateful Audrey that You are so generous with Your Strength! It is definitely needed in today’s World! 🌎
★★★★★
Stenis, thank you so much for your kind comment and for your feedback. So happy to hear this little drink is working its magic for you!
I put the lemon & ginger at the bottom of a French press, let it stew and THEN pour it into jars with the other ingredients. Then you don’t need to strain!
★★★★★
Hey Courtney, that’s a neat hack! Thanks for sharing :)
I started a new job as a busser/back-waiter (at age 49…), after the first night of work my feet were killing me, after the second night my left knee started to have massive pain inside (though my right knee hurt a little also), took 1 night off to recover (really wasn’t enough) and came back for 1 night before a 2 day weekend. On my way up stairs at the place where I assist in taking care of 3 cats my left knee was hurting pretty bad again, while there I drank a 12oz can of REAL ginger ale (no HFCS and no strange ingredients), and when I left down the stairs I had ZERO pain in my knees which led me to believe the ginger had something to do with that.
Which brings me to this awesome recipe.
My brew from basically following your instructions (I used 3 large dashes of organic powdered turmeric, 2 big dashes of organic cinnamon, 1 whole organic lemon, about 1 inch of thinly sliced fresh ginger root, and a small dash of black pepper) is cooling as I write this, but I tasted it (yes, even without a sweetener) and it tastes great! I am considering adding local honey to it once it cools mostly, but I could drink this stuff without a sweetener (though the raw honey I would be adding would add extra benefits so I’m strongly considering it).
Thank you, Audrey, for the great recipe. I will report back how well it worked in the next couple days.
★★★★★
Hi JT, whoah that’s a lot going on there for you! Sorry to hear about the knee pain. I hope it passes and that you feel better soon. I’m glad you’re enjoying playing around with the recipe as well!
I took 8 fl oz with me to work (after ingesting about 6 ounces about an hour before work) and I drank 1/3 of it before, during, and after work; at one point I felt some knee pain, but by the end of the shift my knees were not so bad, not NEARLY the pain I experienced previous to this; I feel like this is nearly miraculous and I once again want to thank you for posting this.
So, I have found not only joint pain help, but I also feel healthier and even less brain-fog than I normally do; my memory recall EVEN AFTER 1 DAY of using this is better. I know results aren’t universal in most circumstances, but this is DEFINITELY worth making to see what good it does all around.
I’ll update you after another night (I made some more tonight so I’ll have plenty for a couple days) at work and detail the results. Once again, thank you.
★★★★★
Thanks so much for sharing, JT. I’m so glad to hear it’s offering some relief!
I am really Loving this. Thanks so much!
★★★★★
You’re welcome, Sue! Thanks for the feedback. Enjoy! :)
This is a fabulous recipe. I enjoy it heated more than chilled. I add a bit of fresh tumeric and black pepper to intensify its anti inflammatory qualities.
★★★★★
Sounds wonderful, Michelle. I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Absolutely awesome! The health benefits of the drink is undoubtedly great. Loved the drink.
★★★★★
Hi Joy, thanks so much for the lovely feedback. I’m so glad you enjoyed this!
I made a double batch and really enjoy it. I used honey instead of maple syrup, just because I love honey. It is so refreshing, I’ll be making it all the time. I’m having some allergy issues this spring, and this drink is a nice pick me up. And, I really like the flavor. I wish I could include a picture. It is the color of Mello Yellow soda, but so much better for me.
★★★★★
I wanted to follow up my first comment. Comparing this wonderful tea’s color to soda wasn’t right. Mine turned out like the picture. It is such a lovely hue, and it tastes even better. I have finished my double batch and will be making another. I believe the flavor only got better after it set for a day. I was looking for a refreshing ice tea for summer, and this is truly a refreshing drink that is so good for me, as well.
★★★★★
Hi Paula, thanks so much for the lovely feedback! I’m so happy you’re enjoying this “tea” and it’s beautiful color :)
Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
You’re welcome, I’m glad you like it :)
Do you just throw the peels away after straining or do you repurpose them somehow? Great recipe!
Hi Taiya, I usually just compost the strained out ingredients because most of the flavor goes out of them into the drink. However I could see them being re-incorporated easily into some bliss balls or something similar.
