Fresh Turmeric Tea
Learn how to make fresh turmeric tea (plus flavor variations!) with this simple recipe. Turmeric tea is soothing and anti-inflammatory.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 29, 2024
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Let’s warm up with some fresh turmeric tea, shall we? It’s golden and earthy, spicy and soothing at the same time.
Fresh turmeric is too precious to go to waste, so this tea is the perfect way to use up any leftover turmeric you might have on hand.
If you’re a fan of fresh ginger tea, I’m confident you’ll enjoy turmeric tea. Turmeric and ginger are close cousins, after all. Like ginger tea, turmeric tea can also help settle an upset stomach.
Try turmeric tea as a mid-day pick-me-up, or wind down with a mug in the evenings. It’s simple to make, and a lovely alternative to caffeinated or alcoholic drinks.
How to Make Turmeric Tea
Turmeric tea is very easy to make. You don’t even need to peel the turmeric first—do be mindful, though, that turmeric can stain anything it touches (your fingers, counter top, cutting board).
Use about a 2-inch nub of turmeric per cup of water. Simply slice the turmeric into thin rounds, each no wider than 1/4-inch. Combine the turmeric and water in a saucepan and gently simmer the mixture for 5 minutes before straining.
Watch How to Make Turmeric Tea
Turmeric Tea Variations
Turmeric tea offers bold flavor all on its own. To amp up the warming spice element, steep it with a cinnamon stick, a few twists of coarsely ground black pepper, or some thinly sliced fresh ginger. For a more calming drink, add a few sprigs of fresh mint.
As an accent, try garnishing your turmeric tea with a round of lemon or orange. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add a light drizzle of honey or maple syrup (up to 1 teaspoon, to taste, should do the trick).
More Warming Drinks to Sip
Please let me know how you like your turmeric tea in the comments! I love hearing from you.
Turmeric Tea
Learn how to make fresh turmeric tea (plus flavor variations, see notes) with this simple recipe. Turmeric tea is soothing and potentially anti-inflammatory. Recipe written for 1 cup of tea; multiply as desired.
Ingredients
- One 2-inch nub of fresh turmeric (no need to peel)
- 1 cup water
- Optional: Lemon or orange round, honey or maple syrup
Instructions
- To prepare the turmeric, slice it into thin rounds (no wider than ¼-inch). Combine the sliced turmeric and water in a saucepan over high heat.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Carefully pour the mixture through a mesh sieve into a heat-safe liquid measuring cup, or directly into a mug.
- If desired, serve with a lemon or orange round and/or a light drizzle of honey or maple syrup, to taste. Serve hot.
Notes
Change it up: Choose just one optional flavoring—1 cinnamon stick, several twists of coarsely ground black pepper, 1-inch piece of fresh ginger (cut into thin slices, same as the ginger), or several sprigs of fresh mint. Combine with the turmeric and water before warming the mixture.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
I’ve never made one of your recipes that I didn’t love! So happy for you and your new little family and that Cookie is still doing well! Bless you all.
You’re so kind, Michele! I appreciate your review.
The video that is supposed to show how to make Turmeric Tea shows how to make a salad dressing–which also looks interesting, but I would like to know how to make the turmeric tea please!
Thanks, Kate!
I’d love to make this, but although I do have fresh ginger I have only powered turmeric. How much do you suggest I substitute? I’m still somewhat bound but will look for fresh gingerwhen the world returns to normal.
Hi Mb! I hope you try it. This recipe is best as written.
Hi Cookie and Kate, I love all your awesome recipes. Can I make this in small batches and keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days? Thank you!
You can try it! Let me know what you think of it leftover.
Can you use ground Turmeric?
Hi Mike, this recipe is best as written. I hope you try it!
I listened to a podcast and they mentioned that the average person in India consumes 1/8 tsp each day which pleased me. It seems to imply that it’s not a large dose that is necessary, but rather a small daily dose. Who doesn’t love tea time? I make green tea with ginger (and dehydrated grated quince from my tree), every day. I’ll be adding some turmeric and black peppa now. Thank you!
Looks delicious! Can you make a big batch? If so, how long will it last?
Hi Julie, Sure! You can try it. Let me know what you think when you try it.
I have ground turmeric, might you have proportions for that?
Hi Sona, for best results I recommend the recipe as is. Ground doesn’t blend well.
I currently have an abundance of dried, ground turmeric. I know it would no longer be “fresh,” but I’m wondering what amount I would add to a cup of hot water to make un-fresh turmeric tea?
Hi Kathy, I don’t find you achieve the same results. Sorry! I hope you try this recipe.
I live in northern Canada and have never seen fresh turmeric. Could one use ground?
Thanks, Sue
Hi Sue, I don’t think it will blend well. Likely need to use a blender if it will work. I haven’t tried it yet. Let me know if it works!
There is fresh turmeric in Walmart (and most other grocery stores ie. Sobeys and or Superstore, Costco, Nofrills etc) I kno this as I am also Canadian and buy it all the time. Before I bought it though I googled where to find it in my community. It was so easy!
