When considering what type of beverage to share for New Year’s Eve celebrations this year, my mind initially went to mocktails. They’re fruity and booze-free—what’s not to love? Well, if I’m honest, I’m typically not a huge mocktail fan because they’re usually just sugar bombs (there are exceptions).
Then I thought, “What would be something I’d actually be excited to drink if walking into a NYE party?” Answer: Healthy shots. Call me a grandma, I don’t care. That’s how I roll these days.
Are you with me? If yes, let’s get our anti-inflammatory on.
This 5-ingredient, 5-minute shot starts with a juicer. However, if you don’t own a juicer fear not. You can easily blend your ingredients in a blender and strain for a similar effect!
Lately I’ve been gravitating toward juice with a high vitamin C content, seeing as it’s flu season. And I’m also always looking for ways to get more turmeric, ginger, and lemon into my system. Why, you ask?
Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which boasts amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (source). And it’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years for conditions such as breathing problems, joint pain, fatigue, digestive issues, and more.
Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that’s known to aid digestion and relieve nausea. (source)
Lemon is naturally detoxifying and alkalizing in the body, aids in healthy bowel movements, and boasts plenty of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system. (source)
And black pepper helps boost the absorption of turmeric by up to 2,000%. Yes, 2,000! (source)
We’ve also learned this juice is similar to a tonic called Jamu that has a history of use as herbal medicine in Bali. So cool!
Once your juice has been extracted, it’s time to add that magical black pepper to the mix and throw one (or two) back.
We hope you LOVE these shots! They’re:
Citrusy
Spicy
Anti-inflammatory
Vitamin C-rich
Immune-boosting
& Super tasty
If you’re into these flavors, I know you’ll love these wellness shots! However, if you’re looking for similar benefits with a less intense bite (the ginger can be intense!), try our 5-Minute Vegan Golden Milk or 3-Ingredient Turmeric Tonic instead.
If you’re looking for more NYE beverage inspo, check out our Pear and Cranberry Champagne Cocktails, Orange-Infused Whiskey Gingers, Easy Traditional White Sangria, or our fan favorite Easy Traditional Red Sangria!
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
NOTE: Updates made to improve blender method 1/2/19
Lemon Ginger Turmeric Wellness Shots
Ingredients
- 1 small orange (add 1-2 more oranges for added sweetness / omit and add another lemon for less sweetness!)
- 2 small lemons (add 1-2 more lemons for more acidity / reduce by half and add another orange for less acidity!)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh turmeric (peeling optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh ginger (peeling optional)
- 1/8 tsp fresh black pepper
- 1/4 tsp oil (such as extra virgin, optional / to help improve turmeric absorption)
Instructions
- JUICER: To a juicer, add orange, lemon, turmeric, and ginger (depending on the juicer, you may need to peel the orange and lemon – our Hurom does recommend peeling before juicing, so that's what we did).
- BLENDER: Add turmeric and ginger to a high-speed blender or small blender. We prefer the Nutribullet. Then add the juice of the orange and the lemons (this helps the mixture blend easier, and removes the pulp/rind). A juicing tool like this or this can help! Blend on high for 30 seconds.
- Add a little water if it has trouble blending but you shouldn’t need any. Then strain through a clean thin dish towel, small fine mesh strainer, or nut milk bag. Just be aware that turmeric can stain.
- FOR SERVING: Divide between serving glasses and enjoy! For maximum benefits, enjoy immediately and top with fresh cracked black pepper. One commenter also recommended adding a little fat to improve turmeric absorption, such as olive oil!
- FOR STORING: Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 24 hours (though best when fresh).
- LEFTOVER PULP: You can compost any leftover pulp or freeze into an ice cube try and add to future smoothies. Or, refrigerate and use to steep in things like my Ginger Turmeric Tonic!
Anje says
Hi there,
Can I use powdered ginger if I don’t have any fresh ginger on hand? Would 1/2 tsp per shot be sufficient?
Thank you!
Hi Anje, the flavor of ground ginger isn’t as strong and tastes different than fresh. We wouldn’t recommend it in this recipe.
Terri Reh says
Can this all be done with a blender? I hate to buy another appliance and have no where to store it.
Yes! See instruction 2 for recommendations on making these shots in a blender. Enjoy! xo
Brian Myers says
I’m curious why you marked this as NOT freezer friendly? I made this a couple days ago (9 shots), and froze 6 of them in 2oz glass bottles with aluminum lids. They’re doing great in the freezer. Was there a reason I’d need to be aware of?
Bangin’ wellness shots btw! Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Brian, we’re so glad you enjoy the recipe! The only reason it’s labeled as not freezer friendly is that it may lose some of its health benefits.
