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    Home » Drinks

    Published: Feb 26, 2025 by Zen · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Turmeric Lemon Ginger Cinnamon Honey Tea

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    This easy & healthy Turmeric Lemon Ginger Cinnamon Honey Tea only requires 5 ingredients. It is not only delicious and nourishing, it's a treat for the eyes with its beautiful, naturally golden color! Caffeine free, this turmeric tea DIY is the perfect drink at night time.

    Overhead shot of turmeric ginger cinnamon lemon honey tea.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Turmeric
    • Variations
    • Step-By-Step Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • How to Store
    • Health Benefits
    • Other Asian Teas
    • Turmeric ginger cinnamon lemon honey tea
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    The ingredients needed for turmeric cinnamon lemon ginger honey tea on a white tablecloth.

    To make this turmeric cinnamon ginger lemon honey tea, you will need a few basic ingredients:

    • turmeric: ginger and turmeric can be easily grown in a tropical garden- for more edible Asian garden recipes, click here. I like to use it to make golden milk latte, especially during flu season. (The leaves are also used in some Singaporean recipes, such as Nasi Ulam.)
      • If you use ground spices such as turmeric powder, the drink will have a bit of a powdery taste.
      • I actually highly recommend using fresh not turmeric powder, as ground turmeric can have lead in it.
      • Scroll down for more information about this Asian spice.
    • fresh ginger root: If you like a really spicy taste, use more ginger or grate it to make it stronger. For a smooth tea, if you're using grated ginger, you will need to strain out the pulp with a fine-mesh strainer after simmering the tea. (That's why I prefer using ginger slices- much less work!)
      • Ginger has a lot of antioxidants and small amounts may help gastrointestinal irritation. It can reduce the likelihood of food flowing back up the oesophagus and thus acid reflux. However, everyone has different reflux triggers, so do consult a medical professional and take note of your reaction after eating ginger to be sure.
    • cinnamon: make sure you get the right type of cinnamon. (You want Ceylon cinnamon and not cassia.) Cinnamon powder is an acceptable substitute. You can add Ceylon cinnamon sticks in the cups if you want to make them look more interesting.
      • Ceylon cinnamon is a tan brown colour whilst Cassia can be a reddish dark brown. The quill of Ceylon cinnamon also tends to be thinner than Cassia, with multiple layers vs Cassia which is thick with fewer layers. Lastly, Ceylon cinnamon is more delicate than Cassia which is hard to break.
    • Honey: stir in the honey when the tea isn't too hot, or the health benefits will be neutralised. Alternatively, you can use maple syrup as a sweetener.

    For a full list of ingredients for this cinnamon tea recipe, please check out the recipe card.

    Turmeric

    3 types of turmeric, fresh, dried and paste.

    Turmeric is a rhizome containing curcumin and thus is often extolled for its health benefits- it has been said to do everything from helping boost immunity to encouraging weight loss.

    It is used in Ayurvedic & Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a very common ingredient in Asian & Indian kitchens. In India, turmeric was a medicinal herb used for joint, respiratory, digestive and skin problems. 

    Curcumin has good anti-inflammatory properties and is a potential treatment for osteoporosis & other illnesses.

    However, not much concrete evidence of the benefits of turmeric is available as its curcumin content is very unstable. (1 study claims that taking turmeric 3x a day is comparable to a daily 1200 mg dose of ibuprofen, but more research is necessary to confirm this.)

    Ginger

    Ginger (Zingiber officinale), which has a bold, almost spicy flavour, has a lot of powerful anti-oxidant plant compounds. Its many bioactive compounds include lot of anti-inflammatory gingerols. Ginger is used in many cold, nausea and arthritis treatments.

    A study of people with rheumatoid arthritis found that daily ginger powder over a period of 12 weeks helped to improve inflammation. Another 2019 Supportive Care in Cancer study found that taking ginger every day improved gastro-intestinal symptoms of advanced cancer patients.

    Fun fact: ginger in animal studies has even been shown to boost testosterone!

    Cinnamon

    Cinnamon has been used since 2800BC, and is a traditional remedy for respiratory and digestive illnesses. There are 4 types of cinnamon bark:

    • True cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon (also known as Mexican cinnamon) (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
    • Indonesian cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmanni)
    • Vietnamese cinnamon (Cinnamomum loureiroi)
    • Cassia cinnamon (also known as Chinese cinnamon) (Cinnamomum aromaticum)

    Ceylon cinnamon is expensive but should be used whenever possible due to its low coumarin. Be careful of using too much Cassia cinnamon, which contains high amounts of coumarin, a carcinogenic substance that can harm your liver and is toxic in large doses. 

    Cinnamon contains phytochemicals which help brains better utilize glucose. It also has anti-microbial elements and can limit the growth of Listeria, Escherichia coli & other bacteria in food. There are also many other cinnamon studies, researching its effect on:

    • regulating glucose levels
    • anti-inflammatory properties
    • anti-oxidant effects
    • heart diseases
    • lipids
    • cancer
    • blood pressure
    • etc

    Note: all this information is FYI only and not meant as medical or health advice. Please consult a qualified health or medical professional for advice.

