Turmeric Shots (powdered or fresh)

Make potent homemade turmeric shots inexpensively at home 2 ways, with either fresh ginger root or turmeric powder. Boost your energy, reduce inflammation and power up your immune system. It's easy using a blender, juicer or jar and flavorful with orange juice.

Turmeric shots are potent concentrated small drinks, about 3-4 ounces, that boost the immune system, fights disease by reducing inflammation, and improve gut health. I make them using either fresh turmeric root or turmeric powder.

You can buy them from grocery stores, brands such as Kor and Vive. They come in various flavors to nutritional targets. I used to scoop them up when I saw deals, but they are expensive so I wanted to make them at home, just as I make ginger shots.

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric shots contain turmeric, an orange spice that comes from a root in the ginger family. Turmeric is an ancient spice that Indian cuisines have enjoyed for thousands of years and Ayurvedic medicine has revered for its  ability to heal a myriad of conditions. In fact, turmeric has been used as a traditional medicine in some countries, including Indonesia where they call it Jamu.

Healthy potent shots, such as my collection of wellness shots and my ever popular ginger shots, have become exceptionally popular in the past few years. And turmeric spice even more so, appearing in everything from lattes to ice cream, because of its health potential.

Health Benefits of Turmeric

There is science behind turmeric's popularity. Turmeric contains a bioactive compound called curcumin which is a known antioxidant with powerful anti-inflammatory effects. These effects help boost immunity, clear up digestion issues, detox, improve blood circulation and more. You should note though to release curcumin from turmeric, black pepper needs to be ingested at the same time hence the black pepper in my recipe.

You can use fresh turmeric or turmeric powder in this recipe, although the health benefits using fresh are about twice as strong as when using turmeric powder.

Ingredients

The most effective turmeric shot recipes combine turmeric, fresh or powdered, with a citrus juice and a pepper. Here are the ingredients in my recipe:

• Turmeric: Find fresh turmeric root in the grocery store produce section. Find turmeric powder in the spice aisle.
• Black pepper: Pepper or even cayenne pepper is necessary to activate the curcumin and increase its bioavailability, or rather help the body absorb more of it.
• Orange juice: This potent citrus provides additional immune boosting power with vitamin C. Its acidity is useful in dissolving the turmeric and its sweetness provides flavor balance.
• Coconut water: I use coconut water because it has a natural sweetness and is high in potassium, so important in boosting immunity. If you don't like coconut water, you can use water instead but the flavor will be slightly more bitter.

Equipment Needed

• Blender (or juicer)
• Fine mesh strainer
• Glass shot bottles. Not necessary. You can also keep the shot in jars.
• ice cube tray

How to Make

There are two ways to make turmeric shots with fresh or powdered turmeric.

First Way: Shots With Fresh Turmeric

Step 1: Wash turmeric root, brushing off dirt with a toothbrush. No need to peel because you'll be straining out the pulp. Chop the root into large chunks if using a blender or juicer, or push chunks through a garlic press if grating to use a jar.

Step 2. Juice the oranges. You can use fresh juice, not from concentrate if you prefer that over juicing fresh oranges. Oranges are important to offset any bitter flavor and of course oranges provide additional immune-boosting vitamin C.

Step 3. Add ingredients to a juicer, blender or a jar.

• Using a juicer: Follow your juicer's instructions.
• Using a blender: Blend the mixture as smooth as you can. A high speed blender is best - such as Blendtec, Nutribullet or Vitamix, but a medium speed blender will also work.

Step 4. Strain the Mixture. Use a fine strainer to pour the mixture through, capturing the paper skin of the root and orange pulp. Use a rubber spatula to press on the mixture and squeegee out as much liquid as possible.

Step 5. Drink your Shot. This recipe makes 2 shots.

Second Way: Shots With Turmeric Powder

This method is convenient because it means you can use a jar and not stain your blender jar.

Step 1: Add orange juice, coconut water, powdered turmeric spice and black pepper to a jar.

Step 2: Shake vigorously. You do not need to strain when using turmeric powder. Drink your shot. This recipe makes 2 shots.

Storage

Whether you make it from fresh turmeric or turmeric powder, store refrigerated for up to 7 days before the wellness power begins to fade.

Make Ahead Shots

Pour the shots in ice cube trays and store in the freezer for three months. Drop 4 (1-tablespoon) cubes into a glass the night before and your shot will be thawed and ready the next morning.

Pro-tip: Do not freeze shots in glass vials as the glass will shatter. Use ice cube trays.

Expert Tips 

1.How to Take Turmeric Shots. It is best to take one shot in the morning on an empty stomach. This recipe creates 2 (3-ounce) shots.

2. Make ahead: Double or triple or quadruple the recipe to make shots for the week.

Add-ins & Substitutions

Boost your shot by replacing the coconut water with aloe vera juice for additional gut support and skin health. Or replace 1 tablespoon of the coconut water with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to up the detox effects, although prepare for a burnier flavor.

Use cayenne pepper if you don't have black pepper.

Use pineapple juice instead of orange juice. Pineapple juice will provide additional anti-inflammatory effects to help with sore joints. Interested in more joint support? Try my Pineapple Smoothie.

