Turmeric Tea

What Is Turmeric Tea?

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a root in the ginger family. Dried and cut into pieces or ground into turmeric powder, it brews a bright golden-orange cup; the color comes from curcumin, its best-known compound. Because it doesn't come from the Camellia sinensis tea plant, pure turmeric tea is a herbal tea, or tisane, with no caffeine. Turmeric has a long history in South Asian cooking, and most turmeric teas pair it with other spices and ingredients: ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, lemongrass or orange peel.

Several brands here name where their turmeric comes from. Culinary Teas sources its organic turmeric from India, Nepal Tea grows its organic turmeric and ginger on a family farm in eastern Nepal, and Somage says the spices in its Turmeric Latte are harvested on organic farms in Sri Lanka.

Turmeric Tea Styles in Our Collection

Pure Turmeric

For turmeric on its own, Culinary Teas Organic Turmeric Herbal Tea has a single ingredient, organic turmeric root pieces, with a flavor the brand describes as "lightly herbaceous with notes of chestnut and spice." Harney & Sons Organic Turmeric is ground organic turmeric powder that you stir in, handy for golden milk or a homemade turmeric tea recipe.

Turmeric Ginger Tea

Ginger, from the same plant family, is the most common partner in the blends here. Harney & Sons Organic Ginger Turmeric blends organic apple, ginger root, lemongrass, turmeric, hibiscus, beetroot, cardamom and nutmeg in sachets; in the brand's words, "Lemongrass softens turmeric and ginger spice." It comes in individually wrapped sachets, tins of 20 and bags of 50. Tea with Tae Turmeric Ginger puts turmeric first, with ginger, lemon and orange peel, lemongrass, licorice root and black peppercorn in pyramid sachets, and Nepal Tea Golden Turmeric Ginger is simply ginger and turmeric from a certified organic garden in Nepal.

Golden Milk and Turmeric Latte

Golden milk is turmeric and warming spices heated with milk, a warm, caffeine free alternative to coffee in the morning. Harney & Sons Organic Golden Milk combines turmeric, ginger, coconut, black pepper and chicory root, and Nepal Tea Organic Golden Milk is a fine powder of organic turmeric and ginger with cinnamon and black pepper. Somage Turmeric Latte is a latte powder of turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper, sweetened with coconut sugar.

Turmeric Chai and Spiced Blends

Somage Turmeric Fresh Chai is a delicious honeyed rooibos chai with ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and black pepper, brewed in milk. For a turmeric ginger cinnamon tea in bags, the FreshDrinkUS Turmeric & Moringa Duo pairs turmeric, ginger and cinnamon tea bags with a moringa tea. Plum Deluxe Golden Cacao blends honeybush with turmeric, ginger, cocoa and black pepper; Plum Deluxe calls it "a warm, golden blend of turmeric and spices."

Fruity Turmeric Blends

Fruit softens the root's earthy flavor. Piper and Leaf Golden Hour Tonic mixes ginger and turmeric with rosehips, pineapple, papaya, apple, citrus rind, hibiscus and spearmint, a "burst of grapefruit, smooth turmeric, and spicy sweet ginger pineapple." Beach House Golden Summit leads with organic apples, followed by rosehips, hibiscus, turmeric root, cinnamon and orange peel, and Tea Please Glow blends ginger and turmeric with pineapple, carrot, beet and calendula.

Turmeric with Black or Green Tea

A few blends add black or green tea leaves, so they contain caffeine. Culinary Teas Organic Turmeric Ginger Peach is a black tea blend sold in 1-gallon iced tea bags, Zum offers a loose leaf Turmeric Ginger Peach black tea, and Culinary Teas Ginger Turmeric blends green and black tea with ginger and turmeric.

Shop Turmeric Tea by Brand

Because we carry turmeric tea from many makers, you can compare brands side by side, find your favorite turmeric tea and check out in one cart.

Turmeric Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf and Powder

Turmeric tea bags and sachets are the easy route: no measuring, no strainer, and the same cup every time. In this collection you'll find individually wrapped options that travel well, like the Harney & Sons box of 20 wrapped sachets, Tea with Tae's bag of 50 or Piper and Leaf's case of 50. Loose turmeric tea, like full leaf tea, gives you more control over strength and flavor, and blends with larger root pieces, citrus and fruit keep more of their texture. Golden milk blends are usually whisked into milk and heated rather than steeped like a tea bag, and some, like Harney & Sons Organic Golden Milk, contain pieces you may want to strain. Turmeric stains, so rinse mugs and infusers soon after brewing. Browse all loose leaf tea or tea bags.

What Does Turmeric Tea Taste Like?

