Healthy Lemon, Ginger and Turmeric Shots (No Juicer)

Name: Healthy Lemon, Ginger and Turmeric Shots (No Juicer)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 4 navel oranges (peeled); 1 lemon (peeled); 1/4 cup fresh turmeric root (cleaned and sliced, no need to peel); 1/4 cup fresh ginger root (cleaned and sliced, no need to peel); 1 cup water (or more if desired); 1/8 tsp ground black pepper (to enhance turmeric absorption); dash of cayenne pepper (optional); 2 tbsp maple syrup or other sweetener (optional); crushed ice (for serving, optional)

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These lemon, ginger and turmeric shots are delicious and great at boosting your energy, reducing the inflammation in your body and strengthening your immune system. They are easy and quick to make without a juicer and are naturally sweetened by the fresh oranges! Prepare a big batch ahead and include them as part of your morning routine!

Showing are 3 glasses containing ginger turmeric shots with a slice of orange on the side of the glass. There is another large juice container in the background.

I first enjoyed a lemon, ginger turmeric shot for brunch at one of the fancy hotel restaurants in town.

It was beautifully appetizing, bright yellow and very intense in flavor, which was a great way to help wake me up.

I knew right away I had to make my own right at home, so I could enjoy it anytime I wanted and have it for much cheaper, too.

So I came up with this blender turmeric ginger juice recipe and I am super happy to share it here! It is surprisingly super easy to make yourself in minutes, even if you don't have a juicer.

Plus, similarly to my kale tonic, it is loaded with nutrition and health benefits. Feel free to make a large batch of these ginger turmeric shots during the weekend to be able to enjoy some everyday right when you wake up.

It is made with lots of fresh ginger, fresh lemon juice, and real turmeric root but also, fresh oranges to make the shots naturally a little sweeter and tastier. All you need is to blend the ingredients, then strain to remove the extra pulp. Again, so easy and quick.

Let me know how it turns out if you give it a try! ❤️

There are 3 short glasses containing a ginger turmeric glowing shot. The glasses are on a large white plate and you can see someone pouring some of the turmeric juice in the third glass. There is also a larger container with more of the juice in the background.

What are the benefits of turmeric ginger lemon shots?

Each ingredient used to make this homemade juice is known to have great health benefits on its own.

But when you combine the health benefits of ginger, turmeric and lemon, you create a powerful elixir that not only supports your overall well-being but also provides a refreshing, hydrating and invigorating boost to your day.

You can enjoy a daily shot of ginger turmeric juice whenever you need a boost of energy, but also great to prepare during the flu season if you feel a sore throat or if you suffer from chronic inflammation. Try to enjoy the shot first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to make the most of the health benefits.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a powerhouse of nutrients and has been used in ayurvedic medicine in China and India for thousands of years to treat depression, skin conditions, heart disease, breathing issues and to reduce stress (source from PubMed).

Turmeric's most active ingredient is called curcumin. Curcumin is what gives turmeric its beautiful bright yellow color on top of most of its powerful health benefits.

Just to name a few, curcumin has been shown to fight and reduce inflammation, be a great antibacterial compound, support immunity, reduce the growth or spread of cancer and act as a powerful antioxidant by blocking the action of free radicals (source from healthline).

Ginger

Ginger has been shown to be a good digestive aid as it reduces nausea and can help with many other digestive issues. It can also make your skin look glowy, strengthen your immunity as well as fight all sorts of diseases, from infection to cancer. Similarly to turmeric, ginger also has some anti-inflammatory properties.

Lemon

Lemon is packed with Vitamin C which is known to prevent and fight diseases of all kinds (antioxidant properties). Lemons also contain citric acid, which is important for kidney health and prevention of kidney stones. Enjoying lemon regularly can help you glow by enhancing your skin's radiance but also, it can also boost your immune system and contribute to your overall health and vitality.

Angle view on 3 glasses that contains a bright yellow ginger turmeric juice with ice cubes and a slice of orange on the side of the glass.

Why you will love these energy shots

Sweeter flavor, thanks to the addition of orange
Nice kick from the ginger and turmeric
Great dose of vitamin C
Refreshing way to start the day
Versatile and can be made more or less spicy
Powerful anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties
Fast recipe, easy to make and made without a juicer!
Stores very well, perfect for meal-prep
Perfect addition to your morning routine!

Ingredients and substitutions for ginger turmeric wellness shots

Fresh turmeric root: fresh turmeric is better than powdered turmeric for this recipe. You will find fresh turmeric in most grocery stores. It has the shape of a root, similar to fresh ginger.
Fresh ginger root: you will also need fresh ginger and not ginger powder.
Fresh oranges: add extra natural sweetness to balance out the tartness and spiciness from the other ingredients.
Fresh lemons: choose organic lemon if you can, but regular works too.
Spices: black pepper and cayenne pepper, for a nice kick and stimulating effect.
Sweetener: totally optional and I don't always use it. You can add a little maple syrup for a sweeter juice that's a little more pleasant and less strong in flavor.

