Can’t stand haldi doodh? Give this spiced turmeric tea recipe a chance to bask in curcumin’s health benefits

Bursting with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, this spiced turmeric tea with cinnamon, honey, and fennel is a great way to start the day.
health benefits of turmeric water
Turmeric has the benefits of curcumin, which has the ability to heal. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Meghna Kriplani Published: 5 Mar 2020, 18:54 pm IST
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I am a big fan of turmeric and its beauty benefits. And not the synthetic powdered kind we use for our daily sabzis, mind you. I prefer using the whole root–fresh and raw–pounded well with yoghurt and a dash of besan for glorious skin.

Of course, I am not blind to turmeric’s health benefits. After all, Indians moms’ fascination with haldi doodh–no matter how icky it tastes–is legendary. Obviously, there is enough scientific backing to support curcumin–which is the starring component in turmeric. 

In fact, many studies state that curcumin can keep your ticker healthy, help you deal with injuries and inflammatory conditions, and even keep cancer at bay. And yet, eating turmeric raw (like many Ayurvedic practitioners suggest) or drinking it with milk is not something I could manage. Because let’s face it: haldi is not the best tasting thing in the world.

Also, read: Does turmeric have the power to fight against the deadly novel coronavirus? Let’s find out

And yet, I didn’t want to lose out on all healthy goodness (I blame my love for junk food for this move). So I decided to brew myself some turmeric tea.

turmeric tea recipe
Drink a cuppa full of haldi tea for good health. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

What the hell is turmeric tea?
Frankly, there is absolutely no tea in this concoction. Rather, this simple recipe calls for boiling some raw turmeric in water. Here is how I prepare it:

Ingredients
1-inch piece raw turmeric
1 small cinnamon bark
A pinch of fennel seeds
1 cup water
Honey to taste

Preparation
1. Chop the turmeric coarsely and use a mortar and pestle to pound it to release its juices.
2. Heat the water in a pan on high and add the turmeric, cinnamon, and fennel seeds.
3. Once the mixture comes to a boil, let it simmer for a few minutes.
4. Turn off the heat and cover the pan with a lid and let it brew for five minutes.
5. Strain and pour the mixture in a cup, add honey as required–et voila. You’re done!

What are the benefits of this spiced turmeric tea
Well, for starters it’s a great way to bask in the goodness of turmeric without the strong taste. The cinnamon adds to the antioxidant power of turmeric and also offers anti-inflammatory benefits and is even touted to aid weight loss. Fennel helps with digestion–which makes this blend a great way to start your day, rejuvenate after a workout, or finish a heavy meal.

Will you give this turmeric tea a shot? Let me know in the comments below

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About the Author

Waging a war against diets one cookie at a time, Meghna is a content creator and editor focusing on women's issues, wellness, and lifestyle. ...Read More

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