top of page
Writer's pictureJamie Rose

Start Your Morning With The Perfect Ginger-Turmeric Tea

Serving - 8 Cups From Scratch Or One Personal Cup Via Tea Bag



Ginger and turmeric are key ingredients to consume when wanting to reduce inflammation. Both ginger and turmeric have been used as medicinal herbs for over 4000 years. Turmeric is said to increase the growth of neurons, improve heart health, relieve pain from arthritis, serve as a natural anti-depressant, delay aging of the skin and prevent certain types of cancer. Ginger has been used to treat indigestion, morning sickness or nausea, osteoarthritis, high cholesterol, and a variety of infections (bacterial and viral). Both turmeric and ginger are packed with antioxidants which help fight inflammation. (See below for more information on antioxidants.) I start every morning with ginger-turmeric tea. It has naturally become part of my morning routine! Here is the recipe.


Ingredients:

Making Tea On The Stove By Scratch

8 cups of water

1/2 - 3/4 cup of cubed ginger

1/2 cup of cubed turmeric

1/8 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/8 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup plant-based milk

1/2 tsp natural vanilla


Making Tea In A Cup Using a Tea Bag

3/4 cup hot water

1 ginger turmeric tea bag

1 dash of cinnamon

1 dash of black pepper

1 dash of cardamom

1 dash of cayenne pepper

1/4 cup plant-based milk

1/2 tsp natural vanilla


Instructions:

Making Tea On The Stove By Scratch

1. Wash your ginger and turmeric thoroughly with water.

2. Cut ginger and turmeric into small cubes.

3. Place ginger and turmeric in a pot with 8 cups of water.

4. Add spices of cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. If you do not like spicey, then please omit the cayenne pepper.

5. Let the mixture boil on the stove for 15-20 minutes on medium-high heat. You will see the color of the tea change.

6. Strain your mixture into a pitcher. Throw away the ingredients remaining in the strainer.

7. Fill your mug 3/4 full of tea. Place the pitcher in your refrigerator.

8. Add 1/4 cup of plant-based milk. I use oat milk, but any variety will work.

9. Add natural vanilla and stir.

10. Consume and Enjoy!


Making Tea In A Cup Using A Tea Bag

1. Heat up 3/4 cup of water. You can do this on the stove, in the microwave, or using an electronic kettle.

2. Place your tea bag in a mug with 3/4 cup of hot water and let the tea steep.

3. Add liquids of vanilla and plant-based milk.

4. Add dashes of cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Omit the cayenne pepper if you do not enjoy spicy flavors.

5. Stir ingredients within the tea.

6. Consume and Enjoy!




Additional Information:


Ginger and Turmeric contain many antioxidants that help people suffering from inflammation. We hear the word antioxidant often, but what does it really mean? There are many free radicals (molecules that are incomplete or in need of electrons) within our body. These free radicals are looking for whole molecules to steal electrons from because they don't have enough electrons themselves to survive. When the free radicals steal electrons from healthy molecules, they then damage those molecules causing inflammation. This entire scenario reminds me of the opening scene in the musical Les Miserables where Jean Valjean steals a loaf of bread to feed his sister and his nephew who are starving. The free radicals here are just like Jean Valjean. They need electrons to make them whole, but they damage other molecules in the meantime. Jean Valjean stole bread to help his family survive, however, at the same time it took money away from the baker. Antioxidants act as donation centers for electrons, or in the case of Jean Valjean, food. Antioxidants carry extra electrons and give them away to free radicals. This stops free radicals from destroying healthy molecules. A donation center (antioxidant) would have helped or prevented Jean Valjean (free radical) from needing to steal bread in the first place. The baker would not have lost money and Jean Valjean would have something to eat for free. In sum, antioxidants can prevent or stop inflammation from occurring.


The compound curcumin of the turmeric root does not absorb into our bloodstream very easily. This compound needs the help of black pepper or healthy fats to increase absorption. The bioactive compound piperine is found within black pepper and helps increase the absorption of curcumin into the body by 2000%. Black pepper isn't the first ingredient one would think of adding to a morning tea. However, it is added to aid in the absorption of curcumin in your body. If you don't like the taste of pepper in your tea, then pair your tea with healthy fats for breakfast. I often have my tea with avocado gluten-free toast in the morning.


Remember to wash your knives and cutting boards immediately after using them. Turmeric is a vibrant orange color. It is very beautiful but can stain everything it touches very easily. The tip is to act fast. The longer the stain sets, the more difficult it will be to remove. Do not ever place turmeric directly onto your cupboard. I now have an orange, once-white, blender to prove this.


Home-made tea is safe to consume when put in the refrigerator (in a pitcher) for up to 48-72 hours. If the tea is placed into an air-tight container, the tea can last up to 5 days.







Comentários


bottom of page