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As much as I love a green smoothie, it’s important to get a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Blending the rainbow is one way I do that. This turmeric smoothie recipe is pure sunshine in a glass—using oranges, carrots and turmeric to create the color. It’s the perfect way to kickstart your day with tropical fruits and powerful, immune-boosting ingredients.
Table of contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
All of the ingredients in this turmeric smoothie are simple, plant-based whole foods you can feel good about:
- Turmeric (ground): This golden spice brings warmth and color to the smoothie. You’ll find ground turmeric in the spice aisle, or grab fresh turmeric root in the produce section if your store carries it.
- Honey: Complements the turmeric and ginger nicely. Look for raw honey or manuka honey, known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
- Fresh ginger root: Adds a spicy-sweet kick that balances the creaminess of the smoothie. Look for firm, smooth ginger in the produce section, bonus points if it’s organic.
- Orange (peeled and zested): Bright and juicy orange makes the smoothie taste like sunshine. Pick up fresh oranges from the produce section.
- Frozen mango: Naturally sweet and creamy, mango gives tropical vibes in every sip. Find it in the frozen fruit section, perfect for thick, cold smoothies without needing ice. For instructions, you can also check out my guide on how to cut a mango.
- Frozen sliced carrots: A sneaky way to add veggies, fiber, and extra beta-carotene. You can buy pre-sliced frozen carrots in the freezer aisle or slice fresh carrots yourself and freeze them.
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How to Make a Turmeric Smoothie
My turmeric smoothie is quick, creamy, and full of benefits. Just blend a few simple ingredients and sip golden goodness in minutes.
- Add ginger, orange, and almond milk to your blender. These form the bright, creamy base that sets the stage for all the other flavors.
- Blend until silky smooth. Give it a good whirl so the ginger fully breaks down and the orange citrus flavor shines through.
- Toss in the frozen mango, carrots, turmeric, and raw honey.
- Blend one more time until thick and creamy. Pour into your favorite glass and sip immediately while it’s fresh.
Turmeric Hack
Long before it became the star of golden lattes, turmeric was cherished in Ayurvedic medicine for its powerful healing benefits. This golden spice has been used to soothe inflammation, aid digestion, and bring vibrant energy to meals.
To get the most out of turmeric’s benefits, try adding a tiny pinch of black pepper before blending. Black pepper contains piperine, which, when combined with curcumin, has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000%.
Easy Swaps and Add-Ins
This smoothie is creamy, nourishing, and totally delicious as is—but don’t be afraid to make it your own! Here are a few simple swaps or tasty add-ins you can try:
- Milk alternatives: No almond milk? Try oat milk or add a tropical twist with coconut milk.
- Creamy: Add half a banana or a few slices of avocado to make the smoothie thicker and even more creamier.
- Sweet: Instead of raw honey, try pure maple syrup or Medjool dates for a vegan-friendly option. You can also check out my guide on natural sweeteners I like to use.
- Protein: Blend in a scoop of my Homemade Protein Powder, a spoonful of hemp hearts, or even a dollop of Greek yogurt to make this smoothie more filling.
Serving Suggestion
This turmeric smoothie recipe makes 16 oz—perfect for one adult. For kids, split into two 8 oz servings, and serve with a straw to make sipping easier.
More Recipes with Turmeric
If you’re digging the golden glow and anti-inflammatory benefits of this turmeric smoothie recipe, here are a few more turmeric recipes to try next:
- When I need something soothing, turmeric tea is my go-to—warm, cozy, and full of anti-inflammatory goodness.
- And when I’m craving creamy comfort, golden milk hits the spot. It’s turmeric, cinnamon, and plant milk blended into the perfect hug in a mug.
- When I want a quick boost, I make turmeric blender bombs—frozen cubes of turmeric, ginger, and healthy fats that blend into an instant wellness smoothie.
If you make this turmeric smoothie, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Honey Turmeric Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 inch fresh gingerroot peeled
- 1 tablespoon orange peeled and zested
- ¾ cup almond milk or other nut milk
- ½ cup mango frozen
- ½ cup sliced carrots frozen
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1 teaspoon turmeric, ground
Instructions
- Place ginger, orange and almond milk in blender. Blend until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients and blend until creamy.
Helpful Tools
Notes
- Fresh vs. dried turmeric: Fresh turmeric root gives this smoothie a brighter, peppery flavor and extra nutrients, but if you can’t find it, ground turmeric works just fine.
- Add natural sweetness: If your smoothie tastes a little too zesty, add more honey, half a banana, a couple of Medjool dates, or a splash of maple syrup.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Common Questions
About 1 inch of fresh turmeric root or ½–1 teaspoon of ground turmeric is a good amount for most smoothies. For those new to turmeric, starting with a smaller quantity is recommended before adjusting to taste.
