Turmeric is a root from the ginger family and is a prominent ingredient in Asian countries. It finds a central space in Chinese and Indian herbal medicines. Most people will gallop on turmeric tea or turmeric milk during a mild cold or allergy and recover within a couple of days. Rigorous scientific studies are also going on to understand the benefits of turmeric to use it more for medicinal purposes.
Turmeric Tea is a powerhouse of healthy compounds. It consists of several bioactive oils, potassium, linolenic acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and various fibers that render anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.
Benefits of Turmeric Tea
Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which imparts a bright yellow color. It is loaded with antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, i.e., all the goodness of turmeric tea comes from curcumin.
Turmeric tea is a medicinal concoction to heal many ailments. There are multiple benefits of having a freshly prepared glass of turmeric tea, and you do not even have to compromise on taste as it is heaven for the taste buds.
Strengthen the immune system
Curcumin contains antioxidants. It also has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Hence, it acts as a shield to protect your body against infections and strengthen your immune system.
Prevents heart diseases
One of the significant causes of heart ailments is dysfunctioning of the endothelial, the lining of your blood vessels. It is responsible for blood pressure regulation and blood clotting.
Curcumin in turmeric improves the functioning of endothelial cells. It also reduces inflammation that aids in better heart health.
Treats Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation in the joints. The person may experience excessive pain and swelling in the area. Also, it is a disease that can severely attack your entire body and restrict motion.
As we already know, curcumin is anti-inflammatory; a cup of turmeric tea can ease the swelling and relieve pain. Regular intake reveals betterment in the condition.
Regulates bowel functions
Irritable bowel syndrome, i.e., the initiation of many lingering diseases, can disappear with the turmeric tea recipe.
While consuming turmeric tea, the food transports speedily from the stomach to the small intestine, i.e., gastric emptying happens rapidly, leaving no space for stomach disorders. It enhances digestion and relieves the pain of irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive problems.
Manages Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifestyle disease, and nowadays, it is pretty prominent. However, turmeric has anti-diabetic properties that help reverse the condition and take your sugar levels down to normal.
Protects the liver and surrounding organs
Most liver irregularities occur due to inconsistency in bile fluids. The digestive fluid helps better the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.
However, some unhealthy food and lifestyle choices damage bile fluid production, eventually causing gallstones and other liver damages. Turmeric tea increases the production of bile fluid and also safeguards the liver cells.
Prevents Cancer
Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin in turmeric tea can reduce cell damage. Hence, there are low chances of cell mutation or cancer.
Many studies also suggested that curcumin blocks tumour growth and also stops the spread of cancer cells. Hence, a cup of turmeric tea can also help in treating cancer.
Treats Brain diseases and Depression
Reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and hippocampus are key stimulants to various ailments, including Alzheimer’s, Depression, and other brain disorders. Curcumin plays a vital role in increasing BDNF. Hence, it gets rid of many lethal diseases in the nib.
Elixir for the skin
Above is all that turmeric tea can do inside the body, and we are all familiar with the folk wisdom that says, ‘Your skin is what you eat.’
When turmeric is remarkable inside the body, it is extraordinary on the outside. You can have glowing, bright, even-toned, acne-free, youthful, plump skin without wrinkles or other signs of aging. Turmeric tea also helps get rid of lingering dryness, eczema and protects against UV rays.
Aid in weight loss
Most of us struggle to shed the extra kilos and seek refuge in fad diets that can even tarnish your otherwise healthy body. How about including a cup of turmeric tea in your regimen and attain the desired weight?
Curcumin works against digestive disorders, and it is also an excellent fat burner. Turmeric tea is highly beneficial for stubborn belly fat as it helps suppress cell proliferation.
Turmeric Tea recipes
Now that we know how beneficial turmeric tea is to our body let us brew a cup. Here are a few turmeric tea recipes for a cup of health and taste.
Turmeric Tea recipe with Ginger
Both turmeric and ginger contain antioxidants. They are exceptionally great for your health and, due to the same reason, are a mandatory drink in many countries.
Ingredients
Water- 2 cup
Ginger- ¾ tablespoon (grated)
Turmeric- 1 teaspoon (fresh), ½ teaspoon (dry)
Black Pepper powder- ¼ teaspoon
Honey- as per taste
Recipe
- Boil water in a saucepan
- Add ginger and once again let it simmer for 2 minutes
- Add turmeric and again allow it slowly cook for another 3 to 4 minutes
- Remove from heat and sprinkle pepper powder
- Strain the turmeric tea once it cools down
- Mix honey and enjoy
Turmeric tea recipe with mint leaves
Mint leaves are high on fiber. These are beneficial for weight loss and can be instrumental in turning fat into energy.
Ingredients
Water- 2 cup
Turmeric- 1 teaspoon (fresh), ½ teaspoon (dry)
Mint leaves- 1 tablespoon
Lemon juice- 1 teaspoon
Recipe
- Mix mint leaves with water and place on heat
- Once the water boils, add turmeric and let it simmer for 5 minutes
- Switch off the gas and strain your turmeric tea
- Add lemon juice just before sipping for the added zest
Turmeric Tea recipe with spices
Adding a dash of spice elevates the taste of turmeric tea and makes it a yummy concoction. The spices also seep in many benefits into the tea. We will use star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, and peppercorns for this recipe as all these spices aid in weight loss and are effective against viral and bacterial infections.