I just made this recipe this morning after feeling as if I am catching my partner’s head cold, however I have also made it in the past for our two little ones and teenager, when the plandemic was first announced back in Feb/March, because our little ones both came home from school sick. All 3 of them said, “they loved the tea and within 2 days they were all feeling so much better.” So, Audrey, thank you for sharing this recipe with all of us on here and I look forward to your other recipes. 🙏💛🙏💛
Janice, thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. Made my day! :)
Hi I have been making this for years and love it but somebody rained on my parade and told me that by boiling it you are killing all the benefits of the turmeric 😢😰😱
Hi Sarah Jayne. There’s always someone to find some kind of a problem with every food, ingredient, recipe.. and there are just so many conflicting diets and view points and studies out there…
I don’t think it’s factually correct to say that *all* the nutrients are killed. Yes, when things are heated some enzymes are lost, but not all. Unless you’re following a fully raw diet, the same could be said about pretty much all cooked food and beverages. On the other hand, others will say that there are benefits to warming certain ingredients up. I say it’s more important how it makes you feel in this case. Have you found it helpful? Are you enjoying drinking it? Does it resonate with your lifestyle and diet? The rest is mental acrobatics in food ideologies, if you ask me :)
Can you give me a shoulder pain recipe
★★★★★
Hi Egesa, sorry, can’t help you there, unfortunately. I hope you feel better soon though!
Hello. It is ok if I will not put the cinnamon?
Thanks
Hi Ezra, yes, you can omit the cinnamon if you prefer.
I always drink ginger lemon tea every morning.Loved the phtos.Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, Dennis. It’s such a good flavor combo.
This recipe looks delicious, I am going to try it today. Really love your writing style. I have never followed an influencer in my life, but immediately upon coming to your page I felt that you speak my language!
★★★★★
Thanks so much, Kim. Enjoy it! :)
Hi! What’s an alternative to cinnamon? It’s not an easy spice to get where I’m from. Thanks!
Hi Fran, you can just omit it, or can add a tiny pinch of nutmeg or allspice for flavor.
during how many days must intake the anti-inflammatory lemon ginger and turmeric ice tea
★★★★★
Hi Jesha, up to you — it’s was just recommended to me as an aide to reduce inflammation whenever I felt I needed it, and you can drink it as often and as long as you want.
Are we able to seal these in small jars ?
I don’t see why not :)
Hi Just looked at your recipe and noticed you have a picture of cassia not cinnamon. Cassia is a bark from China that tastes like cinnamon but isn’t considered good for you whereas cinnamon is. You can tell real cinnamon from its rolled like folds and the end of it which differs from cassia which is a thicker curved like bark… its worth knowing the difference I didn’t until someone sent me a video on it…
Thanks for sharing, Ambrose. Do you have a link to that video? I’m very visual and would love to see it :)
Hi Ambrose. Both cassia and saigon cinnamon are considered a true cinnamon. However, they both contain coumarin.
Cassia contains approximately 1% coumarin.
Saigon cinnamon contains the highest amount of coumarin of all the four Cinnamomum species sold as cinnamon, with one study detecting 6.97 g/kg.Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of coumarin used to be 0.2 mg/lb (0.5 mg/kg) of body weight. It has now been reduced to 0.05 mg/lb (0.1 mg/kg). Now the good news. Caylon cinnamon, the one a lot will call true cinnamon. Ceylon contains only 0.004%, or 250 times less. This is so low that it’s often undetectable. Exceeding the upper limit for coumarin is easily possible if you are consuming a lot of cassia/saigon cinnamon. In many cases, just 1-2 teaspoons could bring someone over the daily limit. For those that don’t know, coumarin is known to cause kidney, liver and lung damage in rodents. It may even cause cancer. In humans, there are isolated incidents of similar effects. Hope this helps when choosing your cinnamon.
“a big dash of turmeric”?? = This is clear as mud! If you check other recipes, you will find a specific amount of turmeric per quantity of water. (I use three teaspoons per 6 cups of water)
★★★
Hi Jeff,
For something like tea I think over-measuring is unnecessary and overly formulaic — the recipes I share reflect my own approach to cooking, and what I wrote above is how I approach this drink.
A dash is a standardized culinary specification by the way. “Vague” measurements, such as a dash, a pinch, a smidgen, or a few drops, etc. are used intentionally in recipes where high precision (and the ownership of teeny tiny measuring spoons) is not strictly required. It’s good to be familiar with these terms for recipe browsing, as they come up often in recipes. Here’s a quick starting point: https://www.thedailymeal.com/how-much-exactly-smidgen-salt-or-dash-pepper
Also, this article is a good opinion piece, IMO, and a frame of reference for why recipe creators go for more “vague” recipe instructions at times:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/article-do-people-not-know-how-to-cook-any-more/
I only gave it a 4 star because turmeric root is better than powder.
★★★★
You can definitely make it with whole turmeric root if you prefer.