FAQS

How Often Should You Take Turmeric Shots?

Science shows you need to ingest about 500mg of curcumin a day to feel the wellness benefits turmeric is known for.[source] To get that in a shot, you'll need to ingest two inches of fresh turmeric or 2 tablespoon of grated turmeric or ½ tablespoon of powdered turmeric. That would be one shot daily from this recipe.

You can also take a curcumin supplement but a turmeric shot is absorbed into your blood stream faster, and is combined with other nutritious ingredients.

When should you take turmeric shots?

It's best to take turmeric shots before breakfast on an empty stomach to ensure best absorption. Turmeric however can interfere with iron absorption so don't take it within 3-4 hours of taking a vitamin or an iron supplement.

Can you make turmeric shots with ground turmeric (turmeric powder)?

Yes! To make a turmeric shot in a jar, add turmeric powder, orange juice, black pepper and coconut water to a jar, screw on the lid and shake. Drink as is.  The detailed recipe is in the recipe card below.

Who should not take turmeric shots?

Turmeric is deemed safe for most people, however pregnant women or breastfeeding women should not consume these shots or supplements. Turmeric can also act as a blood thinner and should not be taken before surgery. Check with your medical professional for questions.

More Detox Recipes

• Ginger Shots
• Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice
• 5 Wellness Shots
• Benefits of Lemon Water
• Detox Water
• Celery Juice

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📖 Recipe

Turmeric Shots (powdered or fresh)

Created by Dee Dine

Make potent homemade turmeric shots inexpensively at home 2 ways, with either fresh ginger root or turmeric powder. Boost your energy, reduce inflammation and power up your immune system. It's easy using a blender, juicer or jar and flavorful with orange juice.

5 from 8 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 119 kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  Fine mesh sieve or strainer
• ▢
  Pyrex glass measuring cup
• ▢
  2 ounce glass shot bottles
• ▢
  1 ounce glass cork bottles

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ ¼ cup orange juice (60 ml) (1 juiced orange)
• ▢ ½ cup coconut water (120 ml)
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Choose fresh or powdered Turmeric

• ▢ 1 tablespoon turmeric powder or ground
• ▢ 2 inches fresh turmeric root, grated Makes about 4 tablespoons grated

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

Using Fresh turmeric root

• Wash the turmeric root, brushing off dirt with a toothbrush. There is no need to peel since you'll be filtering out the hard substances in this mixture.
• Chop turmeric root with a knife and pulverize further using a garlic press or cheese grater. You will need 4 tablespoons of grated turmeric to make 2 (3-ounce) shots.
• Juice the Orange. You can use fresh store bought juice if you prefer. Oranges are important to offset any bitter flavor and of course oranges provide additional immune-boosting vitamin C.
• Add Ingredients to a Blender. Blend the mixture as smooth as you can. A high speed blender is best - such as Blendtec, Nutribullet or Vitamix, but a medium speed blender will also work.
  ¼ cup orange juice (60 ml), ½ cup coconut water (120 ml), ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 2 inches fresh turmeric root, grated
• Strain the Mixture. Pour the mixture through a fine strainer. I typically use a rubber spoon to press on the mixture and squeegee out as much liquid as possible. The liquid are your two shots. Discard the pulp.

Using Turmeric powder

• Add 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder to the blender along with the other ingredients. Blend, strain and drink or store. You can also use a jar with turmeric powder, just shake and strain.
  ¼ cup orange juice (60 ml), ½ cup coconut water (120 ml), ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon turmeric powder

Drink Your Shot

• Whichever way you make it, drink half (1 3-ounce shot) at once for most potent use. You can make it in double or triple batches however and refrigerate for up to 5 days before the wellness power begins to fade.

Storage

• Turmeric shots can be made ahead and refrigerated for 7 days, or frozen for three months in ice cube trays.

Video

Notes

1.How to Take Turmeric Shots. It is best to take one shot in the morning on an empty stomach. This recipe creates 2 (3-ounce) shots. 

2. Make ahead: Double or triple or quadruple the recipe to make shots for the week. Shots can remain refrigerated for five days before losing potency. Or frozen in ice cube trays for three months or longer.

Pro-tip: Do not freeze the glass bottles, they might shatter. To freeze the shots, use ice cube trays.

3. Because turmeric stains surfaces orange, use a washable dish instead of a cutting board, and use a jar or glass dedicated to making turmeric because it will turn orange.

4. To clean turmeric stains off your blender jar, add a solution of water with white vinegar at a ratio 3:1 to the jar and let it sit for 10 minutes. You can also add a tablespoon of bleach to 4 cups of water and let that sit in the blender jar for one minute.

5. Use cayenne pepper instead of black pepper;  use pineapple juice instead of orange juice.

Who should not take turmeric shots? Turmeric is deemed safe for most people, however pregnant women or breastfeeding women should not consume these shots or supplements. Turmeric can also act as a blood thinner and should not be taken before surgery. Check with your medical professional for questions.

Nutrition

Calories: 119kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 810mgFiber: 6gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 61IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 12mg

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