Turmeric & Black Pepper Herbal Tea for Soothing Inflammation in the Body
This recipe for turmeric and black pepper herbal tea is an excellent daily tonic drink for helping with any mysterious areas of inflammation you might have. You can also adapt it to create a wonderful golden milk for drinking right before bedtime or first thing in the morning!
Have you ever felt that your body is just a little “out of whack”? Like things just aren’t quite right? It’s a pretty common problem these days. If you have felt this way, you might be experiencing chronic inflammation! Now, typical inflammation is meant to be a good thing. It’s normally when our body responds to a cut or a bad cold or has a minor allergic reaction to something. The body takes care of business, and everything heals up.
But chronic inflammation is a different matter altogether. When inflammation is chronic, your body is in an ongoing state of trying to re-balance itself. The inflammatory response is always “on.”
Some signs that you may be battling chronic inflammation without even knowing it include increased abdominal weight; puffy, runny eyes; fatigue and/or brain fog; painful joints; and digestive issues. This is not a complete list, and of course every person is different, but if you feel like you are potentially dealing with chronic inflammation in any way, there are some natural things you can do.
One of the simplest things you can do to help your body deal with inflammation is use turmeric and black pepper, like in this Fermented Golden Beet Kvass. But an easier and faster way is to create this easy herbal tea with turmeric & black pepper.
Why?
Well, turmeric contains a compound called curcumin in high amounts. Curcumin has been shown to reduce chronic inflammation in research studies. But here is the problem: Curcumin is not very easily absorbed by the body on its own.
To enhance the benefits and efficacy of curcumin, another compound, piperine, needs to be taken with it. Guess where piperine is found?
Black Pepper!
That’s why this tea from Colleen Codekas’ new book, Healing Herbal Infusions, works so well for helping reduce chronic inflammation.
FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered throughout this article. If you click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to Make Turmeric & Black Pepper Tea for Chronic Inflammation
Recently, I was given a copy of Colleen Codekas’ new book, Healing Herbal Infusions, to review. This is where I came across her recipe for fresh turmeric and black pepper tea. It’s so easy to make! Isn’t it crazy how sometimes the simplest things are the most effective? I thought I’d go ahead and share it with you with her permission!
This recipe makes two cups of tea. It’s got a bit of a sharp taste due to the turmeric, but I happen to love this flavor. If you are not much of a fan, feel free to sweeten it with a little raw honey!
Ingredients for the Basic Tea:
***. 3/4 cup (75 g) sliced fresh turmeric
*** 2 tsp (6 g) whole black peppercorns
*** 2 1/2 cups (600 ml) water
Instructions:
“Combine the turmeric, peppercorns and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Boil for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat and let sit to slightly cool for several minutes. Strain out the turmeric and peppercorns when ready to use. Be forewarned that fresh turmeric can stain your cooking utensils, hands, and clothing a bright orange color that can be hard to remove.”
To Use:
“Drink 1 to 2 cups (240 to 480 ml) per day to help reduce chronic inflammation.
This tea is safe for children ages 2 and older.”
A Quick Golden Milk Tip:
Alternatively, Colleen points out in the book that you can “replace the water with milk and warm it on low in a saucepan for 10 to 15 minutes.” This is a quick recipe for an Ayurvedic staple called Golden Milk that is becoming more and more well known as a delicious health drink in the Western world.
My Personal Comments About the Recipe:
Fresh herbs are really best to use, if you can. However, if you live in a very rural place like I do, fresh turmeric is just not readily available. You can also use dried turmeric (powder or chips) for this tea. Just cut the amount in about half. Also, I recommend crushing the peppercorns a bit using a mortar and pestle in order to release more of the compound into the tea.
Are you wondering where you can buy your herbs? My favorite place to purchase dried herbs is Starwest Botanicals. They have excellent customer service, fast shipping, and organic or ethically wildcrafted products. You can get your culinary spices there too!
More About the Book, Healing Herbal Infusions
Since this is also a book review, I’m going to share a bit about how I feel about Colleen’s new book, Healing Herbal Infusions.
First of all, it is just beautiful. I literally gasped at how gorgeous the photos are (created by Colleen herself, including the picture of this tea above), and there is also lovely artwork on each page too. It’s a very attractive book and would be an excellent gift for an aspiring herbalist. It looks great on my coffee table, and it would make a beautiful and useful addition to any book collection.
Next, it’s very informative. Colleen provides information about each recipe and why they work in a very simple and easy to understand way. She also provides a complete section in the beginning the book about the basics of healing herbal infusions. A complete beginner to making any kind of herbal infusion would feel very comfortable with her book.
Finally, I love the categories. Colleen has separated the book into several sections:
infusions to boost immunity
infusions to soothe your aches and pains
infusions to relieve what ails you
infusions to ease your digestion
infusions to embrace your inner well-being
infusions to nourish your skin, lips, & hair
infusions to support mother & child
This is a very helpful book with many wonderful ways to use easy-to-find herbs and start making your own herbal infusions! Some of the kinds of infusions she includes in the book are teas, tinctures, salves & ointments, infused oils, steams, and more.
As far as improvements, I really have nothing to say (which is rare). This is seriously a book I can feel great about recommending you add to your herbal resource collection, especially if you are beginning to learn about becoming an herbalist. Or, if you have friends or family interested in herbalism, Colleen’s book would make a perfect gift this holiday season.
Gosh! Pair this book with an attractive mortar and pestle and/or a great tea infuser cup, and wouldn’t that be a great gift basket?
Final Reflections
Turmeric is one of the best remedies out there for inflammation. By drinking it daily, you can really help your body heal itself over time. You can use turmeric in other ways too. You may be interested in these turmeric-related articles:
How to Make Perfect Pickled Eggs Using Turmeric
One Pot Soothing Immune Boosting Beef Soup
9 Best Herbs for Supporting Pain Relief
The Super Healing Powers of Kitchen Spices
and there are LOTS more over on the blog! Enjoy!
As far as Colleen’s excellent book, Healing Herbal Infusions goes, you should hop over to Amazon now to check it out! I think you’ll love it as much as I do!
Do you have a favorite herbal book? Please share with us in the comments! I love to hear from you!
Oh! And if you’ve been giving some thought to taking a course to help you learn more about using plants for your health or to help others, I just love The Herbal Academy of New England. I’ve taken several courses from them, and the education is excellent.
Hugs, Health, and Self-Reliance,
Heidi
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, and in no manner, stated or implied, is any statement made meant to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and you should seek advice from a medical doctor for medical issues.