Ingredients
Water- 2 cups
Turmeric – 1 teaspoon (fresh), ½ teaspoon (dry)
Cinnamon- 1-inch stick, ⅛ teaspoon
Star anise- 1
Cardamom- 1 or 2
Peppercorn- 5 to 6
Recipe
- Boil water in a medium-sized saucepan
- Add turmeric and let it steep for 5 minutes
- Pound the spices in a mortar pestle
- Mix in the spices and simmer for 2 more minutes
- Strain and enjoy
Turmeric Tea recipe with Milk
Adding milk to your turmeric tea recipes helps in better absorption of the turmeric. It enhances the properties and helps to heal the body faster. You can use any dairy-free milk for this recipe. Here we are using coconut milk.
Ingredients
Water- 1 ½ cup
Coconut milk- 1 cup
Turmeric- 1 teaspoon (fresh), ½ teaspoon (dry)
Cinnamon- ½ inch stick
Honey- as required
Recipe
- Boil water in a saucepan
- Slowly add coconut milk and let it simmer
- Mix in turmeric and boil for 5 more minutes
- Crush the cinnamon stick and add
- Boil for 2 more minutes
- Strain and add honey if needed
Turmeric Tea recipe with Chamomile flower
Humankind now knows that flowers are much more than their external beauty. Chamomile flowers are calming to the senses and shield the body against various infections. Adding it to turmeric tea manifolds its benefits and gives you a super tastiest and healthy drink.
Ingredients
Water- 2 cup
Chamomile leaves (dried)- 2 tablespoon
Peppercorns- 4 to 5
Cinnamon- 1-inch
Turmeric- 1 teaspoon (fresh), ½ teaspoon (dry)
Lemon juice- 1 teaspoon
Recipe
- Bring water to boil in a saucepan
- Add Chamomile leaves and let it simmer for 4 minutes
- Lightly crush peppercorn and cinnamon
- Add turmeric and the crushed spiced into the saucepan
- Let it simmer for 5 minutes
- Remove from the gas
- Strain the mixture, and drink with a dash of lemon juice
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I brew a vegan turmeric tea recipe?
Most of the turmeric tea recipes are vegan. Some recipes call for honey, but you can switch it with maple syrup, date syrup, corn syrup, or coconut sugar for a vegan turmeric tea recipe.
How to enhance the taste of Turmeric Tea?
Turmeric tea is a naturally tasty elixir, and you can also blend a variety of ingredients to enhance its taste. Here are our quick tips for the taste enhancement of turmeric tea recipes.
- Add a green tea bag for taste and health
- Sprinkle some nutmeg
- Stir coconut oil for flavor and better absorption of nutrients
- Mix crushed nuts
- Experiment with a variety of spices such as cloves, cumin, fennel, cayenne pepper, etc.
- Cooldown your turmeric tea and add lots of ice for a soothing experience
How to choose the suitable ingredient for turmeric tea?
To stay on the safer side, always choose fresh turmeric root and grate it for the tea. But, if you don’t have access to turmeric root, using dry, packaged ingredients is the only choice. However, there are many methods to know if the powder is pure or not.
Firstly choose turmeric from organic brands.
To test turmeric, add a teaspoon of powder in a glass of warm water and leave it for 20 minutes. If you find turmeric settled at the bottom and clear water above, it is pure turmeric. Otherwise, adulteration will make the mix cloudy.
Alternatively, you can conduct a lab test to evaluate the purity of turmeric. Add some turmeric to a test tube and slowly mix hydrochloric acid with water into it. Shake the test tube vigorously and see if it changes color. If the mix turns pinkish, there is metanil yellow used to impart the color. It is a compound used in various foods for color, but it may also cause stomach disorders and sometimes food poisoning.
Turmeric root adulteration is also in practice though not common. To check if your root is polished, place it on white paper and pour cold water over it. If you find color spilling onto the paper, know that the root is polished to look good.
How many glasses of Turmeric Tea can I drink in a day?
The recommended amount of turmeric for a healthy adult is 1 teaspoon. So make sure you do not gallop a lot of it as it has medicinal properties, and more of the ingredient may harm your system.
Who can have turmeric tea?
Turmeric is a natural ingredient, and it will not pose a health hazard unless you are allergic to it. If you do not know regarding your health condition, consult a doctor to examine if turmeric tea will be a healthier option or not.
Similarly, if giving the tea to kids, add only a pinch of turmeric. Also, pregnant and lactating women should stay away from the brew as it may or may not suit them. However, you can have it after your doctor’s approval.
Conclusion
There is no decisive rule about turmeric tea recipes. You can always experiment with your favorite ingredients to enjoy this tasty and healthy concoction. When nature provides us with such beneficial compounds, we must use them to the fullest.
Keep brewing and walk your way to a disease-free future.