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Ginger and turmeric are two bold roots that belong together in the kitchen. This ginger turmeric shot recipe leans into that pairing: bright citrus, spicy warmth, and a tiny pinch of pepper to round it out.
You’ll blend or juice fresh roots and lemon for a concentrated, kitchen-made shot with a clean ingredient list and no sweeteners. The process is quick, with easy straining for a smooth sip.
If you’re new to prepping the roots and citrus, these guides help: how to peel ginger, how to juice a lemon, and what to do about turmeric stains.
What are ginger turmeric shots?
They’re small, concentrated sips made from fresh turmeric and fresh ginger, balanced with lemon juice and a touch of black pepper. Many people include tiny daily portions as part of their personal morning routines.
What do ginger turmeric shots taste like?
Expect a lively mix of citrus acidity, ginger heat at the back of the throat, and turmeric’s earthy note through the finish. The pepper doesn’t read as “peppery,” but it ties the flavors together. The color is deep golden-orange, and the aroma is warm and zesty.
Why are ginger and turmeric often paired?
These rhizomes share a warm, spicy backbone but taste different: turmeric is earthy and slightly bitter; ginger is hot and citrusy. Together, they feel balanced – ginger loosens the earthiness of turmeric, while turmeric deepens ginger’s zing. This pairing is traditionally used together in many kitchens, and some people enjoy small daily amounts as part of their routine.
What you’ll need
- Fresh turmeric: earthy, peppery, and vividly colored; peel for a cleaner finish.
- Fresh ginger: spicy and aromatic; peel for a smoother texture.
- Lemon juice: brightens and sharpens the blend.
- Freshly ground black pepper: a pinch adds a subtle, savory edge.
See the printable recipe card below for the full ingredients list and quantities.
How to make ginger turmeric shots
Blender method:
Add peeled, chopped turmeric and ginger to a high-speed blender. Squeeze in the lemon juice so there’s enough liquid to get things moving. Blend on high until very smooth (about 45–60 seconds).
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a nut milk bag, pressing well to extract the liquid. Stir in the pinch of freshly ground black pepper.
Juicer method:
Juice the peeled turmeric and ginger first, then the lemons. Stir in the freshly ground black pepper. If your juicer struggles with soft citrus, juice the lemons by hand (see how to juice a lemon) and stir into the root juice.
Enjoy immediately or store for later:
Pour the juice into small, lidded bottles for single servings. Shake before sipping; natural settling is normal. For freezing, portion into silicone trays or freezer-safe mini bottles, leaving headspace.
Turmeric-specific handling notes:
Turmeric stains porous surfaces and fabrics. Wear food-safe gloves if you like, rinse equipment promptly, and see my stain guide for quick fixes and prevention: how to remove turmeric stains.
FAQs
This recipe is developed for fresh turmeric. Powder has a different flavor and can feel chalky even after straining.
Yes. Dilute cold water or add the turmeric ginger shots to sparkling water or iced tea to soften the intensity while keeping the flavor.
It’s part of the tested recipe’s flavor balance. It isn’t peppery in taste, but you can perceive a rounder finish with it.
Peeling gives a cleaner flavor and color. See how to peel ginger. Handle turmeric carefully to avoid stains.
More ginger & turmeric recipes
If you try this turmeric ginger shot recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below.
Ginger Turmeric Shots
Ingredients
- 4.5 ounces turmeric roughly 2–3 medium knobs
- 5 ounces ginger roughly a 3–4 inch piece
- 2 large lemons or 6 Tbsp juice
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Blender method
- Peel and chop the turmeric and ginger. Juice the lemons.
- Add the roots to a high-speed blender, pour in the lemon juice, and blend until very smooth (about 45–60 seconds).
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a nut milk bag, pressing well to extract the liquid.
- Stir in the freshly ground black pepper. Then enjoy or bottle for later.
Juicer method
- Juice the peeled turmeric and ginger first, then the lemons, and stir in the pepper.
- Enjoy right away or pour into small bottles and store for later.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These are a such a great way to get that boost first thing in the morning. Not the sweetest of tastes but it is not supposed to be, right? And that is why it’s a shot, to drink it at once. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve made these with turmeric powder, since it is a bit hard to find fresh turmeric and when we find it it is a bit expensive, and it turned out beautifully.
