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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.
I was so excited to see this recipe. I was just in Las Vegas last week and had a similar smoothie at cafe Americana. So delicious, thank you!
Don’t you love that, learning how to make a favorite restaurant item home! It feels empowering. Glad you like it.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this Honey Turmeric Smoothie!!!! It is so tasty, filling and it assists with removing inflammation!!!! I call this a super duper WIN️
This one is definitely a win all around, Michelle!
Great combo of flavours! Loved it!
So glad you loved this one, Christine!
Pretty good smoothie. I will make this again. I modified because I only had chocolate vegan protein powder and I also added a cup of red kale because I always add greens to every smoothie to get an extra serving. I used 1/2 of an orange and 1/2 cup of mango to reduce fruit and sweetness. It was still too sweet for me but tasty so I will cut back on the honey next time. I also added some cardamom, clove, and Ceylon cinnamon. The color wasn’t as pretty as the one Jen posted but with the greens and chocolate protein powder that was expected. I just put it in a Stanley stainless steel travel mug so I didn’t have to look at the color.
Thanks for trying it. Way to make it work with what you have. If you make it again with the original recipe, we’d love to know how you like it.
Not a big fan of Ginger but understand how good it is for our bodies. I loved the flavor otherwise, next time personally though will have a little less Ginger.
I struggle with ginger a bit, too, except for in cookies. lol
Delicious! Really loved this
Carrots were a challenge for my baby blender.
Loved the color. It was certainly refreshing with a little earthiness.
Sadly, not a fan of this as a smoothie.
I enjoyed this smoothie. The orange zest added a little extra zip that I could taste. Very refreshing and energizing. I intend to start adding turmeric and ginger to more of my smoothies.
Amazing flavor and creaminess!
I’ve never had this combination before … could use more orange flavor – could be the orange I picked. Pretty good. I did add some black pepper because I read, a long time ago, that turmeric needs black pepper to get utilized by our bodies.
This smoothie was ok. I liked it more than I thought I would. I didn’t use the full amount of turmeric (close) but could taste it really well. I think a few ice cubes could possibly tone the bold flavors down a little. Good to drink occasionally.
Tried this twice.
Once as posted, once with sweet potato in place of carrots + hald-again as much ginger. I preferred the latter version.
This was an amazing finish to the 5-day challenge.