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Turmeric tea is one of those simple, comforting recipes that feels both nourishing and grounding. With warm spices, a golden hue, and a gently earthy flavor, it’s easy to see why turmeric tea has become a staple in so many kitchens. Whether you’re sipping it first thing in the morning or winding down in the evening, this guide walks you through exactly how to make turmeric tea at home—plus how to customize it to fit your taste and lifestyle.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Turmeric Tea
- Rich in antioxidants: Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful plant compound that helps neutralize free radicals and supports overall health as part of a nutrient-rich diet.
- Naturally caffeine-free: Turmeric tea is a soothing alternative to green tea, making it easy to enjoy any time of day without added caffeine.
- Better absorption with black pepper: Adding black pepper provides piperine, which helps your body absorb curcumin more effectively and boosts turmeric’s benefits.
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Turmeric Tea Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make turmeric tea at home. You can keep it basic or dress it up with creamy or sweet additions. These ingredients work together to create a warming drink with a slightly earthy taste, gentle spice, and smooth finish. If you’ve ever wondered about golden milk vs turmeric tea, turmeric tea is lighter and water-based, while golden milk includes milk and warming spices for a richer texture.
Base ingredients
- Water
- Turmeric (ground or fresh)
- Black pepper
- Lemon juice
Optional add-ins
- Honey or maple syrup
- Fresh ginger or ground ginger
- Coconut milk or oat milk
- Whole spices like cloves or cinnamon sticks
Ground Turmeric vs Fresh Turmeric?
Both ground turmeric and fresh turmeric root work well for turmeric tea, and each has its perks.
Ground turmeric is convenient and easy to measure with tablespoons. It has a strong color and blends quickly into hot water. If you’re short on time, ground turmeric is perfect.
Fresh turmeric root has a brighter, slightly peppery flavor that’s similar to fresh ginger. It does require peeling and slicing (or juicing), but many people love its fresher taste. If you enjoy hands-on prep and bold flavor, fresh turmeric is worth trying.
Bottomline: Either option delivers curcumin, the active compound people seek when making turmeric tea.
Recipe Substitutions
Turmeric tea is easy to adapt based on what you have on hand or your dietary needs.
- Add ginger: This adds additional flavors or use a pinch of cinnamon instead.
- Creamier texture: Add coconut milk or oat milk for a golden milk-inspired version.
- Sweeter flavor: Use honey, maple syrup, or dates.
- Green tea boost: Steep green tea separately, then add turmeric tea for a hybrid drink.
You can also adjust spices to suit your taste preferences, making it milder or more bold.
How to Make Turmeric Tea
This simple turmeric tea recipe comes together in just a few minutes and uses everyday ingredients you may already have on hand.
- Bring the water to a boil. Pour 1 cup of water into a small saucepan and bring it to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
- Add the spices. Stir in the ground turmeric, lemon juice, and black pepper. If you’re using any extra spices, add them now.
- Simmer to infuse. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes. This allows the spices to fully infuse the water and develop flavor.
- Sweeten, if desired. Remove from heat and stir in raw honey to taste. You can also add a splash of milk if you prefer a creamier tea.
- Serve and enjoy. Pour into a mug, sip warm, and enjoy this soothing turmeric tea as part of a calming daily ritual.
Recipe Tips
- Turmeric tea has an earthy, slightly bitter flavor balanced by ginger’s warmth and honey’s sweetness. Black pepper adds subtle heat without overpowering the drink.
- Because turmeric can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners, it’s best to enjoy turmeric tea in moderation and talk with a healthcare provider if you regularly use turmeric supplements or curcumin supplements. This is especially important if you have concerns about drug interactions or side effects.
- Turmeric tea is meant to be supportive, not a cure-all. Think of it as one nourishing ritual within a healthy lifestyle built on whole foods, plants, and balance.
More Recipes That Use Turmeric
Turmeric tea is simple, customizable, and rooted in centuries of culinary tradition. Whether you enjoy it plain or dressed up like golden milk, this cozy recipe is an easy way to add warming spices and mindful moments to your day. If you’re looking for easy and delicious ways to enjoy turmeric, these recipes make it simple to work this vibrant spice into your routine.
- The Honey Turmeric Smoothie blends bright fruit with warming turmeric for a refreshing, feel-good drink that’s perfect for busy mornings.
- Turmeric Smoothie Cubes are a prep-ahead favorite, letting you freeze turmeric with complementary ingredients so you can blend a nourishing smoothie in minutes. For something cozy and comforting, the
- Spiced Golden Milk offers creamy warmth with soothing spices, making it an ideal choice for slowing down and sipping with intention.
How to Make Turmeric Tea
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon turmeric, ground
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ground
- 1 teaspoon raw honey optional
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan.
- Add turmeric, lemon juice, black pepper, and any additional spices.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes to allow the spices to infuse.
- Stir in honey and milk, if using.
- Sip warm and enjoy.
Helpful Tools
Notes
- Hot lemon water can be sensitive on your teeth. I suggest using a stainless steel straw as your stir stick and then gently sipping it when it’s the perfect temperature.
- Swap honey with maple syrup to make this recipe vegan.
- Swap 1 teaspoon ground turmeric for 1 tablespoon fresh turmeric, sliced.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Common Questions
Yes. Ground turmeric works well and is the most convenient option. Use about 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric for every 2 cups of water.
It’s recommended. Black pepper contains piperine, which helps your body better absorb curcumin, the active compound in turmeric.
Turmeric tea has a warm, earthy flavor with a slightly bitter edge. Adding ginger, honey, or coconut milk helps balance the taste.
Yes. Adding coconut milk or oat milk creates a creamier drink similar to golden milk, while traditional turmeric tea is water-based.
For most people, yes—when enjoyed in moderation. If you take medications or turmeric supplements, check with a healthcare provider to avoid potential drug interactions.
Can you substitute something for the coconut oil as I am allergic?
Hi Karen! You could try something like MCT oil possibly. Unsure of how it would turn out as I’ve not tried it!
Absolutely delicious I added cinnamon to it with a squirt of Stevia and over the top yummy thank you for sharing
I’m so glad you made it work for you! Thank you for sharing these suggestions. You rawk!
I’d love to try this. I have fresh turmeric, how much should I use for this recipe?
Hi Hope! We’d use a 1/2″ piece of fresh turmeric for this recipe. You can always adjust up or down to your taste if needed.
Hi. Is the 1 tablespoon of coconut oil a misprint? 1 tablespoon of the oil has 120 calories. Did you mean to print 1 teaspoon? (since the calorie count is only 31 cal). Thanks.
Great catch Janelle! We have a couple of diff turmeric drinks and it looks like we imported incorrect nutrition info for this recipe. The recipe is correct and now the nutrition info has been updated to match! 🙂
had the ingredients on hand and gave the odd combo a try…really good ….it almost felt that i ate something with the pepper taste lingering…i’m looking forward to relief thank you
It’s totally our joy Beate! Hoping for healthier days ahead for you. 🙂