Turmeric Water

Our four-ingredient turmeric water recipe features earthy turmeric, spicy fresh ginger and bright lemon slices. Turmeric water is one of the easiest turmeric recipes for your body-boosting fix. Keep a pitcher chilling in the fridge to start the day or drink it whenever you need an invigorating kick.

Native to Southeast Asia, golden-hued turmeric has been a staple in Indian cooking and Ayurvedic medicine for over 4,000 years. A superfood with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and antiseptic properties, turmeric can be ingested or used topically. Whether fresh—it looks a little bit like ginger but is vibrant yellow-orange on the inside—or ground, there are many unexpected uses for turmeric. It can be used to add flavor and distinctive color to many sweet and savory dishes, from smoothies and turmeric tea (aka golden milk) to curries and stir-fries.

Health Benefits of Turmeric Water

Staying hydrated throughout the day is essential, but we all can get a little bored with plain water. Making infused water by adding herbs, fruits and spices is an excellent way to encourage yourself to drink more water. The bonus with this infused water is that you get the health benefits from turmeric, ginger and lemon.

Turmeric is widely known for its many health benefits, thanks to its main active ingredient, curcumin. This aromatic compound gives turmeric anti-inflammatory properties that may benefit gut health and health issues like arthritis, joint pain, inflammation and menstrual pain.

Curcumin’s antioxidant properties may also help combat diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease and lessen skin damage. It’s also said to reduce stress hormones, which may help you feel more energized, assist in managing depression and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and other memory issues. As an antibiotic and antibacterial agent, curcumin may boost the body’s ability to fight infection and kill bacteria. Its antiseptic properties could help with skin inflammations such as psoriasis, dermatitis, acne and even dandruff.

Gingerroot, the knobby rhizome from a flowering plant related to turmeric, has a lot going for it, too. The benefits of ginger include its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to relieve nausea, aid digestion and provide muscle pain relief. It may also help with skin and hair health and weight management.

Like turmeric and ginger, some benefits of lemon include improved digestion, skin and hair health, and weight management. Its high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants may boost your immune system, support heart health, fight off toxins, reduce the risk of kidney stones and enhance your iron absorption.

Ingredients for Turmeric Water

• Turmeric: Ground turmeric is earthy and slightly bitter. Like ginger, it is peppery with a touch of sweetness. Be careful when handling turmeric, as it can easily stain everything—your skin, counters, cutting board, towels and clothes.
• Gingerroot: Fresh ginger is spicy, peppery and slightly sweet. It gives the turmeric water a nice kick and a floral fragrance. The skin contains plenty of gingery flavor, so don’t peel it if it’s smooth and taut (but give it a good rinse). If you do want to peel ginger, use a spoon to gently scrape off the papery skin.
• Lemon: Fresh lemon adds a bright, tart flavor and citrus aroma to the infused water. Give the lemon skin a good scrub before slicing it into rounds. Over time, the lemon seeds, rinds and pith will make the water bitter. Pick out the lemon seeds after slicing. Take a sip of the water after 12 hours and remove the lemon slices if necessary.
• Water: Not everyone has great-tasting water straight out of the tap. If your tap water (like mine) has an off taste, use filtered water.

Directions

Step 1: Combine

Combine the turmeric, gingerroot, lemon and water in a large glass carafe or pitcher.

Editor’s Tip: To coax more flavor from your ginger, smash the slices to help release their oils and expose more of the flesh. A cleaver works best because of its wide blade, but a chef’s knife is also acceptable. Place the flat side of the knife on top of a slice of ginger at a slight angle. Carefully use the heel of your hand to apply pressure to the flat side of the knife to crush the ginger and break up its flesh. If using a knife makes you nervous, give the slices of ginger a couple of whacks with a rolling pin.

Step 2: Cover and refrigerate

Cover the carafe and refrigerate the turmeric water for 12 to 24 hours.

Editor’s Tip: If your carafe or pitcher has no lid, cover the top with storage wrap to prevent anything from falling in. To prevent the growth of any bacteria, avoid leaving the turmeric water out at room temperature for more than two hours.

Turmeric Water Variations

• Add other citrus flavors: Lime, commonly used in Indian recipes, is an obvious addition or substitute. Oranges will bring some sweetness. Lemongrass and makrut lime leaves, essential ingredients in Thai cuisine, will provide a more complex citrusy fragrance and flavor.
• Make a minty lemonade: Add freshly squeezed lemon juice and sprigs of fresh mint. Sweeten it with honey to taste.
• Make an iced milk-free version of turmeric tea: No dairy milk or plant-based milk, please! Add a stick or two of cinnamon, a generous pinch of freshly ground black pepper and a sweetener like honey or maple syrup to your turmeric water.

How to Store Turmeric Water

Store the turmeric water in a covered glass container in the fridge. Avoid storing the water in a plastic container as the turmeric will stain it yellow.

How long does turmeric water last?

If you want to keep the turmeric water for longer than a day, strain it and store it, covered, in the fridge for up to a week.

Turmeric Water Tips

Can you use fresh turmeric for turmeric water?

Yes, by all means, if you have access to fresh turmeric, use it! Fresh turmeric resembles ginger but has bright orange flesh when cut open. Its flavor is much livelier than ground turmeric. Slice a 3-inch piece into coins and add it to the water along with the other ingredients.

Can you make hot turmeric water?

Heating turmeric for a short time may make the curcumin more readily absorbed by the body, thus increasing its health benefits—that’s why some turmeric water or turmeric tea recipes often involve hot liquid. However, the health benefits of curcumin may diminish when it’s heated over too high heat and for an extended period. So, if you want to make a hot version of our turmeric water, bring the mixture to a boil, immediately lower the heat, let it simmer for up to 10 minutes, then remove it from the heat.

Should you add black pepper to turmeric water?

Although unnecessary, combining freshly ground black pepper and turmeric can help curcumin be more easily absorbed into the body. A generous pinch of pepper will give your turmeric water an additional kick.