Turmeric tea tastes earthy and warm, a little bitter and peppery, with a rich, musky depth; Harney & Sons describes its turmeric as "slightly bitter earth flavors with a mouth-tingling flavor." Ginger adds heat, cinnamon adds sweetness, lemongrass and orange peel brighten the flavor, and fruit blends taste more like a spiced fruit tea. A bit of honey, a squeeze of lemon or a splash of milk all suit turmeric well, and unsweetened turmeric tea has very few calories.

How to Make Turmeric Tea

Hot Turmeric Tea

Making turmeric tea is easy: pour boiling water over the tea and give it a longer steep than most teas, depending on how strong you like it. Brewing instructions vary by brand. Harney & Sons brews its Organic Ginger Turmeric at 212°F for 5 minutes, Tea with Tae steeps its Turmeric Ginger in 8 oz of 212°F water for 5 to 6 minutes, and Nepal Tea uses 2 grams per 8 oz at 210°F for 5 minutes. Piper and Leaf steeps Golden Hour Tonic for 10 minutes, and Culinary Teas suggests covering its pure turmeric and steeping 3 to 7 minutes, longer for a stronger cup.

Iced Turmeric Tea

Turmeric tea is delicious iced, too; Harney & Sons notes that its Organic Ginger Turmeric is "refreshing when served iced." For a pitcher, Culinary Teas steeps one Organic Turmeric Ginger Peach iced tea bag in a quart of boiling water, then dilutes the concentrate with 3 quarts of cold water. With hot turmeric tea, you can also brew a strong cup and pour it over ice. Refrigerate brewed iced tea within 2 hours of brewing (40°F or below) and drink it within 2 to 3 days. Our guide to making iced tea covers the basics.

Turmeric Ginger Tea Recipe

This easy homemade turmeric tea recipe makes about 2 cups and needs only a few ingredients.

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 inch fresh turmeric root, thinly sliced (or about 1 teaspoon ground turmeric)
• 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• A pinch of ground black pepper
• Honey and a squeeze of lemon, to taste

Place the water in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil, add the sliced roots, then turn the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour the tea through a strainer into mugs, discarding the root pieces, stir in the black pepper, then add honey and lemon to taste. If you use ground turmeric instead, stir it into the simmering water for the last few minutes; it won't strain out completely, so give the cup a stir before each sip. Fresh root stains, so use a cutting board you don't mind turning yellow. Making a big batch? Double the ingredients, refrigerate the strained tea within 2 hours and drink it within 2 to 3 days.

Golden Milk Recipe

Making golden milk at home takes a couple of minutes. For one mug, add a golden milk blend from this collection to 8 oz of milk or plant milk, whisk, and heat it over low heat until steaming, without boiling; Harney & Sons suggests 1 tablespoon of its Organic Golden Milk per 8 oz, heated on the stovetop to about 180°F, steaming but not boiling; strain it if you prefer a smoother cup. No blend? Use about 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and ginger and a pinch of black pepper, and sweeten with honey. Many golden milk recipes add a little fat, such as a teaspoon of coconut oil, or use whole milk for its fat and body. Milk, coconut oil and honey all add calories, so adjust this golden milk recipe to taste.

Turmeric Tea and Curcumin Research

Turmeric has been part of traditional cooking and wellness practices in South Asia for centuries. Its golden color comes from curcumin, the compound most researchers study. Most of that research uses concentrated curcumin extracts in supplement form, at amounts far above what a cup of tea provides, so the results don't translate directly to your mug, and studies on turmeric tea itself are limited.

More research is needed, and turmeric tea is an enjoyable drink, not a way to treat any condition. If you have questions about turmeric and your health or any medication, ask your doctor.

Turmeric Tea FAQ

Does turmeric tea have caffeine?

Pure turmeric tea has no caffeine, because turmeric is a root, not a tea plant. Blends with black or green tea do contain caffeine; Culinary Teas rates its green and black Ginger Turmeric as high. Check the ingredients on each product page, and you can shop all caffeine-free teas.

Does golden milk have caffeine?

Golden milk made from turmeric, spices and milk has no caffeine. Harney & Sons Organic Golden Milk and Somage Turmeric Latte are both labeled caffeine-free by their brands.

Is it okay to drink turmeric tea every day?

Many people enjoy a cup of turmeric tea every day, but there is no official daily amount. If you have health questions, your doctor can tell you what makes sense for you.

Can you drink turmeric tea while pregnant?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor or midwife before drinking turmeric tea or other herbal teas.

Why do turmeric teas include black pepper?

Black pepper is a classic partner for turmeric in cooking, and it adds gentle heat to the cup. Researchers have also studied piperine, a compound in black pepper, together with curcumin.

Should you drink turmeric tea in the morning or at night?

Either works. Pure turmeric and most herbal blends have no caffeine, so a warm cup in the evening or before bed is easy, while turmeric blends with black or green tea are better earlier in the day.

Want a short list first? See our picks for the best turmeric tea, or keep exploring ginger tea, cinnamon tea, chai tea and the full herbal tea collection.