A tea-of-the-moment, which happens to be thousands of years old, is turmeric tea, a highly antioxidant, anti-inflammatory herbal tea.

Revered as a ‘golden spice’ in Ayurvedic medicine for more than 5000 years, it has long been drunk as a tea.

When brewing black tea, you can add ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric to the cup before pouring in the hot water. For a simple tisane, ground turmeric or fresh root slices with hot water is popular.

But for a most impressive healthful gift, Vahdam’s Turmeric Tea Tales (photos #1 and #2) is the way to gift it in style.

An elegant golden gift box contains vials of six turmeric teas that, the company notes, are not only healthful year-round, but are ideal to combat holiday stress and travel.

And, we say, a fine way to usher in all those “healthier lifestyle” resolutions for the new year.

Vahdam’s turmeric teas are flavored to add variety:

 
There are also individual tins of Turmeric Lattes (photo #3). Just add hot water or milk.

Varieties include:
li>Turmeric Ashwagandha Tea

 
And there are even more options for everyday: tea bags and pouches of loose tea.

Head To VahdamTeas.com to see all the options.
 
 
WHAT IS TURMERIC

Turmeric (TER-muh-ric) is a rhizome, an edible root of a flowering plant.

A relative of ginger, turmeric may look like ginger root from the outside (photo #4). But inside is a vivid yellow-orange flesh, that is dried and ground into a spice (you can find it in just about any grocery store).

Common in Indian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines, turmeric has a sharp, slightly bitter flavor that adds interest to foods.

Because of recent focus of turmeric as a superfood, fresh turmeric root is now available in health food and other food stores in the U.S. We have friends who brew tea from the fresh root daily.

There’s more about the potential health benefits of turmeric below.
 
 
TURMERIC IN THE KITCHEN

In addition to brewed tea, turmeric is an ingredient in curry powder and garam masala spice mixes. It also has a place in American cuisine:

 
Use the freshly-grated root in:

 
Here’s more on how to cook with turmeric.

 
TURMERIC & HEALTH

Turmeric has been touted as a superfood that can fight cancer and diabetes, ease depression, and more.

Several compounds in turmeric may contribute to better health. The most well-known of these is curcumin.

We turned to Web MD for advice on what turmeric can, and can’t do.

While there has been much lab testing, the Web MD notes that scientific testing on humans is limited, and more is needed.

Research is ongoing.

[1] Deck the halls with this healthful gift: Turmeric Tea Tales (photos #1, #2 and #3 © Vahdam Teas).

[2] The inside of the gift box. And surprise: It’s one of Oprah’s favorite things!

[3] Turmeric latte.

[4] Turmeric root (photo © Malaysian Kitchen).

[5] Turmeric root and ground spice (photo © Silk Road Spices).