Yes, exactly! Some people might not find it the most pleasant taste while they get used to it. But that’s why it works great as a quick shot to pack in lots of nutritional benefits. So glad to hear that it turned out well 🙂
I added honey to sweeten
That’s a great idea, Aaron. Thanks.
You can add a bit of honey to sweeten the shots.
Is it necessary to peel the ginger and turmeric seeing you have to sieve it
Hi Peter,
I recommend peeling the ginger and turmeric if they are not organic. You could of course first wash them well if you really don’t want to peel them. Whenever I buy organic, though, I just wash them and then put them directly in the blender. I hope this helps.
I drank this energy shot and I was left with some questions.
I had no problem drinking it but I did notice that my insides did feel a little warm like when it went into my system it sort of burned but not really.. I wanted to know If you knew why I could have possibly felt this way? my friends also tried this and also felt this way.. Not concerned just wanted to know the reasoning behind it if it meant anything..
LOVE YOU! You Inspire me !
Thank you so much for your comment, Larissa.
Ginger has a warming effect so it can make you feel warmer when you ingest it. It also depends on what ginger you use – while it all has great benefits, older ginger tends to be spicier.
I hope this helps.
Hello Damira,
Can I use tumeric powder and what’s the equivalent quantity?
Thank u
You can indeed. Just use 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder per shot 🙂
Hi .. I liked me too 🙂 Can u please teme what are the other ingredients u used to make it more interesting! Tx
Hi Pratiksha, you can add your favourite juices! like carrot juice or apple juice or orange juice. I sometimes freeze my shots in an ice cube tray and add them to normal juices or sometimes tropical or green smoothies.
If I add to my ice trays and freeze. How many cubes does it take to make 50ml??
I’m so excited to do this.
Thank you so much!!!
Hi Kris,
It depends on how big the ice trays are. It would be best for you to measure them in advance – you can do that with some water and a measuring spoon. Check how much water goes in one ice cube, then you will know if you need 1-2 or more ice cubes for 50 ml (50 ml is about 3.5 Tbsp). I hope this helps.
what is the recipe (composition) if I use powder turmeric and ginger? thank you very much.
I use 1/2tsp of each powder per shot. I’ve never tried the recipe using power for both of those ingredients so I’m not sure of the exact textural difference. You may want to add some additional liquid in the form of 1/2 lemon/orange
I doubled all ingredients, put the lemons and ginger in a professional juicer. Then put juice in blender with pepper and dried turmeric powder (next time I will use fresh turmeric which I can usually find here n Puerto Rico). The result was clear juice and very concentrated. I need to mix about a glass of water to 50ml of juice. Powerful stuff, and I drink it every morning. Thanks for the recipe and beautiful pics.
Thank you for your comment, Giovanni. It’s great that it worked that way too.
I doubled the ingredients to make twice as much. I peeled the lemons (left the white spongy pith), washed the ginger (left skin on), then juiced everything in a professional juicer. Finally blended juice with turmeric powder and black pepper. It looks great, has a perfect liquid consistency, but tastes very bitter and is difficult to drink. What did I do wrong? Is it the peel from the ginger or..is it supposed to taste like that? Can I do something to improve the taste?
It does have quite a bitter strong taste, which is why it’s best taken as a quick shot ( over in a minute :P). You could try to add a small bit of natural sweetener if you like.
I did it and it’s very good, but I have a problem how can I remove the turmeric color from my hand and my food processor
Uh-oh! I always suggest wearing gloves when handling turmeric. Luckily, I haven’t ever had the issue where it has stained my food processor, so I can’t 100% say how to get rid of the staining. However, I do keep a straining bag specifically for these shots though, as it will permanently be dyed yellow and try to just be careful with the juice and what it touches.
Other posts ive read that tumeric needs a fat like coconut oil or olive oil with it for the body to be able to absorb it is this correct
Hi Rachel,
Both black pepper and fats (like coconut oil) help the body absorb turmeric. I hope this helps.
Baking soda with a little bit of dish soap works great to remove turmeric stains.
Thanks for the great tip, Dania.
Hi! I love this shot. I tried it using a regular juicer. If I use the blender method, is it absolutely necessary to strain it? Would it be too unpalatable if I don’t?
Honestly, I haven’t tried it without straining when using a blender as I never manage to get all of the peel off the ginger and turmeric and don’t want to swallow that. I imagine it being ore bitter too. If you give it a go though, let me know what you thought!