I love my health says
Great recipe. Have one every morning ! I do sometimes add garlic and I do switch black pepper for cayenne pepper. But overall such a great recipe. I love this website!
Thank you!
Amazing! We’re so glad you’re enjoying it! Thanks so much for sharing. xo
Kathrin says
Amazing!
xoxo!
kate says
Can this be made with ground turmeric?
Yes! For ground turmeric, we would recommend 1/2 tsp per shot. They have a slightly different flavor, but are otherwise similar!
vic says
can i make more than 1-2 shots and keep it in the fridge? or does it go bad/not as good as freshly made?
Yes, you can! The nutrition is best when fresh, but still potent either way :)
Brooke Ashley says
I’ve made this half a dozen times now and it is so simple, fast and yummy. A partial peel of the turmeric seems to work fine too. But, if I don’t peel the turmeric and ginger, I find I need to add a splash of maple syrup, more orange juice and potentially water to make it work for my taste buds.
Lovely! Thank you for sharing, Brooke! xo
Kim says
I have been meaning to try this for a few months and finally decided to make it when I was coming down with the cold. Right away my throat felt an improvement and I began bringing up mucus. And I’ve begun using the extra pulp for tea just for a tad extra benefit. Thanks so much for this recipe.
We’re so glad it helped, Kim! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Sharon Moody says
Hi how do you use the pulp for tea ??
Ana says
Hi
Thank you for always proving us with such lush things!
When blending – can we leave the pulp in? And black pepper – can it be pre-grinded?
Hi Ana, you could leave the pulp in, but we don’t find it to be as pleasant of a texture. Ground black pepper is fine – it’s just not as potent!
Beth Ann Simpkins says
I like this a lot. I add honey (help it go down smoother), raw garlic (for health) and some water to bulk it up a bit.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Beth Ann! xo
elvie says
I must say. This is what I’ve been looking for. A great help especially for a person like me with few health conditions already. We have lots of turmeric and ginger and oranges
lying around the house. Now I finally know the use of them. Thank you so much for sharing. A big help, really.
We’re so glad you are enjoying it, Elvie! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Janice Manuel says
Hi, how often should you have this wellness shot? Do you recommend every day or once a week? Thanks for sharing!
Hi Janice! You can take them as often as you would like!
Emily Hall says
Can I freeze this for later use?
Hi Emily, you could freeze it. It would just lose some of its health benefits!
Steph says
Do I have to strain it if I use powdered turmeric?
Yes, because you’ll want to still strain out the ginger/citrus pulp.
Michelle says
I made this with the blender and straining option. Worked perfectly. I opted for honey instead of olive oil.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Michelle! xo
Esther says
Lately I have making a turmeric, ginger, lemon and orange drink in the morning. Since the flavor is strong I dilute it in water with some ice too. I find this drink to me extremely hydrating. I haven’t tried it as a shot yet, but will try! I know black pepper helps to activate the turmeric, but I didn’t know about the olive oil.
Thanks for the creative ideas as always!
Amazing! Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience, Esther! xo
T. Yagh says
Fantastic! I did Theo orange and one lemon.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing!
An says
Can you please specify the amount of dry turmeric (and any adjustment to pepper) to use in replace of fresh. I don’t have access to fresh. Can cinnamon be used in replace for pepper?
For ground turmeric (powder), we would recommend 1/2 tsp per shot. They have a slightly different flavor, but are otherwise similar! We wouldn’t recommend cinnamon here. It would be better to leave out the black pepper.
An says
Thank you!
Andy says
Delicious! I didn’t bother straining it as it was smooth anyhow, we have an Indian style blender, so was ready in seconds…will be making it again!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Andy!
Taylor says
Could you use pure ginger/ tumeric juice in replacement if you don’t have a blender? If yes how much would i need to use per shot? Thanks!
Hi Taylor, Sure! It would likely work if you just added lemon juice, orange juice, and black pepper to that juice. You can play around with the ratio to get it to your preferred taste, but maybe half of the ginger/turmeric juice and half lemon + orange juice with a pinch of black pepper. Let us know if you try it!
VJ says
Hot milk, dry turmeric powder and ground ginger- fresh or powder with little sugar
My favourite drink if I have a cold and sore throat.
This hot drink helps to sooth the throat and being anti inflammatory helps to ward of cold
Another way – making small balls with powdered ginger, turmeric sugar to make it palatable and purified butter to bind together. Don’t use butter as it will not last long. Pop in mouth – bless.
VJ says
Had this is Starbucks so decided to make my own at home
Not disappointed
absolute delight.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing! xo
VICKY says
I didn’t have fresh turmeric so I used powder. I did a teaspoon and a half but not sure the quantity I should have used? We are so tired of being sick over here that I was brave and added double the ginger amount and a garlic clove to make it extra strong! While the flavor wasn’t great I can finally breathe through my nose again! lol
We love to hear it! Thanks so much for the great review, Vicky!
