I have this turmeric tea in the evening time or at times before going to bed. It not only refreshes me but also makes me feel better.

I have been making this tea for sometime – out of my need to let go of Turmeric Milk as I have a slight intolerance to dairy products.

Thus I started mixing turmeric with water instead of milk and having it everyday. Later I started adding a few more spices in the tea and loved it.

I was not even aware that a recipe for turmeric tea already existed on the web. So when I searched there were many recipes and different ways to make this potent concoction.

This Turmeric tea recipe is one that I make often and the ingredients I add are what suits me. Feel free to change the other herbs and spices as per your health constitution and preferences.

On Turmeric

In India, we have been using Turmeric for centuries. These bright yellow roots are even added in Ayurvedic medicines. Turmeric is a staple spice which you will find in all Indian Kitchens.

For the tea or for my regular Indian cooking, I always use organic ground turmeric or GI tagged turmeric. Sometimes packaged turmeric has metanil yellow added as a coloring agent. So it is better to source or get unadulterated ground turmeric or organic turmeric.

About this Turmeric Tea

• takes less than 5 minutes
• is vegan
• has additional spices like true cinnamon, dried ginger and black pepper
• is sweetened with raw sugar (optional)

Benefits of turmeric and other spices

1. Turmeric – Curcumin in turmeric has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It boosts immunity and good for the skin too. In the recipe you can add either fresh turmeric roots or ground turmeric powder.
2. Black Pepper – Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are also found in black pepper. Moreover, black pepper helps in absorbing curcumin. It also stimulates the appetite and helps in digestion.
3. Ceylon Cinnamon – Aromatic Ceylon cinnamon has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It is also good for immunity. Kindly note to use true cinnamon or ceylon cinnamon in any recipe and not cassia cinnamon.
4. Ginger – The roots of ginger contain gingerol which has immense anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Ginger also helps in digestion, reducing nausea and aids in relieving cough and cold. In the recipe you can use both fresh ginger root or ground ginger powder.

Why is my Turmeric tea red?

If you see this turmeric tea is dark red and not yellow. Wonder why?

Ginger and cinnamon added to the water make it alkaline. Turmeric when added to an alkaline medium become red. Hence this turmeric tea will have a red color.

Don’t worry on the color part. It is still healthy and turmeric when heated is better for digestion and absorption. That is why in Indian cooking, we always heat turmeric. I have also made this turmeric tea minus the ginger, cinnamon and raw sugar and the color was yellow.

Variations

1. 1. Tangy tea: If you like sour or tangy tea, then add some lemon juice.
   2. Sweeteners: I usually prefer sweet tea, hence I sweeten them with a bit of raw sugar or jaggery. You may opt for maple syrup or honey or any other sweetener. If using honey then add it once the tea becomes warm as honey becomes toxic when heated.
   3. Herbal tea: You can even add some fresh or dried mint leaves, nettle leaves or lemon grass in the tea.
   4. Floral Flavors: Add dried flowers like chamomile, rose petals, hibiscus, lavender and steep for a few minutes.
   5. Fresh Herbs: Instead of dried ginger powder, add ½ inch ginger, grated to the water and boil for 5 minutes. You can even use ½ inch of freshly grated turmeric root in the water and boil for 5 minutes.
   6. Additional spices: Depending on your health needs, you can add spices like carom seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds or coriander seeds in the tea. Cloves, cardamoms or a bit of ground nutmeg can also be added. You can add these spices whole or in powdered form.

Note: If you are pregnant or have allergies to certain spices used in this recipe or a special medical condition then kindly consult your doctor before attempting this recipe..

How to make Turmeric tea

1. In a saucepan take 1 cup water.

2. Add ½ to 1 tablespoon raw unrefined sugar. You can even use jaggery or maple syrup or skip the sweetener completely.

3. Let the water come to a boil and add ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger (dried ginger powder – saunth). ½ teaspoon of  freshly grated ginger root or crushed ginger can also be added.

4. Next add ⅛ teaspoon ground ceylon cinnamon (ceylon cinnamon powder and not cassia cinnamon powder)

5. Add ⅛ teaspoon crushed black pepper or ground black pepper.

6. Add ½ teaspoon ground turmeric (turmeric powder).

7. Boil further for a minute or two.

8. Remove pan and pour the tea in a cup or mug. You can even strain the tea while pouring. Enjoy turmeric tea hot or warm.