Drinks/ RECIPES

Turmeric Chai Tea: For Your At Home Medicine Cabinet

This is a guest post from Andrea at Frugally Sustainable.  I am so happy to know Andrea.  She is a faithful linker to our Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays, and I know you all love her because she often gets “most clicked on link” of the week.

I love everything about this guest post, but I especially love that it contains TURMERIC!  I have read over and over that as one who has had cancer, I need to find ways to get turmeric in my diet.  This is a wonderful, simple way to do just that!

Thanks so much, Andrea!

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We all have our go-to-remedies and today I would like to share with you one of mine.

Turmeric is one of the world’s most powerful natural healers. Its’ active ingredient curcumin, has been known for centuries to have extremely potent medicinal properties and is documented as being effective in treating a variety of conditions.

Other than the occasional curry, I struggled to add this beneficial root herb to our diet. That was until I created a Turmeric Chai Tea! 

Although my palate rejoices simply at the thought of this drink, I must warn you…this is some pungent stuff! Tasty, but definitely a pretty serious tea. 

10 Reasons Why Turmeric Is One of My Favorite Remedies

  1. Turmeric is an anti-microbial. That means it will attack both bacterial infections and viral infections and destroy both. It is particularly effective in treating illnesses of the respiratory system (this makes it a superb remedy for the cold and flu season).
  2. It has shown to prevent and stop the growth of prostate, breast, skin, lung and colon cancer
  3. Known to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes
  4. A natural liver detoxifier.
  5. Research shows it may prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
  6. As a potent natural anti-inflammatory, turmeric may work just as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs. Furthermore, reducing the risks associated with the side effects of those types of medications.
  7. It’s a natural painkiller.
  8. Aids in fat metabolism (i.e. helps with weight management)
  9. Trusted for many, many years in other cultures as a treatment for depression.
  10. Speeds up wound healing and assists in the treatment of acne, eczema, psoriasis, uneven pigmentation, and lackluster skin.

I’ve added it to a list of my most favorite medicinal herbs. In fact, it’s right up there with garlic, ginger, parsley, sage and rosemary.

Turmeric Chai Tea Recipe


Turmeric Chai Tea Powder 
(4 servings) 

-3 tablespoons ground turmeric
-4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
-1/8 teaspoon ground clove
-1 teaspoon ground cardamon
-2 teaspoons ground ginger
-1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions: Mix all ingredients together and store in a glass jar.

Note: Cayenne pepper, although optional in the recipe, will speed the turmeric through the blood stream by relaxing blood vessels down to capillaries allowing more turmeric to get to the infections faster. 


Tea Prep
(single serving)

-4 teaspoons of Turmeric Chai Tea Powder
-1 cup water
-sweetener to taste
-1/2-1 cup warm milk (i.e. cow, goat, almond, hemp, coconut, etc.)


Directions: Bring 1 cup of water to boil. Pour water over spices and steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or a cheesecloth. Add sweetener and milk.


Notes and Tips

-WARNING: Turmeric will turn everything it touches yellow. 

-Using fresh herbs is always the better option. If using fresh turmeric and ginger increase steep time, during the prep, to 20 minutes.

-Turmeric, along with the other spices required in this recipe, is available in a well-appointed health food store, the spice aisle of most grocery stores, and in bulk online through companies such as Mountain Rose Herbs and The Bulk Herb Store.

-Because it stimulates the uterus, turmeric is not recommended for pregnant women. It is also contraindicated for those with gall bladder disease or gallstones. As a good general rule, please consult your physician prior to the use of any herbal/spice remedy.

Inspirational Resources:
Turmeric Superfood 
20 Health Benefits of Turmeric 
New Findings Show Disease Fighting Powers of Turmeric

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Andrea is a Registered Nurse turned Frugally Sustainable Homemaker.  Her blog, Frugally Sustainable, is “one of the most featured blogs in its niche! It is host to 4-5 informative posts per week that catalogue the why, the how, and the how-to on: frugality, simplicity, health and nutrition, motivation and inspiration, homeschooling, up-cycling, recycling, and designing a life that is interdependent on like-minded others, ecologically responsible and centered around the home.”

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  • Jody B
    December 29, 2014 at 10:44 am

    Hi, thank you for sharing your favorite recipe for turmeric. How much per day, is needed for it to be beneifitial? And strong enough to help fight infections?

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  • Brandy Gibbons
    September 9, 2013 at 12:32 pm

    Wow great tip! I did not know that Turmeric has a lot of benefits!

  • Anonymous
    March 1, 2012 at 1:50 pm

    I made this tea this morning- I was quite skeptical but it was really good! I strained mine through cheesecloth and it was extremely sludgy. How do you prevent that? Maybe I need to stay away from cheesecloth and use a sieve like the one pictured above. I had a heck of a time with it!

  • Karen
    December 23, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    I thought this sounded delicious & was blown away by the health benefits of turmeric! I made a batch (minus the cayenne…might try that next time). It was delicious. I even included a link & a note about the tea on my blog. I drank a cup two afternoons in a row now. My only question is…does turmeric cause…um, gas? Trying to figure out if that little issue was related or coincidental.

  • Kate I
    December 22, 2011 at 1:00 am

    I love the taste of tumeric and have heard so much about it’s healing properties. Thanks for sharing this. I began drinking liquid chlorophyll about 6 weeks ago – about 6 to 8 glasses a day and can’t believe the difference in how great I’m feeling. Much more energy! Here are a couple of links to this amazing super food/drink if you’re interested. (It doesn’t taste much of anything except a slight earthiness)

    .http://www.energiseforlife.com/wordpress/2009/02/11/health-benefits-of-liquid-chlorophyll/

    http://www.ehow.com/way_5306062_benefits-using-liquid-chlorophyll.html

  • adventuresindinner
    December 21, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    Oh, this would be lovely for Christmas morning. A cosy mug and lots of family. 🙂

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