Turmeric Lemonade

We all love lemonade – it’s the perfect refreshing beverage throughout Spring and Summer.

But most traditional lemonades are loaded with sugar and calories and are definitely not the healthiest option.  This version cuts out the traditional refined sugar and replaces it with a small amount of coconut sugar, which has a much lower glycemic index.

It also puts the focus on ginger and turmeric, which give amazing flavor and colour to the lemonade along with aiding digestion and providing immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Rather than being a sugary indulgence, this lemonade is a health drink you can enjoy and feel good about imbibing.

Ingredients:

200 ml water

4 inches, fresh turmeric root, peeled and sliced or 1 tablspoon dried turmeric.

4 inches fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced

4 tablespoons coconut sugar

4-6 lemons, juiced (about 200 ml juice)

large handful of ice cubes

2 lemons, sliced to serve

800 ml cold still water, or sparkling water if you like a bubbly twist.

Method:

Place the sliced turmeric root and ginger root in a sauce pan and cover with 200 ml water.

Add in the coconut sugar and bring to a boil

Reduce heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes, until the mixture has extracted the color and flavor of the turmeric and ginger.

Remove from the heat and cool

Juice the lemons, and pour into a pitcher

Add in the cooled ginger and turmeric mixture and stir to combine. You can strain out the pieces of ginger and turmeric, but I simply leave them in.

Pour the remaining cold water (or sparkling if you like) and stir to combine.

Add the slices of lemon into the pitcher and stir

To serve, add ice cubes to the pitcher if you think you will drink the whole pitcher right away. Otherwise add ice to each glass

Made your own batch? Show me yours on Instagram!