Warming Raw Energy Drink with Ginger and Turmeric

This warm, raw energy drink with ginger and turmeric comes as a welcome warm-up on cool days. Its ingredients promote healthy blood circulation and metabolism.

Ginger: Ginger not only warms us from the inside, but the organic compounds it contains also stimulate our blood circulation. Its metabolism-stimulating properties are used to alleviate digestion problems, nausea, and dizziness. The active ingredient gingerol is responsible for ginger’s effects on the body, and this compound also contributes to its characteristic strong, spicy taste.

Be careful if you grind the turmeric yourself: Turmeric colors everything yellow, including the blender, so you should be careful if you prepare it on surfaces that are easy to stain. The root is native to South Asia and is still used there frequently.
Curcumin, one of the sources of turmeric’s brilliant orangish yellow color, offers many health benefits. These include cancer and anti-inflammatory properties as well as antioxidative potential. There are also indications that turmeric has a positive effect on bones and on psychological well-being (as an antidepressant). In addition to these factors that contribute to our physical health, the sunny yellow color also makes this drink ideal for the cool gray seasons. Because of its color, curcumin is also used as an E100 food additive for coloring various foods such as margarine or mustard.

Honey: We use real honey in this recipe. Honey is considered raw as long as it is produced using cold extraction methods such as cold spinning and filtration. If honey is stored or processed at temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius, the high temperatures reduce important heat-sensitive compounds that are otherwise present in unheated honey. The way honey is stored and processed also affects its quality, especially its ratio of fructose to glucose. For more information, see the ingredient honey.

Vanilla: Ground vanilla can be used as an alternative to vanilla beans. However, the ground vanilla that is available commercially has a weaker vanilla flavor than whole vanilla bean pods do. Vanilla extract is different. Vanilla extract is a liquid extract of vanilla in a highly concentrated form with about 35 % ethanol. Pure vanilla extract is always made from real vanilla beans.

Coconut oil: If you do not use oil in your diet, you can simply omit the coconut oil. But by acting as a carrier oil, it does enhance the development of the drink’s aroma and flavor.

Alternative to honey: For a completely vegan alternative, you can use agave syrup, maple syrup, or dandelion honey.

Spices: Depending on your taste, you can also use other spices in addition to the pepper, such as a pinch of curry or paprika.