You might enjoy this drink as well by the way: https://www.unconventionalbaker.com/recipes/turmeric-lemonade/
Hi Audrey,
Fantastic idea! One question i have though, instead of boiling i’d like to blend fresh ginger, turmeric, honey together with fresh squeezed lemon juice. If i refrigerate in a glass container, how long do you think it’ll stay good?
Hi Kyle. Hard to say how long it’ll last, since I never tried that approach. I imagine though, given that lemon is a good natural preservative, that it should be good at least a week in the fridge (probably longer).
First time try and making it and it taste really good with Honey. I have yet to try with maple syrup. I would like to know how much cinnamon and turmeric to add some or if it’s to Taste. But over all I like this recipe.
★★★★
Hi Jordan. I’m glad you enjoyed the tea :) The cinnamon and turmeric are to taste, yes. I just give my spice shaker a shake or two into the pot, but the amount is up to you depending on how much you like the cinnamon and turmeric flavors.
Hello Audrey and followers,
I gave this recipe 5 stars although I have not made it yet but am planning to this afternoon after getting the ingredients.
I am almost 60 and have been on prescription opioids for about 4 years to manage severe back pain and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel several years ago as well as needing double hip replacement. And the pain medicine only controls the pain successful in the morning. Every morning is a mad rush for the prescriptions because I wake up in severe pain and deal with it after the medication wears off in late afternoon.
I strongly suspect the widespread inflammation is the result of lifelong emotional trauma but this is just a guess. In an attempt to improve the quality of my life, I have made a commitment to addressing the role my diet, exercise (or lack thereof 🙄)and general health plays in the pain levels. I have done some reading on the benefits of turmeric and ginger on reducing inflammation and your website is what came up when I searched for ginger tea.
I love coffee and was wondering if I could add these ingredients to my coffee with the same benefit?
Thank you so much for making this recipe available for all of us who need it. Have a wonderful day.
★★★★★
Hi Jennifer. I’m glad the recipe works for your needs. I hope you enjoy it.
As for coffee, I think the ingredients themselves will hold those benefits in regardless, the only thing is that sometimes there might be conflicts with nutrient absorption, etc. with certain ingredient combinations. I haven’t looked into adding these ingredients with a medicinal aim in mind to my coffee, but I’d suggest just looking up if there are any studies done on the subject to indicate otherwise (google is your friend :) ). I hope you find some relief from the inflammation. All the best!
I made this recipe with honey and drank it warm. I enjoyed it. Tasted pretty good.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Vickie. Thanks for the feedback :)
Thank you for this recipe! I like herbal tea and this one sounds delicious. Can I replace maple syrup with any other sweetener?
Hi Joshua, absolutely. You can use whatever sweetener you like. Enjoy it!
Delicious 😋
★★★★★
Thanks for the feedback, Sharon — I’m glad you enjoyed it! :)
Simple & delicious. Really appreciate it’s s not full of sugar. I used honey (2T), and grated the ginger for more of kick.
Prefer it cold!
★★★★
Thanks for sharing what worked for you, Shan! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Do you strain the tea through a tea towel or something? I’m just ask because of the graininess of the tea. It’s still delicious! But I’m wondering if I can make it less grainy 😁
★★★★★
Hi Hannah, mine doesn’t come out too grainy usually, and straining it through a regular sieve does the trick. However, straining it through a towel should definitely take care of any little grains of spices floating around.
Where can I get the adorable heritage jar in the video? Been searching online and I can’t seem to find any except gold ones. I’d love to know where I can get some. Thanks.
Hi Tracy,
The jar in the video is from Michaels, you can find it here: https://www.michaels.com/heritage-pint-mason-jar-by-ashland/10485235.html
It’s a pint if you fill it all the way up to the rim and there are other sizes available too. It’s definitely one of my faves.
Janel (videographer @unconventionalbaker)
★★★★★
This is delicious .. thx so much!
Hi Cathy, thanks for the feedback — I’m glad you enjoyed it! :)
I used honey instead of maple syrup. It was very good! I’m hoping it will help with a little inflammation.
Thanks for sharing, Jamey. I hope if helps!
Audrey,
I’m going to give this a 5 star when it could be a 10. I actually didn’t try your recipe, but I recently bought plenty of Organic whole Turmeric and whole Ginger roots. I started to use it in juicing, but have stopped juicing…I like to eat substance. Nothing against juicing. That said, I wondered what I could use all of those lovely roots in. Finally, my brain started to think. I sliced one of each roots and added some peppercorns, put them in probably 4 cups of water to boiling, turned off the burner. Started ladling into my green tea with AMLA (trying to hide the taste of the AMLA). I didn’t even add the honey, and voila. I’ve found my drink of choice! Your recipe and others’ comments just added credence to my own thoughts. Thank you.