This is a versatile juice recipe and you can swap for other ingredients. Try using pineapple instead of oranges and coconut water instead of water. Also, a dash of cinnamon would add a nice flavor.

Showing are some of the ingredients needed to make this juice. There are slices of fresh turmeric and ginger in small bowls as well as the roots on the side to show how they look.

Why add black pepper

Turmeric's active component curcumin isn't easily absorbed by the gut. There are some ways to stimulate the absorption of curcumin and one of the most common ones is by adding some black pepper to it.

Combining black pepper to turmeric has been shown to enhance its absorption by 2000%. This is due to the active component called Piperine that's present in black pepper (and also cayenne pepper) (source by healthline).

So, whenever cooking with turmeric, don't forget to add a generous dash of ground pepper so you make sure to get the most of the turmeric.

Can I use ground turmeric

I use powdered dried turmeric when making tofu scramble as it gives it a nice yellow color or when making turmeric oatmeal to boost my breakfast with health benefits. But, to make this healthy juice, I recommend you use fresh turmeric roots as it is more potent.

If you cannot find it in your regular grocery store, then look in a health store. The turmeric roots store for a little while in the fridge, so get more than needed, especially if you have to go out of your way to find it. If you have a Whole Foods grocery store in your area, then you should be able to find some there.

If you really cannot find it, then you can still make it using turmeric powder. Although less potent, the dried spice is still a powerful healthy ingredient. Start with about 1 tablespoon of the dried spice and taste to adjust how much you want.

Showing are 3 glasses containing ginger turmeric shots with a slice of orange on the side of the glass. The glasses are on a large white plate and there is another large juice container in the background.

How to make these lemon ginger turmeric shots

This is an easy recipe that uses only 6 ingredients and that can done within 10 minutes.

Prepare the ingredients

Start by getting all the ingredients ready: peel the orange and lemon + clean and slice the ginger and turmeric.

I like to remove the peels on the citrusy fruits using a knife. If using organic ginger and turmeric, then no need to peel it, simply slice the roots so they are easier to blend.

Blend

To a blender, add all the ingredients (turmeric root, ginger root, lemons, oranges, pinch of black pepper and cayenne pepper) and blend for about 30 seconds or until mostly smooth. You can check with a spoon to see if there are still large pieces left.

Strain the blended juice

You can strain the blended juice in a few different ways:

Nut milk bag: I find this to be the easiest method and also the least messy. It is not expensive and you can find one online. I also see them in many grocery stores. I use and love these nut milk bags from Bellamei.
Cheesecloths: you can also use a few layers of cheesecloth layered over a fine mesh colander (more messy and slower technique, but works).
French press: you can also filter this juice using a large French press, although you might have to work in batches.

Once done straining, then transfer the juice to an airtight container and chill in the fridge until ready to drink.

Overhead view on 2 hands that are peeling oranges and lemon using a knife.

In process picture: front view on a blender that contains whole and peeled oranges and lemon.

Tips when making this recipe

You don't need to peel the ginger and turmeric roots. It will save you time and is simply unnecessary. You can use a brush to make sure you clean the skin very well.
Turmeric stains, so just be aware of it when slicing, blending and straining the juice. I usually rinse my blender immediately afterward and clean the cutting board right away once done. Also, I keep one of my nut milk bags for this juice only, as it turns yellow permanently.
The flavor of this juice is intense, so play around with the sweetener or even add an extra orange to the blender if you are looking for a sweeter version or want to serve it to your kids.
When peeling the orange and lemon, make sure to remove all of its white parts as they can be on the bitter side.
Using good quality fresh ingredients will help give a great flavor and more potential health benefits to this homemade ginger turmeric shot recipe.

Storage

After straining, you can either transfer the whole juice to a large glass container (a large mason jar is great for that) or divide it right away into individual shot glasses for single portions to enjoy during the week.

Mix or shake well before enjoying/serving and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Even though this might not be the typical way to serve a turmeric shot, we love enjoying this juice with lots of ice. You can even serve with crushed ice for a slushie consistency.

If you make more juice than you can enjoy, then transfer to ice cube trays to freeze for later (don't forget, it might stain the mold). Throw a cube once in a while in your smoothies for added kick flavor or let it melt before enjoying it as a shot.

Overhead view on 3 glasses that are placed on a large white plate and filled with ice cubes and a bright yellow-orange ginger turmeric shot. There is someone holding on the plate.

FAQ's

How do these turmeric shots taste?

These healthy shots have a strong flavor with a predominant turmeric kick. It also tastes a little spicy and mildly bitter, while being also slightly sweet. The orange juice helps balance the strong flavors of this drink and makes it a lot more enjoyable.

Can I use a regular blender to make this turmeric juice?

Although a high-speed blender will crush the ingredients into a fine texture quicker, there is no reason not to use a regular blender if that's what you have. In that case, make sure to blend for a little longer and straining the juice will make sure you don't end up with pieces in the mix.

More turmeric recipes you might like

Other healthy drinks or smoothies you might like

I hope you enjoy these healthy ginger turmeric shots as much as we do! If you try them, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how they were. Your feedback is so helpful!

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