For centuries, turmeric has been one of the most popular spices as it allows you to fight a wide range of diseases and ailments in a totally natural way. The solutions to take it are many, for example you can add it to different recipes or use it to prepare a beneficial and relaxing herbal tea. If you have a cold, the flu or just want to pamper yourself, you can sip a cup of this herbal tea and you will feel better immediately.
Ingrediants
- 500 ml of water
- ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder or 2-3 cm of fresh, grated root
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or 2-3 cm fresh root (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or 2-3 sticks (optional)
- 10 black peppercorns (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 sachets of a relaxing herbal tea of your choice (optional)
- Honey, to taste
- A few drops of lemon or orange juice
- Milk, to taste (optional, you can also use vegetable milk such as soy)
- A natural sugar substitute of your choice (optional)
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Prepare the Ingredients
Step 1. Choose turmeric
Generally it is easier to find it in powder form, while the fresh root is only available in the most well-stocked fruit and vegetable stores or those specializing in natural foods. You can sometimes find fresh turmeric in Asian product stores as well.
To chop fresh turmeric, first gently peel the root using a teaspoon, then use a small grater for the citrus peel (such as the one now famous among Microplane brand chefs). If you want, you can also chop it finely with a sharp knife
Step 2. Select optional ingredients
Ginger is the most common option for adding flavor to turmeric tea. Cinnamon is also a popular choice. Both, like turmeric, are considered natural anti-inflammatories.
If you want to use a tea bag, lemongrass has relaxing and calming properties
Step 3. Prepare optional ingredients
By grinding the dry spices the aromas will be more powerful.
- You can make fresh ginger in the same way as used for turmeric root. Gently remove the peel with a spoon, then use a grater suitable for citrus peel (for example the Microplane).
- Cinnamon sticks can be used whole, but if you want their aroma to be well recognizable it is best to chop them with a pestle and mortar or in a clean coffee grinder.
- Peppercorns can be added whole or ground.
- Cayenne pepper gives a pungent note to the herbal tea and accelerates the metabolism.
Part 2 of 4: Infusing the Spices
Step 1. Bring the water to a boil in a kettle or small saucepan
Step 2. Add the turmeric directly to the boiling water
This is the time to also incorporate any additional ingredients you prefer, except milk and tea bags.
Step 3. Reduce the heat and let the ingredients simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes
The temperature must be lower than that of boiling. When the water simmers, it reaches a temperature lower than that of boiling. For more details, you can read this article.
Step 4. Remove the pot from the heat
Be cautious when touching it as the content will be extremely hot. Use oven mitts, pot holders, or a tea towel folded over on itself several times to protect your hands.
At this point, if you want, you can infuse the tea bags for three minutes
Part 3 of 4: Serve the herbal tea
Step 1. Filter it
Pour the herbal tea through a colander placed on a cup or teapot. This way you will be able to remove solid ingredients and you will not have to worry about them while drinking.
Be cautious when pouring the liquid into the colander, remember that it is hot
Step 2. Add lemon and / or honey
You can pour them directly into the teapot or, if you are preparing the herbal tea for several people, let everyone add them personally in the desired quantity.
Step 3. Add the milk
Regardless of the variety, animal or vegetable, milk allows you to mitigate the bitter taste of the herbal tea.
Step 4. Serve
Part 4 of 4: Prepare Turmeric Tea Bags
Step 1. Gather the necessary ingredients and utensils
In addition to the tools normally used to make tea or herbal teas, i.e. a kettle or a pot and a cup, you will need the following:
- 4 tea bags, you can buy them ready-made in specialized stores or on the web or create them yourself following one of the many tutorials available online;
- A small boule;
- Spoons for measuring the spices.
Step 2. Prepare the ingredients
For this recipe you will need the following spices:
- 2, 5 tablespoons of turmeric powder;
- 1, 5 tablespoons of cinnamon in poor;
- 4 tablespoons of lemongrass leaves;
- 20 peppercorns.
- Half a spoon is equivalent to one and a half teaspoons.
Step 3. Assemble the ingredients
Put them all together in a small bowl, then mix to blend them.
Step 4. Fill the tea bags
Use a tablespoon of the mixture of ingredients for each sachet.
Step 5. Prepare the infusion
When it's time to make the tea, use the traditional method by following the instructions in this article.
- If you want, you can add fresh ginger while the ingredients are brewing.
- You can also add slices of orange and honey.
Step 6. Give your homemade herbal tea
These handmade tea bags are a great gift idea, especially when paired with tea-making accessories.
Advice
- If you want to serve several cups of herbal tea, you can increase the doses of the ingredients in a very simple way. The quantities indicated in this recipe are for 2 people, to serve 4 use a liter of water, a teaspoon of turmeric and also double the quantities of optional ingredients.
- Experiment with different flavor combinations to find the one you prefer.