★★★★★
Hi Kay — thanks for sharing. I’m glad the recipe led you to a tasty creation! :)
Love this as a hot tea. I have spondylitis and this tea is part of my evening ritual and I have for over a year :).
★★★★★
Thanks so much for sharing, Tracy! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the tea.
I have Spondylitis and love to drink this hot with some honey in the evening. I also put in fresh Turmeric. Have no idea if it helps with my inflammation (no control) but it is part of my diet and I am feeling better since I am eating cleaner/more careful :)
★★★★★
Aw, I’m glad you’re feeling better and finding relief.
I am making it now and am sure I will like it as I like all ingrediates . I am hoping it Jill’s some joint pain . I’ll write back and let you know .
★★★★★
Hi Rosemary, I hope you enjoy it and I hope you find relief from that joint pain.
I am trying this recipe for the first time. I have arthritis and bursitis in my shoulder and hip and have been told a tumeric anti-inflammatory tea might help. Can you be more specific about what a giant dash is? Teaspoon? Tablespoon? Thanks
Hi Cassie, I just give my spice shaker a big shake or two into the pot. Anywhere from an 1/8 – 1/4 tsp of the spices would be fine (or more or less to your tolerance level of the taste of turmeric).
I gave this recipe a 4 star because I have not tried it yet, but I will be bringing this recipe to a boil tonight. Thanks for your recipe.
★★★★
Enjoy it! :)
I made this and I loved it. I wanted to make a turmeric tea but since I love lemon and ginger, this is perfect for me. Thanks for a great tea recipe idea.
★★★★★
You’re welcome, Helena. Enjoy it :)
This is a nice quick recipe, thank you for the brilliant write up.
Hi Christian, you’re welcome. Enjoy it!
Wow!!! Audrey, this tea is absolutely delicious! I stumbled upon your recipe as I was searching the web for natural pain remedies. I made your recipe the same day I found it and fell in love with it. Thank you so much for sharing. My husband and I enjoy it hot and cold. Thanks again! Addie
★★★★★
Hi Addie. Thanks so much for your lovely comment — I’m so happy you and your husband have been enjoying this tea.
Doesn’t the heat destroy the nutritional value of this drink ?
Hi Inge. Heat doesn’t destroy all of the nutritional value, and myself and many people have found this drink (heated and all) beneficial for reducing inflammation (or just as a pleasant drink to enjoy). That said, I think there are ways to sun-steep this concoction to keep it “raw” if you prefer. If you give that a try, would love to hear how you like it and what you did :)
Heat does kill the nutritional value of honey. So if you’re using honey, add it after the mixture has been taken off the stove and cooled down a bit..
I drink this everyday. I love it. It also helps with chronic back pain I have from arthritis. Here is how I make it in my Ninja blender:
54 ounces water.
1 whole lemon cut in half, If I have any other fresh citrus I need to use like limes or oranges I throw those in too!
Big hunk of fresh ginger.
Around 2 tsp’s of cinnamon and turmeric powders.
I put on the stove and as soon as it starts to boil, turn it down to low and simmer for 10 mins uncovered.
At the end of 10 mins, I remove from heat. I squeeze in 3-4 tablespoons of raw unfiltered honey and stir until mixed.
I then pour through a strainer into a pitcher and put in the fridge. I do this while getting ready for work and my ACTUAL time spend making this is probably only 10 mins.
★★★★★
Hi David. Thanks very much for sharing your approach and I’m so happy to hear it’s helping with the back pain. I love the blender approach — intense and must be very potent!
Thank YOU Audrey! It is very intense and flavorful and anytime I can treat a health issue without pharmaceuticals, it’s a blessing!
★★★★★
Hi David…do you blitz the entire lemon or just the juice?
I was wondering the same. All that in a blender including the whole lemon peal and all? I like the way Audrey wrote the recipe but I too am always looking for something a little more…potent?
thanks
★★★★★
Hi David, do you refrigerate your mix? If so how long does it stay good?
In order for turmeric to work doesn’t have to have pepper? What do you suggest. I thought about praprika. I like your recipe. Just wondered.
★★★★
Hi Janet,
You can definitely add some pepper to this drink if it suits your needs — it’s a pretty flexible recipe.
From what I’ve seen, I’m not convinced that combining turmeric root powder with black pepper is essential to “making the turmeric work” so I didn’t include it in the recipe. This article as well as this one have an interesting explanation of the difference between combining black pepper with curcumin vs. combining it with turmeric root powder.
That said, I think it definitely couldn’t hurt adding it in the event it might boost the turmeric root powder nonetheless, so might as well add it if you’re feeling it might help things :)
Hi Audrey. Do you only drink this once a day or can you drink it as often as you like? I suffer with acute IBS and was wondering if this would help
Hi Georgina, you can drink it as often as you like. If you try it out, would love to hear how it worked out for you.
