Turmeric Tea

Visit the Feria Agrícola y Artesanal de Puerto Viejo on a Saturday morning and stop by Christina’s booth from Talamanca Organica Cacao & Fine Chocolate. Not only will you be introduced to the amazing chocolate she produces on her farm, but she might have some turmeric rhizomes. These little roots are very unassuming, as they look like strange orange grubs, but they are delicious and nutritious! A relative of ginger, this root boasts a strong saffron color and earthy flavor. Its anti-inflammatory medicinal benefits have the greatest benefit when combined with black peppercorns, due to piperine, a compound that has been proven to drastically increase the body’s ability to absorb curcumin (the main active ingredient in turmeric). Made into a tea, this is a delight after a long day of hiking, kayaking, or other Caribe Sur adventures.

Ingredients:

Handful of Turmeric Rhizomes (approx. 10 pieces)
Freshly Ground Black Pepper (approx. 1/8 cup)
Honey (to taste)
Lemon (to taste)
4-6 Cups Water

Recipe:

Wash and peel the turmeric rhizomes. Grate and place in a small pot of water. As it heats on the stove, add the pepper. Let boil. After it boils, let it rest a minute or so. Strain and pour into your teapot. Add honey and/or lemon to taste. (You can reuse this pulp one more time to make another pot, if desired.)

¡Buen provecho!