I don’t love the cold, which is why I moved from England to Los Angeles 18 years ago. But even in LA, it’s turned a bit too chilly for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, I’m loving the El Nino rain, but the gray dampness just isn’t doing it for me. Ayurvedic medicine tells me that I need to eat warm foods when it’s cold and damp, and this is exactly what my body tells me too (and my body is never wrong). So, this is the season for soups, stews, casseroles, rice bowls, ramen bowls (I’m big into bowls), and anything that fills me up with cozy warmth. This is also the reason why I could never subsist off an entirely raw food diet.
I still get my greens, but instead of huge salad, I tend to steam my greens at this time of year, and then sprinkle with a little Tamari sauce, and some sesame seeds. In place of hummus, I’ll add garbanzo beans to warm curries, and soups. Actually curries are a winter staple for me because I can add all the medicinal spices that I love such as turmeric, ginger, star anise, and black pepper, along with any veggies in my crisper drawer that need using up.
But the brew that truly warms me from the inside out above all others, is my Medicinal Turmeric Tea – it’s sweet, warming, satisfying, and just does what no other brew can at this time of year. Give it a try, and let me know how it makes you feel.
Sophie’s Medicinal Turmeric Tea
I call this my “medicinal” tea, because the spices that I use have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Ginger helps with any digestive issues and acts like an internal central heating system. Turmeric has more health benefits that I could list on this page, but the standouts for me are its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous properties. Cinnamon can lower blood sugar, and can help with PMS and cramps. Black Pepper has many health benefits in of itself, but it works to help your body absorb the turmeric. Star Anise can ward off flu. Lemon is alkalizing and raw honey is an indulgent sweetener.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 inches raw ginger root, peeled and minced
- 1 inch raw turmeric root, peeled and minced (if you can’t find the raw root, you can add 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 5 peppercorns
- 1 Star Anise (optional)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp raw honey
DIRECTIONS
Place all the ingredients except for the lemon and honey in a small saucepan with 2 cups water. Bring to the boil and then turn down heat immediately and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, and allow it to get cool enough to drink. Add the lemon juice and stir in the honey.
Tip: It’s a great idea to drink a cup of this before eating a meal because it will fire up your digestive enzymes too!
Be Smart: As with all herbs and spices, make sure you check with your doctor before adding them to your diet, especially if you are on any medications.