Made it here in rainy kuala lumpur, Malaysia.
loved it! sub’d maple honey for raw honey. Will try next time with all fresh ingredients :)
Great recipe!
★★★★★
So glad you liked it, Sharon! Thanks for sharing.
P.S. I just got to visit KL a few months ago for the first time — hard to imagine it being rainy — it was so hot when we were there! :)
OH YOU DID! I’ve been following your blog… it would have been awesome to see u! :) also the only other “season”we have here in rainy haha
Hi Sati. It’s 4 cups of water / 1L. Enjoy! :)
1 1/2 qt water ? Ml or cups?
It’s great! I will let you know how it helps with inflammation. I’ve had neck surgery twice and shoulder surgery once. Occasionally, my should aches. Hoping this will help! Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
So, after reading a lot of reviews/comments, I made this today with only whole ingredients: fresh turmeric root & ginger root-about 1″ each, thinly sliced, a cinnamon stick, sliced lemon, honey (not a fan of maple, sorry) and added about a tsp of peppercorns. My hope was that the whole ingredients would decrease the sediment and make straining easier. It turned out amazing. Although the family (all boys-husband & 2 sons), said the house smelled “interesting”, I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Looking forward to adding this to my “eating healthier/improving wellness” routine. Thanks!
★★★★
Hi Kelly, thanks so much for sharing. I’m so glad you liked it :)
I know the “interesting” smell you mean — I think that would be the turmeric, and I’ve heard the same response at times :D
Have you had it without the peppercorns? How was the “pepper” flavor?
★★★★★
This is delicious! And if it helps with inflammation, then it’s doubly good.
Evelyn
★★★★★
Thanks for sharing, Evelyn — so happy you liked it :)
Hello, sounds like a great version of what i have been drinking daily for a while now. I’m looking forward to trying this. Just a note to maybe research: I have read/heard that the absorption of tumeric is much more effective when combined with black pepper. Just something to consider to achieve the full benefits of this powerhouse herb.
Hi Noni. Thanks for sharing. I have heard a bit about the pepper combination, also of fat being combined with turmeric for certain properties, etc. I don’t think there’s any harm in adding pepper to this drink for good measure :)
Hi Audrey- I am going to join your blog. Are these comments from a while back? Cant tell cuz here aren’t any dates. I feel like I am writing to comments from years ago or days ago.
Thanks!
★★★★★
Hi Kim, welcome! Some comments are from many years ago, some are from yesterday :) — depending on how long the recipe has been up on the blog. I do still read them all and try to respond as best as time allows, so they stay up to date.
this sounds “wow”
★★★★★
Thanks, Sivaram. Enjoy it :)
Delicious, satisfying, and calming recipe. Will mince some ginger to add into a hot cup next time. I’m in my first trimester and this is perfect for combating those pesky bouts of nausea. Thanks so much!!
★★★★★
That’s great to hear, Amanda! And it’s definitely good with a stronger ginger kick :)
You should use honey instead of maple! Healthier :)
★★★★
Hi Chrisa, thanks for the suggestion. Although I agree that honey is nutritious and has wonderful healing properties, I don’t personally use honey in my recipes because I don’t like to promote the mass-produced honey industry due to its careless treatment of bees. Maple syrup is an equally nutritious sweetener in its own way (here’s a nutritional comparison between the two, if you’re curious), and I prefer the taste of it anyhow, and I’m Canadian ? , so I stick to it. That said, this recipe definitely works with honey, if that’s your preferred sweetener.
i believe this recipe is american, so for all you non brits like myself who want to make this and don’t know what a quart is, i filled up a medium sized pan about halfway with water and added the ingredients in
also add more of the ingredients at your own will! i had to. maybe that’s just because of the amount of water? maybe i put too much for this recipe :)
:) Yep, you can definitely improvise to taste here. The proportions I wrote are just what I do when I make this, but you can tailor it to your own taste. I’m guessing if it tasted too diluted it was probably because there was a bit too much water, but it’s not a biggie.
I’m in Canada, but didn’t think about the quart too much in this case — I just filled up my 3 quart pan a third of the way :).
A quart is close to a liter, and this recipe doesn’t require incredible precision, so filling up a medium-sized pan should work just as well. Thanks for sharing!
Love this recipe and all the health benefit info you have provided!
★★★★★
You’re welcome, Nancy! Enjoy it :)
I have been looking to add Tumeric tea to our family cocktail list but most recipes add ingredients to a boiling pot of water and simmer. Won’t this degrade the benefits of all these ingredients? Is there a way to get good tea without boiling? I wonder if steeping might work?
