Iced Tea for Inflammation
I absolutely love this Turmeric Ginger Iced Tea Recipe. It’s a refreshing, anti-inflammatory, soothing on the digestive system, cleansing, and energizing tonic.
And, it’s not strong or too spicy, at all!
Most iced tea recipes use lots and lots of sugar. This variation is sweetened with maple syrup, which keeps it refined sugar-free, and adds a nice punch of digestive soothing properties, vitamins, and minerals.
I also love getting creative and using different fruits and herbs as new fun variations. Sometimes adding some citrus, sometimes making a hibiscus lime variation. I also love throwing nubs of fresh ginger and turmeric in my daily smoothies.
Check out more healthy and healing beverages:
Not only is this iced tea refreshing, but it’s also loaded with anti-inflammatory roots, turmeric, and ginger. Fresh turmeric can be a little hard to find, although my local Whole Foods has it. It’s very similar looking to fresh ginger, except a lovely orange color and is much milder in flavor.
Fresh ginger is a staple at my house, as I love to throw it in my daily smoothies, use it for warm tea in the winter, and refreshing iced teas in the spring and summer. Ginger is a wonderful way to boost the circulation of blood in your body, warm the system, ease digestion, and boost your immune system.
You might also want to try this Cold Pressed Mango Juice recipe from my fellow blogger at The All Natural Vegan. In addition to oranges, mango, and pineapple, it also has turmeric.
Curcumin is the main anti-inflammatory component found in Turmeric. Adding some fat (for example, avocado) and freshly ground black pepper increases its bioavailability.
You could also serve this as a hot tea during the colder winter and fall months.
How do you like to use ginger and turmeric? What variation of Iced Tea is your favorite?
I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below for this Turmeric Ginger Iced Tea! If you have a photo, post it on my Instagram page, tag me using the hashtag #plantbasedcooking
Turmeric Ginger Iced Tea
Equipment
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp freshly grated turmeric root
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger root
- 1/2 tsp Ceylon cinnamon*
- 1/2-1 tbsp maple syrup (or your favorite sweetener)
Instructions
- Place water in a saucepan and heat over medium.
- Add the turmeric root, ginger, ground cinnamon and maple syrup.
- Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Strain and serve over ice with a slice of lemon.
I think I have found a new way to eat and live an abundant life, by way of plant based eating. I have only been on this lifestyle way of eating for three days and can feel the difference, which is so good!
One thing that worries me like other diffent lifestyle changes I’ve tried in then past, I don’t have a good plan to keep me going to help continue my lifestyle change.
I need to know how to cook plant based foods, so I can continue this truly refreshing way to live!!!
Blessings,
Gary
Hi Gary, I believe you are correct to think that eating a plant-based diet will help you live a healthier, and maybe even, a happier, life. The science is pointing this way and now you are already experiencing it! Starting anything new can be more challenging at first, but you will get better at it. I would suggest joining a Facebook group, such as the Plant Pure Nation group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/plantpuresummit/. There are so many supportive people and recipe inspirations in this group that it should help you on your journey. Or, you could take a plant-based cooking class if there are any in your community. Or, I know of this one online, http://rouxbe.com/cooking-courses/plant-based-cooking-level-1/details I do appreciate that you shared your worries because I can noodle on it and offer more solutions down the line. Best of luck and let us know how it’s going.
This sounds delicious! If I don’t have turmeric root, but turmeric powder, how much would I add?
Hey Sarah, I’d say about 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder should do it. Hope you enjoy it.
Can I make a large batch of this and keep it in the refrigerator?
Yes, you can. I’m guessing that it might last up to a week but I haven’t tested this myself. I’d love your feedback if you try this yourself.
This sounds delicious and I want to try it very soon….I am using a commercial tea bag right now, Newman’s Own turmeric and ginger tea…it is so good each morning and I adore the taste. Now I want to make my own with the whole spice. Thanks for the recipe!!
You’re welcome. It’s good to know you can buy it from the store in a pinch.
Hello Diane!
I stumbled across your recipe while searching for an energizing tea that won’t make me crash like my morning coffee does.
I saw that I can use ground turmeric which is great because that is all I have! Would I be able to use ground ginger as well? If so, how much would you recommend?
Thank you for your time!
-LySandra
Howdy and thanks for your question. I have not used either ground turmeric or ginger for this tea so I’m not sure how much to use. I do have a tip, however, and that is after you’ve purchased ginger and turmeric root, you can keep them in the freezer until you need to use them. Then, you can grate the when they’re frozen and I don’t even peel them. Then throw what’s left back into the freezer. It makes it so much easier to use for any recipe.
I love coffee, too, but only drink organic decaf now and that keeps me from crashing. Let me know if you try it with the ground spices.
Hi,
I am familiar with ginger root and love to use it in cooking, but I do not think I have ever noticed turmeric root in the grocery store. What does it look like? Thanks for the tip about freezing ginger and turmeric root! Ginger is difficult to cut up and stringy! Cannot wait to try this tea!
Pat
Hi Pat, turmeric looks very much like ginger and is usually near the ginger in produce. It’s a warmer color on the outside, orange the inside and looks a bit like fingers. Here’s a photo. You might also enjoy this Ginger, Turmeric Hot Cocoa. I think you’ll enjoy both.
Great recipe! Have you heard of Pique Teas? I got the turmeric one and it’s so good with this recipe 👍🙏
So glad you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂 I haven’t tried Pique teas…will have to give them a try.
Made it and it turned out great. Used dried turmeric (about half of the called for fresh amount) and lots of ginger. Drank warm on a cold day here and it was perfect. Spicy and warming. thanks for the recipe.
Hey Lisa, You’re welcome. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 💕
Hello, I am just curious, if there is no pepper or cayenne pepper in the recipe, will the turmeric activate and be as potent as it should?
Hi Angela, I believe turmeric will still provide benefits, but it has much more when used with ground pepper. Here’s from an article by Dr. Greger, nutritionfacts.org. He says, “Within an hour of consuming turmeric, we get a little bump in the level of curcumin in our bloodstream. We don’t see a large increase because our liver is actively trying to get rid of it. Would taking just a quarter teaspoon’s worth of black pepper suppress that process? Indeed. By adding just a little black pepper, the bioavailability of curcumin shoots up by 2,000 percent, as I discuss in more detail in my video Boosting the Bioavailability of Curcumin. Even just a little pinch of pepper—1/20th of a teaspoon—can significantly boost curcumin levels. And guess what a common ingredient in curry powder is besides turmeric? Black pepper.” Read the full article here, Turmeric with Black Pepper: What It’s Good for and How to Take It.