Turmeric smoothies can be enjoyed any time of day. Many people prefer them in the morning for an energizing start, after a workout to support recovery, or in the afternoon as a refreshing pick-me-up.
To use fresh turmeric, wash and peel the root, then slice or grate it before blending with other ingredients. Frozen turmeric chunks can also be kept on hand for easy smoothie prep.
Turmeric works best when combined with ginger, black pepper, and naturally sweet fruits such as mango, pineapple, or banana. Black pepper enhances the absorption of curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, making this combination both flavorful and beneficial.
Just made this and it is beyond fantastic! Thank you!
Glad you liked it, Juliette!
W O W !! I love all of the anti-inflammatory smoothies SGS puts out, and this one has jumped to the top of my list! It tastes like an orange, ginger, turmeric creamsicle shake – perfect for right after a workout or a summer afternoon pick-me-up. It’s so refreshing and rejuvenating, and just so pretty to look at! Love this! <3
Kale yeah! So glad you liked this one. It’s definitely going into the rotation for me, too! 😀
I used 1/2 teaspoon of the turmeric and that seemed to be a good place to start. I also threw in a handful of spinach because I hadn’t done enough green lately. Make sure you blend the ginger really well. The distribution of the ginger in the smoothie is important if you don’t want a sudden chunk of it coming at you. This will be added into my smoothie rotation.
Thanks Jen!
So glad you like this one!
Wow! Loved this! Replaced oranges with a handful of kumquats I received in my produce basket and had no idea how to use : )
That sounds like an awesome substitution!
I am WOWed! I do not like carrot juice and I have tried smoothies with carrots in them in the past only to put that blend in my “Not again” pile, but I twisted my back on Sunday and when I saw anti-inflammatory I thought I would give it a go, Especially since, we have carrots coming out of our ears thanks to assorted produce boxes and an orange on the verge of going bad. I added some white pepper to up the benefits of the tumeric and this is going in the keeper pile.
Woo hoo! 😀
Don’t you need pepper to activate the tumeric?
Hey Deborah! Turmeric does work well on its own however, the piperine in fresh ground black pepper can help to make the curcumin in turmeric more bioavailable. Just a small amount of black pepper greatly improves the bioavailability of turmeric, and turmeric’s benefits are further enhanced. Def add a bit to your smoothie if you don’t mind the taste. 🙂
This smoothie is sure to brighten your mood…it’s so rich in color and flavor! How could you drink this and not feel happy? I made the recipe as written, but would probably try half the turmeric and ginger amounts next time just out of personal preference and to allow more of the orange to shine through. It’s delicious, creamy and refreshing!
So glad you liked it!
This was my first change from a green smoothie and I loved it!
That’s great! 🙂
WOW! This is so tasty. I used fresh carrots as I didn’t have any frozen. I will definitely make this one again.
Kale yeah, Rosalie! So glad you liked it. 🙂
My body was craving a carrot orange blend and this hit the spot. I used fresh ginger and a little less than 1tsp powder turmeric, as this is what I had in hand., I also added a scoop of collagen protein powder. What a great alternative for my morning blends. P.S. do we add the honey step 1 or step 2? I totally left it out, so want to give it another go this week. Thank you.
Hi Dora! I think adding the honey for step 2 might work just a little bit better.
Mmm, this was so refreshing and yummy! I made this for lunch and I added about a 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt and 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder! Thanks so much for this recipe, it was so good!
I agree, Caitlyn! It’s a very refreshing drink!
I’ve been doing more and more with turmeric to help with my joints. I made this smoothie just now and it was delicious. I didn’t have frozen carrots, so I used fresh. It was very tasty and I will definitely make it again.
Turmeric can be very helpful with aches. During our seasonal cleanses, we use turmeric and those that struggle with joint pain or arthritis always share how it disappears when eating this way. They’re is power in food!
Awesome, Barb! Glad you liked it. 🙂
Made this today on a cool rainy day in Wisconsin. Very delicious and sunny ! Added ginger orange protein powder which was a perfect addition
Rainy days need some sunshine. Blah this smoothie helped. The rain will probably also help all the gardens that are being planted. Hope you enjoy your Sunday MB.
Ginger orange protein powder sounds interesting!
When it says 1 tsp turmeric, does that mean powdered or fresh? I’m fine with using either, just wondered if there was even a difference in how you measure it!
You can use fresh or ground- Olivia. I use ground because I always have it on hand. If using fresh, it’s easier to measure it by grating it. Yet you could eye ball it as well and just chop off about 1/4 – 1/2 an inch.
Thank for the lunch idea! Can’t wait to try this, it looks so delicious
You’re welcome Erin. I’m all about fast healthy lunches and am trying to share more ideas this summer.
It’s very tasty! 🙂
Nice, light, refreshing and tasty. I used fresh turmeric that I get from my local Mom’s Organic Market.
Way to support your local store! Such a cute name too- what is it located?
Awesome!