★★★★★
Hi Linda. If you prefer to steep, it should still work. The only thing I’d do differently in that case is grate the ginger so that you get more out of it.
I made this yesterday, wasn’t sure if I would like it, but yes it does have a slightly spicy taste, but it was really nice, and it did feel like I was having a detox within a few hours. Hope you don’t object but I’ve shared it to my massage page. Thanks
★★★★★
Thank you. I searched for a way to add Turmeric to my diet . This was my fav. I use everything in the recipe weekly anyway…except Turmeric.
Hello Audrey,
I’ve been looking for Turmeric Ice Tea recipe for a while; mostly about the storing time. You mention you need to shake it after a few days in the fridge but, would you happen to know how long it keeps?
Im not saying it will go untouched for a week but I find that in this hot weather I would like to make a big batch and just drink through it for a couple of days with out worrying if it went bad.
Thank You
★★★★★
Hey Kris, to err on the safe side I’d give it 4 days in the fridge. If you want to keep it for longer you can split up the batch and freeze some, and thaw out as needed. Enjoy it! :)
Wow, I went to NutritionSmart and one of the nutritionist recommend this ginger, tumuric, lemon drink so I googled it and found you. This is amazing and delicious. Like you said we can tweek the ingredients so instead of maple syrup I used molasses. Nevertheless, I would have tried it if it wasn’t for you. Thanks for confirming the recipe, it really is yummy and beneficial for me in many ways.
So glad to hear this was helpful, Jorge! I love molasses too and I think it’s a nice swap. Enjoy it :)
I have a question. Can you use turmeric root and how much? Can you use the same amount of honey in place of maple?
Hi Maxwell, I haven’t tried it with whole turmeric root myself (as it’s not easy to find where I live), but many of my readers made this with whole root and said it worked great for them. They said they just sliced up the root like the ginger and added it in (one reader, see comment below, said they grated it, but that it got a little messy that way). I’d probably start with a 1″ piece sliced, and increase or decrease the quantity to taste for next time. If you find a happy balance, I’d love to hear what worked for you :)
Whoops, sorry, forgot to reply to the second part of your question — the answer is yes, you can use same amounts.
What a wonderful recipe. Only change was to use grated turmeric root (Will use gloves next time as my fingers are orange from the turmeric). I have been using ginger tea to treat my carpal tunnel syndrome. It doesn’t fix it, but helps the inflammation which makes my hands go to sleep. But using turmeric with ginger will be extra helpful. Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Aw, that’s great, Frances :) I’ve heard some people made this with whole turmeric root as well, just slicing it up — that’s another option to avoid the grating yellow fingers. Enjoy it, and I hope it adds to your efforts to reduce inflammation.
This is the first “unconventional” recipe I’ve tried, and I love it. Thank you for putting this out there. You can bet I’ll be trying more of your recipes.
★★★★★
Hi Sally, that’s great — so happy you liked this :) Thank you for the feedback.
Thank you for this recipe. I can’t wait to try it! I just wanted to add something about Turmeric. Black pepper should be added to boost the absorption of Turmeric. I add these spices to my coffee and cannot taste the pepper.
Hi Belinda. Yes, that’s definitely a good addition. I add black pepper to golden lattes and to my golden latte cheesecake for the same reason :)
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I purchased some fresh ginger and turmeric from the Whole Foods . Not knowing how I was going to make it, I found your recipe and it was delicious. So I made another batch right away. I can’t wait to see the results. I suffer from inflammation of my hands. And my fingers crack open all the time. It seems when I eat any type of dairy this happens. I try to avoid it but sometimes it is hard. So thanks again it is delicious.
Hi Elaine,
Thank you for sharing. I’m sorry to hear about your hands — I can relate a little as something similar happens to me, especially in winter time (due to Raynaud’s). I’m glad you’re enjoying the tea for the time being and I hope it helps things along in some way :)
This is the best turmeric tea !!! Just made them today and enjoying it while hot/warm… thank you for sharing!!! God bless you for sharing your talent! ?
Hi Melissa,
So sorry, my response appears to have been swallowed up :o But just wanted to say thank you so much for your beautiful feedback — I’m really happy to hear you’re enjoying the tea!
This is a fantastic recipe! I paid $10 for a mug of something just like this at a restaurant the other night, and decided to seek out how to make it on my own…thanks so much for sharing.
★★★★★
Thank you so much, Bronwyn — so happy it works :)
I am excited after watching your website.And Thank you for this amazing recipe .
and Thanks for posts like this. keep it up .
Thanks ! :)
★★★★★
Thank you, Amin! :) Enjoy the recipes.
