The classic fresh ginger and turmeric tea is bolstered by fresh lemon and apple cider vinegar to make a bracing tonic. This golden ginger drink recipe is good served hot or cold. If you like the flavors of this tonic separately, you’ll love them all together in one drink!
It’s a wonderfully cleansing beverage to enjoy after holidays and other occasions when you have that “I ate too much” feeling.
It’s also welcome beverage during cold and flu season, when you might gain an immune boost, or simply feel soothed if you’re already under the weather.
This makes a quart of beverage. Try having a cup a half hour or so before meals, as all of the ingredients, especially the ginger and ACV, are known to aid digestion. You can enjoy this beverage hot or cold, all year round.
How long does fresh ginger and turmeric tea keep? This beverage keeps for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Buying fresh ginger and turmeric
Fresh ginger is easy to find in supermarket produce sections; fresh turmeric is a bit trickier to come by. Once in a while, I’ll see it at my local natural foods store, so check that type of grocery in your community.
Indian groceries are another source that’s likely to carry fresh turmeric. Otherwise, explore online sources such as Melissa’s Produce. Look for firm, plump roots without discoloration or shriveling.
The key ingredients in this golden drink
Turmeric
Turmeric, a root-like rhizome ((he underground part of the stem), is a proven anti-inflammatory. Due to compounds called curcuminoids, it has many other known benefits.
While using fresh turmeric is preferred, the recipe gives the option of using ground turmeric, and/or adding a pinch of ground along with fresh, for a more vivid color. Learn more about turmeric and its benefits here:
Ginger
Ginger, also a rhizome like turmeric, is often referred to as ginger root. It’s botanically related to turmeric. While the ground spice is most useful in baking, the fresh root is better in practically everything else.
Lately, I’ve been keeping squeeze-bottle ginger in the fridge because the root is so variable — it can be nice and fresh for grating, or annoyingly stringy.
For this recipe, fresh root is fine no matter what, because you’ll be slicing it, then removing for drinking. Ginger has been known to improve digestion, is an anti-inflammatory like turmeric, and more. Learn more about ginger and its benefits:
Apple cider vinegar
Commonly referred to as ACV, only does you good if it’s the organic unfiltered variety. Sometimes there’s a line on the label saying that it contains “the mother,” which is kind of a murky blob at the bottom of the bottle. I know, it doesn’t sound appealing, but it has something to do with the fermentation process.
Bragg is arguably the best-known brand, but there are others of equal quality.
Raw, unfiltered ACV is a good source of natural probiotics and antioxidants. Though claims of some of its benefits are anecdotal, others have been studied. Learn more:
- Exploring the Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (Cleveland Clinic)
- Apple Cider Vinegar (Web MD)
Lemon juice
Lemon is a fruit that’s familiar to all of us; the purported use of lemon for benefits is purely anecdotal, but it’s not going far out on a limb to say that at the very least, it’s hydrating and a good source of vitamin C.
See also: 7+ Turmeric Beverages
Fresh Ginger and Turmeric Tea with Lemon and ACV
The classic fresh ginger and turmeric tea is bolstered by fresh lemon, and apple cider vinegar to make a bracing tonic.
Ingredients
- 4 cups filtered water
- 1 to 1 ½inch piece fresh turmeric, thinly sliced
- 1 ½- to 2 inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- Juice of ½ to 1 lemon, to taste
- 2 tablespoons organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- Liquid or powdered stevia, agave, or maple syrup, or other sweetener, to taste, if desired
Optional
- Pinch of dried turmeric (for more vivid color)
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground cardamom
- A grinding or two of black pepper
- Pinch of dried thyme or a few sprigs of thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the water, turmeric, and ginger in a saucepan and bring to a slow boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and scoop out the turmeric and ginger pieces with a slotted spoon. Add the lemon juice (to taste), apple cider vinegar, and sweetener of choice.
- Stir in the optional ingredients. Drink hot or allow to cool and chill, or serve on ice.
Notes
Variation: Toss in a bag or two of your favorite tea in step 1. Rooibos, chamomile, and green tea are all good in this.
Substituting ground turmeric: Depending on how much you like the flavor, use ½ to 1 teaspoon ground turmeric. Ground turmeric has a stronger flavor than fresh.
If you like this ginger-infused beverage, you might also enjoy …
Here are more tasty, good-for-you beverages.
Hello
Instead of turmeric pieces can I use turmeric powder
Yep^^ just remember it will be stronger
Thanks, Allison, your comment reminded me that I forgot to answer the previous one. I’ve also added the info to the Notes section of the recipe box.
Yikes, I just realized I never answered this, sorry. As Allison says, you can do so. I’d say 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric, depending on how much you like the flavor. I’ve added that to the Notes section of the recipe box.
After this is made, can it be stored at room temperature?
Kevin, it would be best to refrigerate it, since it has fresh foods in it.
How long can it remain in the fridge?
Teresa, it’s good for up to 3 days in the fridge. I’ll add that to the post!