Most recognized for being the main spice in curry, turmeric is a spice that is commonly used in Asian foods. Often used for flavoring or coloring curry powders, butters, cheese and mustards, turmeric also boasts many medical benefits.
Turmeric has been found to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, choleretic, anti-inflammatory and carminative effects. It contains over 100 health-promoting compounds, including curcumin which has been found to have strong anti-inflammatory properties.
In the report, Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects, it reads “Turmeric is used as an herbal medicine for rheumatoid arthritis, chronic anterior uveitis, conjunctivitis, skin cancer, smallpox, chicken pox, wound healing, urinary tract infections, and liver ailments. It is also used for digestive disorders; to reduce flatus, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, and colic; for abdominal pain and distension; and for dyspeptic conditions including loss of appetite, postprandial feelings of fullness, and liver and gallbladder complaints.”
Turmeric has been effective used in the treatment and management of: arthritis, heartburn, joint pain, stomach pain, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, bypass surgery, hemorrhage, diarrhea, intestinal gas, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gallbladder disorders, high cholesterol, sink inflammation from radiation treatments, fatigue and more!
While you could make a point of eating curry every day, that would be difficult for most people to include in their diet. Instead, try these 14 Turmeric Drinks:
Golden Turmeric Milk
You Will Need:
- 2 cups of milk, preferably coconut or homemade nut milk
- 1 teaspoon dried ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon dried turmeric powder
- A pinch of black pepper
- Honey, to taste
Directions:
- Heat the milk over medium heat until it begins to steam.
- Add spices.
- Simmer for a few minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Drink hot.
Turmeric Smoothie
You Will Need:
- 1 cup frozen mango
- 1 tablespoon of coconut milk
- ½ banana
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon of chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
Directions:
- Place all ingredients into a high-power blender. Blend until smooth. If you need to in order to improve the texture, add water or coconut milk.
- Drink immediately.
Turmeric Tea
You Will Need:
- 1-2 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger root
- 1-2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
- A pinch of nutmeg powder
- A pinch of clove powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- A pinch of black pepper
- Coconut milk (optional)
- Raw honey (optional)
Directions:
- Boil the water in a saucepan over high heat.
- Once the water has reached the boiling point, reduce to medium heat and add the spices.
- Simmer for 5 minutes. Strain and serve hot. Add honey and milk to taste.
Turmeric Water with Black Pepper
You Will Need:
- 1 tablespoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive or coconut oil(optional)
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in a glass and drink immediately!
Turmeric Latte
You Will Need:
- 1 cup of almond or coconut milk, unsweetened
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated turmeric root
- 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger root
- Raw honey
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
Directions:
- In a small saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat. Add all ingredients except for honey to the pan.
- Bring the pan to a boil. Lower the heat and allow the mixture to simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Strain, add honey and serve.
Turmeric Lemon Tea
You Will Need:
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Cayenne
- 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- Honey to taste
Directions:
- Combine the lemon juice, cayenne, ginger and turmeric in a mug.
- Top with boiling water.
- Sweeten to taste with honey.
Turmeric Tonic
You Will Need:
- 3 cups coconut water
- 1/2 cup fresh ginger slices
- 1 lime, cut into quarters and squeezed
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
- Cayenne pepper to taste
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a glass jar with a lid.
- Shake the jar well. Refrigerate overnight.
- Serve at room temperature.
Turmeric Kombucha
You Will Need:
- 1 glass jar with tight lids to hold 1 gallon of liquid
- 1 gallon of unflavored homebrewed kombucha
- 1/2 green apple, cut into matchsticks
- 2 tsp fresh grated turmeric (or 1 teaspoon ground dried turmeric)
- 2 tsp fresh grated ginger (or 1 teaspoon ground dried ginger)
Directions:
- Pour the fresh kombucha (but not the scoby) into the jar leaving a few inches of headspace at the top.
- Add the spices and the apple matchsticks to the jar.
- Leave the jar in a dark corner at room temperature for 3-5 days. Each day take the time to remove the lid for a few seconds in order to relieve the build-up of fermentation gas.
- When you like the taste and ‘fizziness’ of your brew, remove the apple pieces.
- Place the jar in the refrigerator. Consume within 2-3 weeks.
Turmeric Chai
You Will Need:
Tea:
- 2 1/4 cups water
- 6 tbsp coconut sugar
- 4 black tea bags
- 1 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp ground coriander
- Small pinch of black pepper
Latte:
- 3/4 cup coconut milk
- 3/4 tsp raw coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup tea concentrate
- 1/8 tsp turmeric
Directions:
- To make the tea concentrate, combine all ingredients in the first list except for tea bags and vanilla in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and add the tea bags and vanilla.
- Steep for at least 10 minutes.
- Pour through a tea strainer and store in a sealable container. It will last about 7 days refrigerated.
- To make 1 latte, whisk together the coconut milk, coconut sugar and turmeric in a small saucepan.
- Warm up over medium heat just until it just begins to boil.
- Remove from heat. Use a milk frother or immersion blender if desired to create milk foam.
- Combine the warm milk mixture with 1/4 cup of the tea concentrate in a glass.
- Stir well and garnish with cinnamon and adjust sweetness as necessary.
Turmeric Coffee
You Will Need:
- 8 ounces strong coffee (brew methods vary the intensity of the coffee)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 tablespoon grass-fed unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
- raw honey, to taste (optional)
Directions:
- Brew the coffee with the cinnamon and turmeric.
- Allow it to cool slightly.
- Pour the coffee into a blender along with butter, coconut oil and raw honey. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a mug and serve warm.
Super-food Hot Chocolate
You Will Need:
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- ½ cup filtered water
- ⅛ tsp turmeric powder
- 3 cardamom pods, crushed
- ½ tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 stick of cinnamon or ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
- 2 Tbsp honey
- pinch of Himalayan sea salt
- 2 Tbsp raw cacao
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the coconut milk and water, as well as the turmeric, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and sea salt.
- Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add raw cacao and vanilla extract.
- Stir to combine.
- Strain and serve with honey.
Anti-Inflammatory Sparkling Turmeric Juice
You Will Need:
- 1/4 of a large pineapple, making sure to include all or part of the core
- 2-3 large carrots
- 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- sparkling mineral water
Directions:
- Juice the carrots and pineapple until you get 1 ½ cups of juice.
- Pour the juice into a glass until it is half full.
- Add turmeric and stir.
- Top off with sparkling water. Enjoy!
Paleo Sports Drink
You Will Need:
- 2-inch piece of turmeric peeled and cut into 5 or 6 chunks
- 2-inch piece of ginger peeled and cut into 5 or 6 chunks
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (2-4 limes)
- 3 tbsp local raw honey
- 4 cups + 2 cups of Filtered water
Directions:
- Add ginger, turmeric, and water into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Turn the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add honey. Stir and cool.
- Once cool, remove ginger and turmeric and pour the mixture into a large jar with a lid.
- Add 2 cups of water and lemon juice.
- Stir and drink immediately. Store the remainder in the refrigerator.
Spiced Matcha Latte
You Will Need:
- 3 oz water, boiled
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- ⅛ tsp ginger
- 8 oz non-dairy milk, warmed
- honey, to taste
Directions:
- Place the milk in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.
- In the meantime, boil water and pour into a small glass bowl.
- Add matcha, cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger and whisk to combine.
- Pour the warm milk into a mug and add the matcha mixture. Stir and add honey.
- Enjoy warm.