I’ve just started using this recipe and I am excited for the results. I constantly have inflammation in my knee joints that sometimes get unbearable. I just pray that this gives me some comfort and relief.
Hi Stephanie — I really hope it helps! All the best with it ♥
Try to apply coconut oil, but it has to be daily for a month at least. It helped me with my finger joints.
That’s an interesting tip, Sara! Thanks for sharing.
Stephanie, I also just remembered something on this note. I have a lot of knee joint inflammation some days as well, and for an odd reason cutting back on salt really helps to reduce the swelling and inflammation in that particular part of the body for me. To be clear, I still consume salt, but cut back a bit and now I notice if I have days when I eat a lot of it the inflammation goes right up. Not sure if this is even helpful — I know everyone is so different and different things work, but thought to throw this out there.
Audrey May God Almighty bless you. You’re recipe for the turmeric concoction is one of the best I’ve seen. I’m really grateful to you and appreciate sharing all this info with the online community.
It actually works!!! Kudos to you. I pray that others benefit from your wonderful blog. I’m sorry if I sound kinda gushing but hey i believe if someone does you a favour you deserve credit .Keep up the great work. I’m sharing this link with my friends and family and I live all the way in Saudi Arabia. My Saudi neighbour who can’t speak a word of English is benefitting from this and the homeschooling group that I’m affiliated to is another winner. This is simply the best I’ve seen. I’m a British Muslim lady by the way. I’ll be travelling back to the UK and yep you can bet I’ll be making this recipe and teaching all my relatives and friends this amazing miraculous medicine. So many women my mother and mother in law included are not IT literate and so don’t necessarily have the access to this sort of knowledge.
Once again thank you so much. This is defiantly a game changer!!
★★★★★
So happy you’re enjoying it and finding it helpful Fahmida! That’s the best thing about sharing the recipes with others :)
My family has been drinking this for years (turmeric, ginger, cinnamon & lemon combo), however we use honey; and drink it every morning. We are East Indian descent.
Ah, that’s interesting! Those spices are very much tied into that part of the world — I wouldn’t be surprised if the drink (or the idea of it) originated there :)
I used fresh turmeric and a cinnamon stick with some local honey. I have been feeling slightly cold-y for a couple of weeks and this made me feel better. It’s also easy to prepare. I wish we saw commercials on tv about this kind of treatment and not the ones paid for by big pharma. Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
I agree, Denise! And so happy to hear it helped you :)
Will try it out thanks for a wonderful recipe.
★★★★★
You’re welcome — enjoy it!
Turmeric is an incredible healer but there are a few facts to know if you want to get the best out of it….it is not water soluble so taking it with a good oil or fat is essential otherwise most of it will simply flush through your system.
Turmeric is one of those rare plants that actually benefit from a little low heat cooking to release the benefits.
Freshly cracked black pepper increases the effect once digested because it slows the elimination through the liver, this gives it an extra boost because it stays in your body a bit longer.
Most Turmeric tablets are just the extracted curcumin, which has been studied and marketed in a massive way, but are just a single component from a plant that contains around 300 synergistic compounds, some of which have also been scientifically shown to have health benefits, so using the whole thing is much better for you and cheaper too.
Traditionally, turmeric is added to cooking near the end of the cooking process and the dish contains a fat or oil, they knew how to get the best from this incredible plant. These days, if you want to really get the best out of it, you can make a paste by gently simmering turmeric powder with water then adding coconut oil and freshly cracked black pepper, keeping it in the fridge and adding it to your drinks or dishes. Medicinally, this is better than just sprinkling a little powder into a drink as you get a more measured dose. Check out Turmeric discussion group on FB for some excellent information on what it can heal, how it can heal and how to use it. Cheers.
★★
Hi Heather. Thanks for the info. I am familiar with most of it, and am aware that there are ways to maximize nutritional values and properties of various ingredients. But word from the people who actually made this drink is that it works as is nonetheless. And it works for me as well, so shared this from experience since I benefited from it. All the best.
I found your recipe on Pinterest and it sparked my interest immediately! I struggle with chronic pain, and have been wanting to get more turmeric into my life, even though it’s not my favorite flavor profile either. So finding your recipe plus wanting iced tea made this a no-brainer to try. Just had my first few sips, and it’s DELIGHTFUL! It really just tastes like a herbal lemony gingery tea, and the turmeric is not overpowering, which I LOVE. Thank you for this so, so, so much!
★★★★★
Sarah, your comment couldn’t have made me happier :) So happy this recipe worked — enjoy it!
This tea is fantastic! I picked up your recipe from a link on Johnna Wright Perry’s FB page.
