Hebba Gouda
I cannot tell a lie. I don’t really like tea. I want to. I want to live a life of coziness and warmth and good digestion. Despite my high hopes (or maybe because of them), it always seems like my mug’s path from my table to my mouth is more of a road to disappointment, as I continue to let myself believe that tea will taste anywhere near as good as it smells.
I also don’t really love turmeric, which I can confidently state because I had to test a whole bunch of it. You may be wondering “Wait…I thought I clicked on a write-up about the best turmeric tea? Is this a review or a roast?” I argue my initial aversion to these crucial components of turmeric tea actually made me a great person to conduct a taste test. You can rest assured that my reviews will be merciless, which feels weirdly harsh when talking about something as lovely and quaint as tea.
What is turmeric tea?
Turmeric tea is made by steeping turmeric in water, which gives it a yellow, orange, or golden color and a kick of flavor that is somehow bitter, sweet, and spicy all at once. It’s often paired with the spicy, warming flavors of ginger.
Even if you’re not into the taste of turmeric tea, many are interested in the beverage for the alleged health benefits. There are limited scientific studies on the tea in particular, but it’s thought that the curcumin in turmeric lends the root its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antioxidant properties. Jury’s out on whether these benefits translate in tea form versus in turmeric supplements but, at the very least, turmeric tea will probably make you feel—medically speaking—warm in your tum-tum.
In short, I tried a bunch of turmeric teas in search of the best turmeric tea out there. Here are the ones even I, a tea and turmeric hater, liked.
Best Turmeric Tea, Ranked
- Bigelow Ginger Peach Turmeric
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What a delightful whiff of peach you get as soon as you open this teabag. The tea is delicious, but the flavors of ginger and turmeric are background notes at best. The ginger is there in the smell, but the taste lacks both the flavor and the spice of ginger that I tend to want when I opt for a ginger product. If you’re looking for a peach tea with some potential anti-inflammatory benefits, this is the best ginger turmeric tea to buy.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Nature’s Promise Organic Ginger Turmeric
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The smell of this tea was weaker than I expected considering how aggressively yellow the teabag was, however, I was not disappointed. The tea tastes surprisingly sweet and flavorful, but you know what flavor wasn’t present once again? Turmeric. Or ginger. In any capacity. Instead, I attribute the pleasant sweetness to the sweet orange oil listed in the ingredients. Did this tea give me trust issues? No, as this tea is not my father. But it is tasty, if not really what I expected from the name. It’s the best turmeric tea to buy if you’re not actually interested in the flavor of turmeric.
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Yogi Honey Chai Turmeric Vitality
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With all the star players in a chai spice mix, this is a relaxing and caffeine free alternative to a classic black tea chai. The blend of ingredients—cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove, and black pepper—smell like spiced Christmas ornaments. It immediately makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. The teabag itself is sweetened with honey powder and honey flavor, so there’s an extra layer of flavor along with the sweetness. Despite everything going on in this tea, it’s still light and smooth and well-balanced. A tea that tastes a little like if you could drink a whiff of freshly baked spice cookies? I’m into it.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Vahdam Turmeric Ginger
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It smells like ginger. It tastes like ginger. It burns like ginger. This is what I want when I reach for a ginger tea. I want my sinuses more open than a florist on Valentine’s Day. This little turmeric teabag packs more ginger than an Ed Sheeran look-alike contest on St. Patrick’s Day. Ginger lovers, rejoice. This is definitely the best turmeric tea for you.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Vahdam Turmeric Citrus Ginger
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Bath & Body Works, take notes! I want a candle that smells exactly like this turmeric tea: orange forward but complemented by just the right amount of ginger. The taste is fascinating—not at all sweet, but somehow also not bitter. I wager it’d be a really wonderful ingredient to add into baked goods, but be sure to stash a tea bag or two away for yourself because this is some of the best tasting turmeric tea out there.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Vahdam Turmeric Peppermint
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What an experience to enjoy mint flavor in this form. I think mint tastes like what cold feels like, so I’m always wary of consuming hot mint. Sure, there’s peppermint mochas, but those minty notes have to fight against the bold flavors of coffee. This turmeric-mint tea is light, smooth, and refreshing without encroaching into toothpaste territory. While the cinnamon and licorice listed in the ingredients were nowhere to be found, it is the perfect level of minty. Sweet but not sickly, it’s as good cold as it is at room temp as it is hot, because it is the single mug of tea I kept to finish. This is the best turmeric tea and—judging by our top three—Vahdam is the best turmeric tea brand. Take your pick—you can’t go wrong.
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Fruity (Unsweetened)
Best Fruity (Sweetened)
Best Spiced Turmeric Tea
Best Ginger Flavor
Best Aroma
Best of the Best
Other turmeric teas we tried:
Celestial Tea Organic Turmeric Spice, Numi Turmeric Amber Sun, Traditional Medicinals Organic Turmeric and Ginger, Vahdam Turmeric Chamomile
Griffin Parker
Justine Sterling
Joe Rumrill
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!