Hi can I use turmeric powder and ginger powder to make the tea
Hi Bryan, I don’t think it will blend well. Likely need to use a blender if it will work. I haven’t tried it yet. Let me know if it works!
love turmy tea, do you have pinterest page and youtube? love your photos
I saw something similar at nd loved it. This is a great recipe! Thank you so much for sharing it!
at first It was a little bitter. I added a little honey and I liked it. now, when I feel like my throat Itchy and I have a little cough , i made this and I feel better. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Have a good day today, full of God’s blessing. Ciao!
You’re welcome! I hope you made a full recovery.
Will try sounds good. Black pepper added to turmeric is very beneficial and important.to get full benefit of turmeric
This is a recipe I will definitely try out. I love ginger so I think I will love that too. Combined with a cinammon stick, it gives more wintery vibes. Thanks for sharing!
I was surprised at how well I liked this tea, now I have it every day by making a large batch and storing it in the refrigerator
That’s great to hear, Steven! I appreciate your review.
Your recipes are great!I tried some of them and all came out well.Thanks
Great to hear, Resmi! I appreciate your review.
Can we add honey to the tea too?
ps. Really loved the recipe!!
Sure, let me know what you think!
Hi! I added honey to the tea and it was amazing! Thank you for the amazing recipe!! :)
You’re welcome!
Hi Kate! First of all I love your blog and your recipes they are so tasty and well balanced. I just made this hot drink now and I don’t know why all this time I was buying turmeric tea from the store. Wow this raw version is way better. I recommend it with lemon and honey.
Thank you for your review, Martina!
Only have ground turmeric- anyone know how much to use for a cup of tea?
Hi Brenda, I don’t have ground ratios for this. Sorry!
Loved this! Was so pleasantly surprised. Used fresh turmeric plus fresh mint and a couple of sprigs of coriander just because it was there. A teaspoon of honey made it pleasantly sweet. I may have been a bit heavy handed on the ground black pepper but it was nice to drink.
I love turmeric in my iced tea. After simmering the fresh turmeric, fresh ginger, fresh lemon grass and sticks of cinnamon for awhile, I add the green tea bags and let steep. Then store in a pitcher in the refrigerator. The cinnamon actually gives the tea a sweet flavor. And all the ingredients are so healthy for you. Louise Arreola
Hi Kate
I’ve been extracting juice from fresh Turmeric root in my professional juicer to make tea but it is a monster to clean afterwards. I also add fresh Gingerctoot juice (using my juicer) a cinnamon stick and the juice of half a lemon and Ct a little sweetener and I love the taste. I will try using your method for the Turmeric and Ginger root as I think cleanup will become easier. Thanks!
Your Tumeric tea recipe, could I add a few peppercorns to the boil instead of the steep?
I prefer this best as written, Mike.
how long can you keep the tea?
I like it best right away. You could try for a day or two. Let me know what you think!
How long can you tore turmeric tea once you make it? i’d love to make more then one cup
I find it best right away.
Is it safe to eat the turmeric once you finish the cup of tea?
Tumeric paired with black pepper enhances absorption of turmeric by 2,000% so add a couple dashes of black pepper to receive full benefits of Tumeric! :D
Well, I’m not quite sure why I waited to look up fresh turmeric tea recipes after I’d already made it. If I had, I would’ve saved all that time grating those small roots, and my fingernails would not be a gentle lovely orange.
Next time, because I still have about 1/2 a pound of the roots, I’ll put on my kitchen gloves, “slice” (not grate) the roots and have far less followup cleaning. If I’m feeling the need for future precision, I’ll even measure everything. BTW Great recipe.
I’m glad you loved it, Roz! Thank you for sharing.
At the suggestion of my new primary doctor I bought a package of 9 ounces of turmeric root and I am now drinking turmeric tea. Does anyone have suggestions for how to consume black pepper with the tea? Also, how long do the turmeric roots last in the fridge? Can you add the prepared tea into other concoctions (smoothie maybe?)
Is the turmeric peeled?
Yes, it is peeled.
Is the turmeric peeled? Or left with skin on
Peeled. I hope you enjoy it!
I’m new to fresh turmeric – is there a way to save these 2″ nubs in the freezer? I can only buy fresh turmeric in large amounts so right now i have almost a half pound of it and i don’t want it to go bad. My idea is to somehow freeze the fresh turmeric (and whatever else i want in the tea) in ice cube trays. hmmm….
You can try it!
The tea is great!
Great to hear! Thank you for your review.
Can you use ground turmeric to make the tea
Hi! This recipe is best as written. I hope you try it!
OK I’ve been making turmeric tea I’m running it through the strainer it taste great but I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do with the grindings after I make my tea? I’m quite sure there should be a use for these grindings. I would much rather find some other useful and then just throw them away. Thank you Wesley Marsh WDM 3046@aol.com I hope I get an answer thank you very much
I don’t have another use for the, sorry!
I grate mine with ginger, squeeze half a lemon and a splash of ACV and sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Every morning, it’s my energy drink. I want to try it as a non alcoholic drink somehow. Not sure what to put with it but I don’t do sugars (other than what’s in the lemon or orange). Let me know if you have a mocktail like that.