I’ve been drinking this tea daily, and it is amazingly healing. I’ve been having digestive problems for a few years, and this tea turned me right around. Thank you!
★★★★★
Mary, this is the best feedback ever! Honestly, makes me so happy to hear it’s helping others. Thank you! Enjoy it <3
Hi Audrey! Lemme tell you I already made this twice and I’m def planning on doing double batch next time! :D The second time i tried adding two cardamom pods (’cause I had just buy them and was eager to use them on something hehe) and it was so good!
★★★★★
So happy to hear that, Natasha! And cardamom sounds amazing — thank you for the idea. I’ll be adding it to my next batch now :)
First of all these pictures!!!!! Your best work yet I think, or at least right up there.. I am in love with how beautifully you’ve showcased the ingredients. Second, hello could we be any more on the same wavelength? It almost seems like we planned this one…our posts are sooooo similar. I love your iced tea version of this healing drink. I personally like the warm one in the winter but now I know there’s a delicious iced version here for me to make in the warmer months. You can never have enough anti inflammatory potions in your life.
Oh my gosh — I just finally checked out your recipe. How funny is that!?! We are practically twins ♥♥ (by the way, the comments on your blog seem to be disabled… or at least on that post). But seriously, this tea is the best and such a good natural boost! Glad to know it works with powdered ginger also.
Thank you so much for the recipe. I have been thinking about this for ages as I suffer from inflammation and fluid retention and it came up on my Facebook feed today. Am just sitting down to a lovely semi warm cup. xxx
★★★★★
So glad to hear this is up your alley, Megan! It’s definitely a nice anti-inflammatory boost, and the lemon in the drink always helps me with any kind of fluid retention (as does just drinking lemon water). Enjoy it ♥
This looks so delicious AND what’s more is I think I have all the ingredients in my fridge right now.
Does including the lemon rind not give too much of a bitter pith-y taste?
xSofia
http://www.sofiaclara.com
Oh good. Enjoy it! And no, the rind doesn’t add any bitterness in this at all, I think because you don’t squeeze it or blend it in in any way.
How much is a ‘dash’please?
Hi Jannett, I probably use close to a 1/4 of a tsp. I used the term “dash” because I don’t really measure — just give the spice jar few shakes into the pot. It’s to taste though — you can definitely use more or less. Or you could even throw in a cinnamon stick if you prefer.
Thanks for the clarification. I use tumeric root in my smoothies.
No worries :) Wow, in a smoothie?! That’s intense! What do you normally pair it with?
Very, very nice, Audrey! A “must try” recipe for sure. Shared. :-)
Shirley
Thanks so much, Shirley! And thank you for sharing — I think a lot of people need a little anti-inflammatory boost, and if it can be delicious, why not, right? :)
Your timing could not be any more impeccable. I am trying to find more anti-inflammatory things to include for my own body right now, and just bought a bottle of turmeric but have no clue how to get it down deliciously yet. And since reasons a, b, and c all apply to me too, plus I trust your tastes, this could be the perfect solution! And yes I did see it on IG, but I’m glad you gave it a spot on the blog too it deserves it. And I agree with Mandy, I love how you mentioned the properties of every ingredient, especially maple syrup because I would happily eat more of that :)
You can also get tumeric tablets now if you would like to take more!
★★★★★
Oh, yeah, I’ve actually had those from a friend before for an extra dose of inflammation relief while traveling last year. Thank you for reminding me about those!
Ha, well of course I already know you made this from your beautiful photo, but I’m glad you like it and I hope it helps some of that inflammation a little. Seems like such a struggle for many people these days.
Turmeric is one I struggle with. I love it, but if I can taste it too much it puts me off, so I have to get crafty. If you want it in a high enough dose it gets tricky in that respect. I really love Megan’s tablet suggestion — I actually tried those before and I think you’d love them. No taste and a mega dose of turmeric!
That’s a good idea too, I can swallow anything in capsule form!
The anti-inflammatory gods <3 I would be lost with out my turmeric! When ever I'm feeling crappy, I load everything with turmeric!
Yes, it’s wonderful all around. And I love the color, which is a bonus :)
Goodness, I LOVE that color! These photos are gorgeous, as always, Audrey! We make something very similar, but with unsweetened nut milk. Good idea – to make a big batch and enjoy it as a cold tea the next day! I love how you broke it all down and explained what each ingredient was good for…and including the maple syrup :) I’ll definitely give this a try! xo
Awesome, Mandy — I hope you enjoy it! It sounds good with the nut milk too though. Will have to try it. Also, someone shared with me that they add turmeric to their hot chocolate and I can’t wait to try that also. So many good things to try, so little time :)