    Fresh Lemon Juice

    A squeeze of lemon juice not just makes the tea taste better, it also boosts the vitamin C content: 1 lemon has 31 mg of Vitamin C, an anti-oxidant that protects your cells from free radical damage, which is why hot water and lemon is so good for you when you have a sore throat.

    You could also try it with calamansi, another citrus fruit that has a delicious floral taste.

    Tip: Serve each mug of tea with a slice of lemon on the side for visual effect.

    Honey

    A touch of honey helps to counter the sourness of the lemon juice. Manuka honey is 1 of the healthiest types of honey after which come dark unfiltered honeys. Stay away from clear filtered honeys- some have had unhealthy high-fructose corn syrup added to them!

    Manuka Honey

    Made in New Zealand and Australia by bees that pollinate the Manuka bush, according to nutritionist David Friedman:
    “Manuka honey has antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. It’s an effective treatment for stomach ulcers... It’s also been found to be effective against chronic diarrhea and C. difficile, a bacterium that can cause life-threatening inflammation of the colon... it destroys "harmful oral bacteria associated with plaque formation and tooth decay.”

    Tip: Raw honey is preferred for its health benefits but, if vegan, you can use bone char free brown sugar or a sweetener of your choice.

    Where to Buy

    Cinnamon, ginger, lemon and honey are all readily available in most super markets.

    For fresh turmeric, you will probably need to go to a shop like Whole Foods- alternatively, you can make do with ground turmeric, which can be found in most grocery stores.

    Click here to get Manuka Honey on Amazon (affiliate link at no cost to you.)

    Note: always check the cinnamon is Ceylon cinnamon- even the McCormicks ground cinnamon on your spice rack is Cassia, not Ceylon!

    Variations

    1. This turmeric ginger tea recipe can be enjoyed both hot, on a cold day, or called as an iced tea in the summer
    2. Turn it into Golden milk: this turmeric ginger and honey cinnamon tea also tastes great as cinnamon milk tea. (You can use dairy milk or almond milk. Start with a 1:1 ratio of the turmeric tea to milk then adjusting to suit your taste, if necessary.) I do not recommend coconut milk, because it tastes like a very sweet curry!
    3. If you enjoy spice, you can add a pinch of black pepper, cayenne pepper, clove or nutmeg to this soothing tea.

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    Slices of ginger and turmeric next to a cinnamon stick.
    1. Slice your ginger and turmeric. No need to stress about peeling!
    2. Wash the cinnamon stick well- dirt is sometimes trapped in the folds.
    Boiling slices of ginger and turmeric with cinnamon in a pot.

    3. Add the ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and water to a pot. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes, or to taste.

    Adding lemon juice to the pot of ginger turmeric and cinnamon tea.

    4. Once the flavor is strong enough, switch off the fire and stir in the lemon juice.

    Stirring honey into a pot of ginger turmeric cinnamon tea with lemon juice.

    5. Then stir in the honey, to taste. Preferably use Manuka honey for the most health benefits, if your budget allows.

    Pour into cups and serve.

    Expert Tips

    A glass of golden tea with turmeric, ginger and cinnamon behind it.
    That pure golden color is from the turmeric- be careful that the color doesn't stain your clothing or kitchen countertop!

    Tip #1: If you enjoy giving homemade food gift to friends, you can pack dried turmeric slices, dried ginger powder and ground cinnamon into a tea bag as presents for friends. (If you enjoy giving DIY food gifts, here are 21 more homemade food gift ideas for you.)

    Tip #2: Turmeric stains everything super easily. Don't cut fresh turmeric root on a white counter top, and don't wear your favourite clothes when working with turmeric!

    How to Store

    Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

    This turmeric ginger cinnamon lemon honey tea can be drunk straight out of the chiller, or you can re-heat it if you prefer a hot cup of turmeric ginger and cinnamon tea.

    Health Benefits

    A warm cup of lemon ginger turmeric tea is the perfect anti-inflammatory drink in winter. (All of the ingredients in this turmeric ginger cinnamon tea have been chosen for their positive impact on the immune system.)

    Note: For more healthy recipes, try this flu-busting foods vegan wonton soup packed with ginger and garlic or this refreshing lemongrass tea.

    Side effects: These spices may react negatively with certain medications, such as warfarin, so always consult a medical doctor first.

    Some people have also suffered from diarrhoea, heartburn etc after taking too much of this herbal tea, so everything in moderation!

    Note: For more turmeric recipes, such as turmeric with roast potatoes, click here, or here for turmeric substitutes.

    A cup of turmeric ginger cinnamon tea with lemon and honey amongst edible flowers.

