Creamy Turmeric Tea
To call this beverage tea might be a little misleading. “Creamy Mug of Warming Deliciousness” is more accurate. It just plain feels good to drink this slightly sweet, slightly spicy blend of heated almond (or coconut) milk, turmeric, ginger, cayenne and honey. Turmeric tea will perk you up in the morning, calm you down at night and soothe sniffles and sore throats. It’s also a really pleasant way to end a meal.
At first glance, the ingredients might not sound like a combination you’d want to drink. Something magical happens in the mug, though, and the result is richer than regular tea, less intense than coffee and oddly delicious. Turmeric is the dominant flavor and admittedly, one that takes a little getting used to. Although not spicy itself, turmeric’s slightly bitter, earthy flavor is the perfect backdrop for other spices, which is why it’s a main ingredient in curry powder. The ginger and cayenne in this tea aren’t overwhelming because they’re floating in creamy, turmeric-infused milk that’s been lightly sweetened.
Turmeric is ginger’s mellow cousin and is a root used just as often for its bright yellow-orange color as it is for flavor. Turmeric powder is a frequent ingredient in East Indian, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Caribbean cooking and is also believed to have numerous healing properties. When cooking with turmeric, it’s most often used in conjunction with ginger and spices like cumin, cinnamon and coriander. Moroccan Chicken Casserole is one dish that benefits from turmeric’s flavor. If you’d like to use turmeric more often, you can also add extra turmeric to dishes that already have curry powder in them, like Butter Chicken or Beef Curry Meatballs. Or, after trying this recipe, you might just go through all the turmeric in your spice rack by brewing mugs of Creamy Turmeric Tea.
Servings: 1 cup of tea
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (1 cup) almond or coconut milk
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2-inch wide round slice of ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
- Dash of cayenne pepper
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon honey or other sweetener
- Optional additions: a small pat of butter, cinnamon, cardamom
Instructions:
Gently warm the almond or coconut milk on the stove.
In a mug, combine the remaining ingredients.
Drizzle a teaspoon of the warmed milk into the mug and mix until the liquid is smooth with no lumps. Add the rest of the milk and mix well. You can leave the pieces of ginger in the tea, or strain it out before drinking.
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Posted By: Worker Bee
Had this today with a tsp of coffee as it was morning. Omitted the honey as my added tbs of whipped cream was whipped with splenda.
This is so good and a great way to start the day after a swim.
I keep hearing about the benefits of including turmeric in your diet but it’s difficult to find recipes that include it. This could be the answer to that problem.
This was downright awesome! I added a teaspoonful of heavy cream to the almond milk and use my “homemade” pumpkin pie spice of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice along with the turmeric. And it’s just as tasty and wonderful cold as it it warmed up! Seconds anyone?
Sweet Lordie that was a great drink! Just made it this afternoon after sledding with my daughter. Awesome!
Tried it tonight. The Tumeric is a little different but after a few sips it was delicious!
Just made this, it’s divine. Forgot to add sweetener, but I don’t think it needs it anyway. Used full fat canned coconut milk and added 2 tbsp spring water. Added freshly ground cardamom, it’s simply a dream, thank you!!!
zOMG! I’m absolutely making this right now. I’ll be adding some cinnamon honey, and some nutmeg to it. Oh, and cloves!
Holy crap. This is going to be addictive…
I added a dash of vanilla extract to mine and an extra dash of fat with a pat of butter. Ohhhh myyy!
Oh, I noticed something really cool when I was making this!
I added the spices to the coconut milk/water mixture as I was heating it (I used about a 50/50 ratio). The first one in was turmeric…then I sprinkled on some black pepper. It’s like turmeric and pepper have this magnetic attraction. As the pepper fell on the the turmeric, the turmeric sped towards it, like the opposite of what happens when you drop a dot of soap onto grease! It was really cool to see!
Just made this recipe. Loved it. I live in Bali, Indonesia and have easy access to all these lovely ingredients. I am currently experimenting a lot lately with coconut oil and or water drinks. I have been making tumeric tea drinks for a few months now. The combination of the coconut milk with these spice ingredients tastes great. Definitely will be making on a regular basis.
finally got around to trying tumeric tea. damn, that is good. Straight coconut milk, tumeric, ginger, cayenne, black pepper…and i feel like there must have been alcohol, it’s so potent (there wasn’t, though. that would be too much). i’d better start buying coconut milk by the case ;^)
This is just wonderful! New favourite feel-good drink, perfect balance of sweet and spicy, especially with the cinnamon!
