Are you curious about trying turmeric but don’t know exactly how or where to start? The easiest way is to simply take a tested and reviewed supplement recommended on our Best Turmeric Supplement Capsules page. But there are also many ways to sneak turmeric into foods and beverages you are already consuming. In the Recipes section, we offer various ways to incorporate turmeric into your diet. In this article, we focus on how to make turmeric tea and summarize some of its beneficial health properties, including turmeric tea for weight loss.
How to Make Turmeric Tea
Making turmeric tea involves heating water and adding a few simple ingredients. That’s it. The basics are hot water, turmeric powder and, for both taste and bioavailability, some freshly cracked black pepper. But you can experiment with a multitude of other ingredients to suit your taste, and we highly recommend doing so. After all, the most therapeutic tea in the world won’t do you a bit of good if you don’t like the taste and refuse to drink it. We love the natural flavor of even the most basic turmeric tea, but for some, it’s an acquired taste that may require one or more flavor enhancers. Turmeric tea can be enjoyed hot or cold, in the comfort of your home or from a handy go-cup while going about your day. So let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Turmeric Tea From Turmeric Paste
One of the easiest ways to make turmeric tea is from turmeric paste. If you already know how to make turmeric paste from our article in the Recipes section, or happen to have some pre-made and stored in the fridge, you can simply add one teaspoon per cup of hot water to make a very simple form of turmeric tea. (The base ingredients of turmeric paste consist of turmeric powder, ground black pepper, coconut oil, and water. To make the paste, just heat the mixture, let it cool and refrigerate in a sealed glass jar where it will stay fresh for several weeks.) Turmeric paste is an excellent base for one form of turmeric tea, and since it’s also useful in a variety of food preparations we recommend always having some around for easy applications such as turmeric tea.
Basic Turmeric Tea Recipe
No turmeric paste in the fridge? No problem. Here’s a basic recipe for anyone who can boil water. Mix two cups of water with a tablespoon of turmeric powder and bring it to a boil as if you were making any other tea. Let cool and add one or more of the following for taste: black pepper, lemon, honey, almond milk, coconut milk or coconut oil. Don’t be timid. Experiment with spices like cinnamon, cloves or cardamom. Be creative. Use whatever you have on hand that even remotely seems like it could mix well – turmeric is very forgiving in that way. And remember, although it’s good for children too, this is basically an adult beverage we’re making here. And it’s part medicine. It’s not supposed to taste like a milkshake!
Make it with Ginger and Cinnamon
Ginger mixes very well with turmeric tea. After all, they are from the same family so it stands to reason the two would mix nicely. Like turmeric, ginger has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. So adding ginger gives your turmeric tea a double-barreled shot of medicinal goodness. Ginger is also known to be effective against nausea and for calming an upset stomach.
Combining turmeric with ginger produces a powerful health drink. Here’s a recipe you may want to check out. Boil water as you normally would in the preparation of any tea. Add a half teaspoon of turmeric powder, a pinch of black pepper and a quarter teaspoon of freshly chopped or grated ginger. Spice it up with any of the other ingredients previously mentioned in this article and sweeten to taste with honey if necessary.
Use milk or a plant substitute like almond milk instead of water if you prefer a creamier concoction. Swap black pepper for cayenne pepper if you prefer. Again, be creative. If you have other spices lurking in the cupboard feel free to experiment. Clove, cinnamon, cardamom…what the heck, give it whirl. This is the fun part!
Turmeric Tea for Weight Loss
Now, are you ready for a time-saving breakthrough in preparing instant turmeric tea and using turmeric tea for weight loss? Here’s a recipe for an instant turmeric tea mix that will blow your socks off, and hopefully your belly fat!
Use an electric coffee grinder to pulverize fresh cinnamon bark, dried ginger, and black peppercorns into a fine dust and store them in separate containers. Now, take something like a mason jar with a screw-on lid and combine the powders in the following proportions:
- 12 tablespoons turmeric powder
- 3 tablespoons cinnamon powder
- 3 tablespoons ginger powder
- 3 teaspoons black pepper powder
May we suggest you take a look at one of our favorite turmeric powders here or select from the Turmeric Guru’s top turmeric powders for cooking.
After you have combined the ingredients in a tightly closed jar, shake it until thoroughly mixed. Voila! You now have a delicious instant turmeric tea mix that can be combined with boiling water to create an amazingly healthy drink that will elevate your energy, curb your appetite and help burn off unwanted belly fat!
Here’s a video from one of our friends demonstrating how to make this instant turmeric tea for losing weight and burning belly fat:
Turmeric Tea Health Benefits
Turmeric tea provides a veritable explosion of natural health benefits. Here are just a few of the ways regular consumption of turmeric tea promotes health and healing.
- Immune System Support – Many people up the turmeric dosage during flu season or at first sign of a cold. This is because it is high in antioxidants and phytonutrients that help keep your immune system in top form.
- Weight Loss and Weight Control – Since turmeric benefits the digestive process, it stands to reason that it can assist in weight reduction. Better digestion means more efficient nutrient absorption and therefore a reduction in the body’s craving for more food. Furthermore, fat cells are where the body naturally sequesters toxins. The natural metabolic process avoids fat cells that are saturated with toxins until these cells have been cleansed. As a natural detoxifier, turmeric helps clean up fat cells so they can be metabolized, helping you lose weight in a healthful and natural way.
- Antidepressant and Mood Stabilizer – There are studies proving that turmeric, including its active compounds of curcumin, has a positive effect in treating depression. It acts as a sort of mood food by releasing hormones responsible for relaxation and anxiety reduction.
- Healthy Skin – Regular turmeric tea drinkers have reported noticeable results in the areas of collagen regeneration and a reduction in age spots and acne. Read our article on turmeric for the skin here.
Summary
If you’re thinking about adding turmeric to your diet it only makes sense that you try your hand at a pot of turmeric tea. It’s as easy as making an Earl Grey or a Matcha Green and involves only a few ingredients. The benefits are numerous, including a healthful and subtle energy boost that can help get you through the day. If you are concerned about possible side effects, first consult your doctor. But as far as we know no negative side effects have ever been reported. The best part is that you can follow a basic recipe that is flexible and fun to experiment with. With a little practice, you’ll come up with several delicious variations capable of spicing up your daily culinary exploits. With turmeric tea, there’s no need to sacrifice taste for nutrition. Enjoy!
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