    Other Asian Teas

    • A glass of cold Matcha Chai Latte with Masala Chai spices next to it.
      Starbucks Matcha Chai Latte
    • A cup of cinnamon jujube tea with pine nuts on it.
      Chinese Jujube Tea (Red date Tea)
    • A cup of hot gojibesry tea surrounded by cherry blossoms.
      Homemade Goji Berry Tea Drink (Wolfberry Tea)
    • A glass of cold roasted barley tea.
      Korean Barley Tea (Boricha/ Mugicha)

    Enjoyed this turmeric tea recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY liked this cinnamon honey tea/ healthy drink, a comment would make my week! Thank you and have a great day!

    Close-up of naturally golden turmeric, ginger and cinnamon tea.

    Turmeric ginger cinnamon lemon honey tea

    Zen
    Easy, healthy, naturally golden and only requires 5 ingredients.
    5 from 41 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Dessert, Drinks
    Cuisine Fusion
    Servings 4
    Calories 34 kcal

    Equipment

    • Knife and cutting board
    • Spoon
    • Pot

    Ingredients
      

    • 10 slices Turmeric peeled and sliced. Substitute: turmeric powder
    • 6-10 slices Ginger peeled and sliced. Substitute: dried ginger powder
    • 1 Cinnamon Substitute: cinnamon powder
    • 1 Lemon, squeeze Substitute: lime juice
    • 6 Cups Water
    • Honey, to taste Ideally Manuka honey for the health benefits. Substitute: white or brown sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Add all the ingredients to a pot, except the honey and lemon juice. Bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer.
    • After 10 minutes, taste and see if it's strong enough for you. If not, keep simmering. (I usually simmer for anything between 10-30 minutes depending on how much time I have!)
    • Once the flavor and color are to your liking, switch off the fire then pour in the lemon juice.
    • Add the honey to sweeten to taste.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    The easiest way to peel turmeric and ginger that wastes the least is using the back of a spoon. For more ideas on how to use turmeric, click here. For a stronger ginger tea, use grated ginger.
    Chinese cinnamon, or cassia, is sometimes labelled as cinnamon. Make sure you've got the real cinnamon to get the full health benefits of this tea!
    Variations
    • This turmeric ginger tea recipe can be enjoyed both hot, on a cold day, or called as an iced tea in the summer
    • Turn it into Golden milk: this turmeric ginger and cinnamon tea also tastes great with milk, or almond milk (start by using a 1:1 ratio of the turmeric tea to milk then adjusting to suit your taste, if necessary.) Don't use coconut milk- it tastes like a sweet curry!
    • If you enjoy spice, you can add a pinch of black pepper, cayenne pepper, clove or nutmeg to this soothing tea.
    Note: the nutritional information is an estimate automatically calculated using the WPRM recipe maker and I am not responsible for its veracity.
     

    Note: the nutritional information is an estimate automatically calculated using the WPRM recipe maker and I am not responsible for its veracity.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 34kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 38mgPotassium: 107mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 17IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GreedyGirlGourmet or tag #greedygirlgourmet!

    Let me know if you've made this turmeric ginger tea by tagging me on social media (@greedygirlgourmet)! Alternatively, sign up for my newsletter here for more easy recipes!

    I have other recipes you may like here! :)

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cindy says

      January 26, 2025 at 3:46 pm

      What are the conversion to powder ingredients for the turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and honey; i.e. tsp or tablespoon

      Reply
      • Zen says

        April 01, 2025 at 4:11 pm

        Hi sorry I missed your question Cindy! It will depend on how fresh your cinnamon and turmeric powder etc are. When I tested it using turmeric powder bought this year, 1 teaspoon worked well 🙂 I will test again with cinnamon and ginger powder and update this comment accordingly (as too much powder will make the taste powdery.) For honey, I suggest serving the drink unsweetened with honey on the side so everyone can sweeten it to taste. Hope you enjoy the recipe!

        Reply
    2. Esther says

      March 12, 2023 at 9:00 am

      5 stars
      Tastes fabulous and I do sleep better. I have fibromyalgia and find this fusion helps ease my symptoms a little which is a giant step for me personally.

      Reply
      • Zen says

        March 13, 2023 at 4:20 am

        Hi Esther I am so happy to hear that this tea helps your fibromyalgia! 🙂 Chronic conditions can be so challenging (my father has a chronic lung illness which makes it hard to sleep well) and I do hope you find other things that work for your symptoms 🙂 Wishing you all the very best!

        Reply
    3. rose says

      May 16, 2022 at 12:51 pm

      5 stars
      yum tried the black pepper variation. nice n spicy!

      Reply
    5 from 41 votes (39 ratings without comment)

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    Greedygirlgourmet eating 2 sandwiches in Scotland

    Hi I'm Zhen also known as GGG! I couldn't boil water till I was 18! However, I love creating community and nurturing people, so when I lived abroad (in St. Andrews then London) for 11 years, I started hosting regular parties for friends, and that's how I started cooking and helping out in professional kitchens. (Couldn't cook before that!) I even organised a supper club for charity (which strangers came to!) Learning to cook late, I make sure my recipes go into enough detail for those new to Asian cuisine or who love a test kitchen approach to cooking!

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