Since the recipe posted I have made this 4 times, every time I modify the recipe and make it a little better IMO. I think I have settled on, 1 cup of water with a bag of black tea steeped in, about 1/4 of a can of coconut milk, 1/2 tsp tumeric, 1 tsp sugar, dash of cayenne, dash of salt. I also mix the tumeric in some butter which helps it dissolve better and just taste all that more amazing. I’m so glad to have found this drink, thanks Mark and Worker Bee for posting! It’s so nice to drink this after dinner, it’s kinda like dessert!
Mark, when you first posted this, my throat was a bit inflamed, but not quite scratchy. I ended up using ground ginger the first time because I didn’t have root at home and had to use a different type of pepper. However, it worked rather nicely. I’ve made it almost every morning and it’s been just the wake up call I need. Thank you!
Last night I came home with an empty stomach but not wanting to chew anything after having dental work done. I made a cup and think the tumeric and ginger helped with the inflammation. I had another this morning. I’m really liking it! I didn’t measure anything except the tumeric. I did dilute the coconut milk with water, used tumeric, fresh grated ginger, a little fresh pepper, cayenne and opened up a few pods of cardomon.
Oh I forgot to mention that I added about 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and liquid stevia instead of honey. It was delicious.
I just made this and it’s absolutely delicious! I used a combo of coconut and almond milk and substituted ground ginger for fresh. Creamy and sweet with just a hint of spiceness. My new favorite treat.
I have been drinking green tea with a good dash of turmeric and powdered or freshly grated ginger for years. It’s not particularly tasty, but if you want taste, add some lemon juice, lemon peel, and honey. I rarely get sick, and if you do, make it really strong and use as a gargle.
I substituted Hemp Milk (from Tempt brand) for the coconut/almond milk–a bit too grassy tasting, but maybe that’s because I couldn’t find any honey. Added cinnamon. Next time, I may try boiling the spices first or else using ground ginger (powder) to make it mix better.
This recipe, if made with water instead of milk, and using jaggery (Indonesian palm sugar) is just like Indonesian Jamu –herbal tonic remedies for everything from menstrual cramps to cold/flu or high blood pressure.
Just tried this out for my husband and myself — delicious! I used raw cows milk instead of almond or coconut milk (since I have neither!), and added 1 tbsp of honey, because I’m not a huge fan of turmeric’s earthy flavor. Added ginger powder since I had no fresh, and also grated a little nutmeg over it and added 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 tsp extra virgin organic coconut oil. Will definitely be making this again! So yummy!
Oh my goodness – WONDERFUL. I just made this (using coconut milk substitute, dried ginger, black pepper, plus the other ingreds, honey to taste) and as I am sipping on it, I can imagine this would be perfect for a sore throat. I love the flavor and will be having this on a regular basis. Thanks, Mark, for this wonderful recipe!
I just made this and am sipping it now.
All I can say is WOW.
Huge win.
Hmmm… trying this for the first time as I type. Interesting and strange. I am digging the thick creaminess with the coconut milk.
I made some of this today because I needed a little something and I didn’t want whatever else was in the fridge. It was VERY good and filling. I think even my kids will like it, if I filter out the spices before serving.
For greater effect, add black pepper to the recipe; just a couple grinds of the pepper mill should do it. This study shows that by consuming black pepper along with turmeric, the presence of the active ingredient (curcumin) in the bloodstream increased dramatically. Plus it tastes delicious!
I’m waiting for the day that companies will sell turmeric drinks! It cleared up my brain fog so much, and reduced pain and ache in my joints, etc.
This is awesome stuff, I’ve been having it for a week now. To make it a bit more chai-like, I add some loose black tea to the milk and let it simmer for a while, then strain. Love all the variations — I’m going to try the cardamom today.
I’ve actually enjoyed this a lot this winter…but with milk-milk rather than coconut or almond milk. I’m allergic to nut products but tolerate milk just fine!
Wow this is good. I added some unsweetened cocoa power. It turned into Turmeric Hot Chocolate. The turmeric wasn’t overpowering like I thought it would be… thanks Mark..,…
A glass of home. I feel like my mom just gave me a hug. I love this (wish I could drink more than half a mug…used coconut milk and it’s so very filling). Next time I add more black pepper and up the ginger/turmeric. Was going easy to see if I liked it…YEP!