Karen T says
Why is the storage for these shots only 24 hrs.??? And can I add the pepper while blending and still have its benefits for the turmeric?
Hi Karen, It will keep for a few days, but is best enjoyed fresh to maximize the health benefits. If you add the black pepper when blending, it would likely get strained out, so the benefits would be less.
Hannah says
At the top of the recipe where it says ‘freezer friendly?’ it says no?
Hi Hannah, you could freeze it. It would just lose some of its health benefits!
Carolyn Studd says
So good! I added coconut oil to help absorption instead of olive as doesn’t make it seem ‘oily’. We have a shot – actually it’s a big spoonful as it’s thick – every morning. I can’t believe how delicious it is. I’m quite staid and not into spice so was totally surprised at how yummy it is! I’m addicted!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Carolyn! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
amanda roth says
This was a terrific recipe. I added more orange to keep it sweeter. Do you have any easy recipes to make muffins with the pulp?
Hi Amanda, we’re so glad you enjoyed it! As of now we don’t, but we will add it to our list!
Mariam says
I tried this recipe and stored the mixture in the fridge, added a teaspoon of it in boiling water and drink it everyday…. And I can say that this recipe is the only thing that helped me with my bloating and digestion. Thank you so much never been happier with my stomach before.
And btw I love all of your recipes and you always give me inspirations. You are so talented keep up with the amazing work! ❤️
We’re so glad you’re enjoying it, Miriam! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Char says
Can these shots be frozen?
Yes!
Kara Henderson says
Hi! I just made this and its delicious! How many ounces is in 1 wellness shot?
Hi Kara, about 2-4 ounces, depending on how juicy the lemons/oranges are. Thanks for the review!
Alison Bailey says
Where would i get fresh terumic? Or is the powder terumic just as good to use and what are the difference
Hi Alison, we’re not sure where you’re located, but it’s often available at health food stores or in tropical regions. For ground turmeric (powder), we would recommend 1/2 tsp per shot. They have a slightly different flavor, but are otherwise similar!
Rach says
can I use ground ginger and ground turmeric instead of fresh?
Hi Rach, the flavor of ground ginger isn’t as strong and tastes different than fresh! But you can use ground turmeric. For ground turmeric (powder), we would recommend 1/2 tsp per shot. Hope that helps!
Farrah Angraeni says
Hiii…great post. Never tried ones with black pepper…somehow its just works!!!
Just want to comment, Jamu is not just tumeric, ginger, lemon drinks. Literal meaning for Jamu is herbal drinks (well most of Jamu ingredients are roots or leaves 😅). For tumeric and ginger, the similarity is Kunyit Asem Jamu. We add tamarind instead of lemon, because it is not really our usual ingredient to add in jamu. Most Indonesian girls usually drink it since they start their period, cause it can reduce cramps also. Well..at least my mum forced me to. Hahahaa.. thank you for noticing Jamu though. Nice post to read.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Farrah! Super interesting to learn!
Gillian says
This is fantastic! I made it and kept it in the fridge and had my shot every day. I dont strain out the fiber, just have to shake it up before serving. I love my fiber.
Thanks for the review, Gillian!
Joann have says
Approximately how many grams of turmeric and ginger root should be used for one serving
Hi Joann, if you change the recipe to 1 serving and click “metric” it will show you the measurements in grams. Hope that helps!
Alphonse says
This recipe looks grest. Will this store for 72 hours. I want to create a batch without juicing every day.
Yes! It will keep for a few days, but is best enjoyed fresh to maximize the health benefits.
Elizabeth says
How many ounces is One Shot ?
Hi Elizabeth, About 2-4 ounces, depending on how juicy the lemons/oranges are.
claire says
Id tried and would like to make for my dad 91 and myself for the week we would make on the juicer what would you recommend as far as quantity to make and also was told pineapple peal was good your thoughts
Hi Claire, we’d suggest making a double batch for 2 people for the week. Hmm, we haven’t experimented with using pineapple peel so we’re not sure!
Elizabeth says
Based on shot recipe. How man ounces in one shot ?
Frances says
I made this for my sore throat and I can tell you it’s great. I only had 1 orange and 1 lemon and powdered tumeric and no cayenne, but it’s still perfect. It’s amazingly opaque once you squeeze the mixture out of the nut milk bag. I added a tablespoon of honey and a cup of water and am sipping on it as I type this. It’s so good!
Yay! So glad you’re enjoying this recipe, Frances. Thanks for the great review!
Shar says
Can I use turmeric powder for this?
Hi Shar, Ground turmeric should work fine. We’d recommend 1/2 tsp turmeric per shot. Hope you love it!